Cuar. XX.] NATIVE FRUITS. 381 
autumn. ‘The first crop is ripe in July, and the 
second is planted between the rows of the former, 
in the same manner as in the northern provinces, 
and ripens in the autumn. Large quantities of 
tobacco are grown in the province. The farmers 
cultivate this plant with very great care, and take 
every means to have the leaves large and fine. 
For this purpose all the flowers are regularly 
picked off, and also all the small and useless leaves 
as soon as they are formed. Sugar and ginger 
are likewise grown to a greater extent in this part 
of China than in any other with which I am ac- 
quainted ; and crops of sweet potatoes and earth- 
nuts abound on the sides of the hills. 
Amongst fruits, the plums are good, but inferior 
to what we have in England; the peaches are 
curiously formed, but worthless. What may be 
more properly called Chinese fruits, such as 
leechees, longans, and wangpees, are, however, 
excellent, the climate suiting them admirably. 
When I was here (in July), the leechee trees were 
covered with their fine red fruit, and were very 
beautiful, the fruit contrasted so well with the deep 
clear green foliage. Large quantities of oranges, 
citrons, and pumeloes are also found in the 
district of the Min; but none of them were ripe at 
this season. I saw, for the first time, the tree 
commonly called the Chinese olive (Canarium), 
from the resemblance its fruit bears to the olive 
of Europe; also the Chinese date (Zizyphus), 
