124 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. VII. 



green leaves, and never failed to bloom most pro- 

 fusely in the autumn and winter. 



The method of cultivating the chrysanthemum in 

 China is as follows. Cuttings are struck every year 

 from the young shoots, in the same manner as we do 

 in England. When they are rooted they are potted 

 off at once into the pots in which they are to grow 

 and bloom ; that is, they are grown upon what would 

 be called by our gardeners " the one-shift system." 



The soil used in potting is of a very rich descrip- 

 tion. About Canton it is generally obtained, in the 

 first instance, from the bottom of lakes or ponds, 

 where the Nelumbium or water-lily grows. It is 

 then laid up to dry and pulverise for some months, 

 when it is mixed with old night-soil taken from the 

 manure-tanks found in every garden. A heap of this 

 kind, after being laid up for some time and frequently 

 turned over, is in a fit state for potting the chrysan- 

 themum. Manure-water, taken also from the tanks, 

 is liberally supplied during the growing season, and 

 its effects are visible in the luxuriant dark-green 

 leaves which cover the plants. 



In forming the plants into nice compact bushes, 

 which, with due deference to Chinese taste, I think 

 much prettier than animals and " seven-storied pa- 

 godas," their system is as follows: — The plants are 

 trained each with a single stem ; this is forced to 

 send out numerous laterals near its base, and these 

 are tied down in a neat and regular manner with 

 strings of silk-thread. By having the plants clothed 

 with branches in this way, and by keeping the leaves 



