370 TEA DISTKICTS OF CHINA. Chap. XXII. 



the whole of the plantation consists of numerous 

 trenches. At right angles with these trenches a 

 small stream is led from the canal, and by opening or 

 shutting their ends irrigation can be carried on at the 

 pleasure of the overseer. 



The plants generally did not appear to me to be 

 in that fresh and vigorous condition which I had 

 been accustomed to see in good Chinese plantations. 

 This, in my opinion, is caused, 1st, by the plantation 

 being formed on flat land; 2nd, by the system of 

 irrigation; 3rd, by too early plucking; and 4th, 

 by hot drying winds, which are not unfrequent in 

 this valley from April to the beginning of June. 



Leaving the Doon, we took the hill-road for Paorie, 

 near which was the next tea-plantation on our route. 

 This road led us through the well-known hill stations 

 of Mussooree and Landour. As we ascended the 

 mountains, it was curious to mark the changes which 

 took place in the character of the vegetable produc- 

 tions. On the plains and lower sides of these hills 

 such plants as Justicia Adhatoda, Bauhinia racemosa 

 and variegata, Vitex trifolia, Grislea tomentosa, &c, 

 grew in the greatest profusion. Higher up, say 3000 

 or 4000 feet above the level of the sea, Berberis 

 asiatiea makes its appearance, while nearer the top 

 we find Oaks, Rhododendrons, Berberis nepalensis, 

 Andromeda ovalifolia, Viburnums, Spiraeas, and many 

 other plants which are either hardy or half-hardy in 

 England. 



The mountains about Mussooree and Landour are 

 nearly 8000 feet above the level of the sea. Their 



