Chap. VIII. PRESERVATION OF PLANTS. 



159 



from the ground in October before those of autumn 

 make their appearance. During this period it 

 attains a height of a foot or a foot and a half, 

 becomes very bushy, and is densely covered with 

 large green leaves. It is cut down before any 

 flowers are formed. 



The Chinese method of preserving plants for 

 next year's crop is most ingenious and well worth 

 notice. Being somewhat tender, as I have already 

 remarked, the roots which are left in the ground 

 after the gathering season are all destroyed by the 

 first frosts of winter. But the Chinese cultivator 

 does not depend upon these for the crop of the 

 following year, nor does he take them up or 

 cover them in any way. They have done their 

 duty for one year, and are now left to their fate. 



Cuttings are found to be much more vigorous 

 and productive than the old roots, and to the 

 formation and preservation of these cuttings the 

 Chinese cultivator directs his attention. When 

 the stems are cut down for the manufacture of 

 indigo, a sufficient quantity have their leaves 

 stripped off^ and are afterwards taken into a house 

 or shed to be properly prepared. The leaves thus 

 stripped from the cuttings are thrown into the 

 tanks with the other stems and leaves, so that 

 nothing is lost except what is actually required for 

 the purposes of propagation. The stems are now 

 tied up firmly in large bundles, each containing 

 upwards of 1000, and the ends of each bundle 

 are cut across, so as to leave them perfectly neat 



