328 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA, 



Chap. XIX. 



two nurseries, each of which contains an extensive 

 and valuable collection. They are usually known as 

 the Pou-shan Gardens, and are often visited by the 

 foreign residents in Shanghae. 



My road led me through a country which is per- 

 fectly level and in a high state of cultivation. The 

 deciduous trees were covered with fresh green leaves, 

 as yet uninjured by the attacks of insects ; wheat and 

 barley were in the ear, and the air was scented with 

 the field-bean, which was now in full bloom. Clumps 

 of trees were dotted over the country, generally di- 

 vided pretty distinctly into two kinds — deciduous 

 and evergreen. The deciduous clumps marked the 

 spots where the villages and farm-houses were situ- 

 ated ; the evergreens, consisting chiefly of cypress 

 and juniper trees, were growing about the tombs of 

 the dead. 



Little more than an hour's walk brought me to the 

 garden I had come to visit. There were no external 

 marks, such as a name or signboard, to direct the 

 stranger to the garden ; indeed, a person unacquainted 

 with the customs of the Chinese would never have 

 dreamed of finding such a beautiful place as this in 

 a poor country village. Going up a narrow passage 

 between two houses, I reached the residence of the 

 nurseryman. He received me with great politeness, 

 asked me to sit down in his house, and called to one of 

 his sons to bring me a cup of tea. Having drunk the 

 refreshing beverage, I walked out with him to inspect 

 his garden. 



In the front of the house three or four flat stages 



