TEA TREE. 
151 
with it. It likewise appears from the abbe Gro- 
sier’s account that they differ in another respect, 
since the Chinese of the province of Kiang-nan are 
the only people who crop the tea shrub ; for every 
where else it is suffered to grow to its natural size, 
which sometimes, says Grosier, extends to ten or 
twelve feet. When the tree is very young, they 
take care also to incline and bend down its branches, 
that they may collect its leaves afterwards with 
greater ease. This shrub seems particularly to de- 
light in sheltered valleys, the declivities of hills, 
or the banks of rivers where it enjoys a southern 
exposure to the sun. These warm situations are not, 
however, absolutely necessary to the welfare of the 
> plant, since it grows in the northern clime of Pekin, 
as well as about Canton. It is also to be found on 
the rugged tops of steep mountains, whose sides 
are sometirnes inaccessible. When this is the case, 
the Chinese, in order to come at the leaves, make 
use of a singular stratagem. These steep places are 
generally frequented by great numbers of monkeys, 
which, being irritated and provoked, revenge them- 
selves by tearing off' the branches, and showering 
them down upon their enemies, who immediately 
collect the fragments and strip them of their leaves. 
Gathering of the heaves. 
We are indebted to Ksepipfer for the best account 
of this process, who tells us that, at the proper 
season for gathering the leaves, those who plant 
many shrubs hire a number of labourers, whose 
