128 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. VII. 



I met with in China, and the discoverer of the beau- 

 tiful Rhodoleia Championi figured by Sir William 

 Hooker in the ' Botanical Magazine.' 



At this season of the year the well-known Enki- 

 anthus was just coming into bloom. This is one of 

 those few Chinese plants which will scarcely submit 

 to cultivation in England, or perhaps it would be 

 more correct to say that its proper management is 

 not understood there. A description of its habits, as 

 observed on its native mountains in Hong-kong, will 

 probably assist those who are trying to cultivate this 

 beautiful plant in England. The island of Hong- 

 kong has often been called a barren rock, an ex- 

 pression which, in our days at least, is not quite 

 correct. When it was formed by some convulsion of 

 nature, in the earlier periods of the world's history, 

 it was no doubt a barren chain of rocks of very irre- 

 gular outline. Gradually, however, like those islands 

 in the eastern seas which are every day forming by 

 the agency of animals, a great portion of the surface 

 of these rocks became partially covered with soil and 

 vegetation, although many of their peaks are still 

 uncovered, remaining as barren as they were when 

 first formed, and appearing to bid defiance to time 

 and change. 



On these mountains, from 1000 to 2000 feet above 

 the level of the sea, the Enkianthus is found growing 

 abundantly, and in great luxuriance. It is never seen 

 in the valleys or low lands, unless when brought 

 down by the natives. The soil is loamy, not unlike 

 what we see at Shirley or Wimbledon, and mixed 



