Chap. XV. BOTANY — GEOLOGY — SOIL. 



255 



with these conglomerates there is a fine calcareous 

 granular sandstone in which beds of dolomitic lime- 

 stone occur. 



The soil of the tea-lands about Woo-e-shan seemed 

 to vary considerably. The most common kind was 

 a brownish-yellow adhesive clay. This clay, when 

 minutely examined, is found to contain a considerable 

 portion of vegetable matter mixed with particles of 

 the rocks above enumerated. 



In the gardens on the plains at the foot of the 

 hills the soil is of a darker colour, and contains a 

 greater portion of vegetable matter, but generally it 

 is either brownish yellow or reddish yellow. As a 

 general rule the Chinese always prefer land which is 

 moderately rich, provided other circumstances are 

 favourable. For example, some parts of Woo-e-shan 

 are exceedingly sterile, and produce tea of a very 

 inferior quality. On the other hand, a hill in the 

 same group, called Pa-ta-shan, produces the finest 

 teas about Tsong-gan-hien. The earth on this hill- 

 side is moderately rich, that is, it contains a con- 

 siderable portion of vegetable matter mixed with the 

 clay, sand, and particles of rock. 



By far the greatest portion of the tea in this part 

 of the country is cultivated on the sloping sides of 

 the hills. I observed a considerable quantity also in 

 gardens on the level land in a more luxuriant state 

 even than that on the hill-sides : but these gardens 

 were always a considerable height above the level 

 of the river, and were consequently well drained. It 

 will be observed, therefore, that the tea-plants on 



