324 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. XIX. 



small portion of scion which is employed, and which 

 generally has only a single bud at its apex. 



Many thousands of plants are grafted in this man- 

 ner every autumn, and the few vacant spaces which 

 one sees in the rows attest the success which attends 

 the system ; indeed it is rare that a graft fails to 

 grow. In about a fortnight the union between the 

 root and the scion is complete, and in the following 

 spring the plants are well-established and strong. 

 They frequently bloom the first spring, and rarely 

 later than the second, when they are dug up and 

 taken to the markets for sale. When each has only 

 one stem and one flower-bud, it is of more value 

 in the eyes of the Shanghae nurseryman than when 

 it becomes larger. In this state it is more saleable ; 

 it produces a very large flower, and is easily dug up 

 and carried to the market. I could always buy mode- 

 rately large plants at a cheaper rate than small ones, 

 owing to these circumstances. 



In the gardens of the mandarins the tree-paeony 

 frequently attains a great size. There was one plant 

 near Shanghae which produced between 300 and 400 

 blooms every year. The proprietor was as careful of 

 it as the tulip fancier is of his bed of tulips. When 

 in bloom it was carefully shaded from the bright rays 

 of the sun by a canvas awning, and a seat was placed 

 in front on which the visitor could sit down and enjoy 

 the sight of its gorgeous flowers. On this seat the 

 old gentleman himself used to sit for hours every day, 

 smoking pipe after pipe of tobacco, and drinking cup 

 after cup of tea, while all the time he was gazing on 



