130 



TEA DISTKICTS OF CHINA. Chap. VII. 



The one is the bright sunshine which ripens the 

 wood in autumn, and the other is the peculiar 

 nature of the mountains on which the plant grows. 

 In the hottest weather, even when no rain has fallen 

 for months, and, when the valleys are parched and 

 burnt up for want of it, these mountain-sides are 

 always moist a few inches below the surface, and teem 

 in all directions with cool and refreshing springs. 



The Enkianthus is always in blossom at the time 

 of the Chinese new year, when its flowers are in 

 great request in the south of China for the decoration 

 of the houses, boats, and temples, just as those of the 

 Nandina are in the north. It is brought in large 

 quantities from the hills, and sold in the streets, or 

 sent about in presents, after the same fashion as the 

 holly and mistletoe in England. If the branches 

 are cut and placed in a jar of water before the 

 flowers are fully expanded, the latter will remain in 

 perfection for a fortnight or three weeks. The pretty 

 wax-looking globular flowers are very handsome, and 

 are held in high esteem amongst the natives. 



Having a few days to spare before commencing 

 my second campaign in the north, I determined on 

 paying a visit to the Fa-tee gardens near Canton. 

 I was curious to obtain some information concerning 

 the process of preparing and packing those seeds 

 which are usually sold to foreigners to be sent home 

 to friends in Europe and America. I had been ac- 

 customed to believe, with all good charitable people, 

 that these seeds were boiled or poisoned in some way 

 by the Chinese before they were sold to our mer- 



