Chap. XV. 



TEA-PLANTATIONS. 



259 



transplanting. They are planted in rows about four 

 feet apart. Five or six plants are put together in 

 each hole, and these little patches are generally about 

 three or four feet from each other in the rows. 

 Sometimes, however, when the soil is poor, as in 

 many parts of Woo-e-shan, they are planted very 

 close in the rows, and have a hedge-like appearance 

 when they are full grown. 



The young plantations are always made in spring, 

 and are well watered by the rains which fall at the 

 change of the monsoon in April and May. The 

 damp, moist weather at this season enables the young 

 plants to establish themselves in their new quarters, 

 where they require little labour afterwards, except in 

 keeping the ground free from weeds. 



A plantation of tea, when seen at a distance, looks 

 like a little shrubbery of evergreens. As the tra- 

 veller threads his way amongst the rocky scenery of 

 Woo-e-shan, he is continually coming upon these 

 plantations, which are dotted upon the sides of all the 

 hills. The leaves are of a rich dark green, and afford 

 a pleasing contrast to the strange and often barren 

 scenery which is everywhere around. 



The natives are perfectly aware that the practice 

 of plucking the leaves is very prejudicial to the health 

 of the tea-shrubs, and always take care to have the 

 plants in a strong and vigorous condition before they 

 commence gathering. The young plantations are 

 generally allowed to grow unmolested for two or three 

 years, or until they are well established and are pro- 

 ducing strong and vigorous shoots : it would be con- 



§ 2 



