218 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. XIV. 
on this hill-side is moderately rich, that is, it contains a 
considerable portion of vegetable matter mixed with the 
clay, sand, and particles of rock. 
By far the greatest portion of the tea in this part of 
the countr)^ is cultivated on the sloping sides of the hills. 
I observed a considerable quantity also in gardens on 
the level land in a more luxuriant state even than that 
on the hill -sides ; but these gardens were always a con- 
siderable height above the level of the river, and were 
consequently well drained. It will be observed, there- 
fore, that the tea-plants on Woo-e-shan and the sur- 
rounding country were growing under the following cir- 
cumstances : — 
1. The soil was moderately rich, of a reddish colour, 
well mixed with particles of the rocks of the district. 
2. It was kept moist by the peculiar formation of the 
rocks and the water which was constantly oozing from 
their sides. 
3. It was well drained, owing to the natural declivities 
of the hills, or, if on the plains, by being a considerable 
height above the watercourses. 
These seem to be the essential requisites, as regards 
soil, situation, and moisture. 
In the black-tea districts, as in the green, large quan- 
tities of young plants are yearly raised from seeds. 
These seeds are gathered in the month of October, and 
kept mixed up with sand and earth during the winter 
months. In this manner they are kept fresh until 
spring, when they are sown thickly in some corner of 
