356 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. Chap. XXI. 



My first experiment was tried in the following 

 manner. Having procured some fine mulberry-plants 

 from the district where the best Chinese silk is pro- 

 duced, I planted them in a W ard's case in the usual 

 way, and watered them well. In two or three days, 

 when the soil was sufficiently dry, a large quantity of 

 tea-seeds were scattered over its surface, and covered 

 with earth about half an inch deep. The whole was 

 now sprinkled with water, and fastened down with a 

 few crossbars to keep the earth in its place. The 

 case was then screwed down in the usual way, and 

 made as tight as possible. 



When the case reached Calcutta the mulberry- 

 plants were found to be in good condition, and the 

 tea-seeds had germinated during the voyage, and 

 were now covering the surface of the soil. Dr. Fal- 

 coner, writing to me upon the receipt of this case, 

 says, " The young tea-plants were sprouting around 

 the mulberries as thick as they could come up." 



During this year (1849) large quantities of seeds 

 were sown in other cases between the rows of young 

 tea-plants. These also germinated on their way to 

 India, and reached their destination in the Himalayas 

 in good condition. 



When the news of the success of these experiments 

 reached me from India, I determined to adopt the 

 same plan when I packed the cases which I was now 

 taking round under my own care. Tea-seeds were 

 therefore sown in all the cases between the rows of 

 young plants. 



Fourteen cases having been packed and prepared 



