48 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. IV. 
dant, but no camphor is extracted or exported from the 
island. The green-tea shrub {Thea viridis) is culti- 
vated everywhere ; but, if we except a small quantity 
which is annually sent over to the main land — to Ning-po 
and the adjacent towns — the whole of the produce is 
used by the inhabitants themselves. Every small farmer 
and cottager has a few plants on his premises, which he 
rears with considerable care, but seems to have no wish 
to enter on its cultivation on a larger scale. Indeed, it 
is questionable if it would answer, as the soil is scarcely 
rich enough ; and, although the shrub grows pretty well, 
it is far from being so luxuriant as it is in the larger tea 
districts on the main land. The forests of different 
varieties of bamboo are very striking, and give a kind of 
tropical character to the Chusan scenery. I do not 
know anjrthing more beautiful than the yellow bamboo, 
with its clean and straight stem, and graceful top and 
branches waving in the breeze : it always reminded me 
of our young larch forests at home. The fir-tree, found 
in the south, is also common in this part of China : it 
seems to be an exception to a general rule, being met 
with all over the country, and in every degree of lati- 
tude. Here the Cunninghaonia sinensis, another of 
the pine tribe, is also found in abundance : it is more 
rare in the south. Besides these, there are several species 
of C3rpress and juniper, which are always found growing 
around the tombs of the wealthy, which are scattered 
over the valley and hill- sides. 
In fruits Chusan is meagre indeed. All the peaches, 
grapes, pears, plums, oranges, &c., which are brought 
to the markets of Tinghae in the summer season, are 
