File:A naturalist in Western China - with vasculum, camera, and gun, being some account of eleven year's travel, exploration, and observation in the more remote parts of the flowery kingdom; (1913) (14782680345).jpg

Identifier: naturalistinwes02wils (find matches)
Title: A naturalist in Western China : with vasculum, camera, and gun, being some account of eleven year's travel, exploration, and observation in the more remote parts of the flowery kingdom;
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Wilson, Ernest Henry, 1876-1930
Subjects: Botany
Publisher: London, Methuen
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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zechuan, and Sungpan, in the extreme north-west corner of that province. The official route to Lhassapasses through Tachienlu, and this town is the mart for southernand central Thibet, including Lhassa, Chamdo, and Derge.The mart for the Amdo and Kokonor regions generally isSungpan. At this latter town the trade is purely one of barter,tea being taken in exchange for furs, wool, musk, andmedicines. The tea for the two markets is prepared verydifferently, grown in distinct localities, and is best discussedseparately. The tea for the Tachienlu market is practically all grownwithin the prefecture of Yachou Fu, more especially in themountainous districts to the north-west and south of the town.The manufacturing business is controlled by the Governmentand provincial authorities, who issue a definite number oflicences to establishments in the towns of Yachou, Mingshan,Yungching, andTienchiian—all within the Yachou prefecture.The independent department of Kiung Chou, a little to the north-
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BRICK TEA FOR THE TACHIENLU MARKET TEA AND TEA-YIELDING PLANTS 93 east of Yachou, also has a share in this trade, but there thehcences are all issued by the Imperial Government and are notconnected with the provincial authorities at Chengtu. Theindustry is a very ancient one, the plant itself having beengrown in this vicinity since the dawn of the Christian era. To supply the licensed establishments the peasants andfarmers cultivate the tea plant. The culture extends up to4000 feet altitude, the bushes being planted round the sides ofthe terraced fields on the mountain-sides. Very little attentionis given them and they are usually allowed to grow smotheredin coarse weeds to a height of from 3 to 6 feet. Less frequentlyare the bushes kept free of weeds. During the summer monthsthe leaves and young twigs are plucked off and placed, handfulsat a time, in heated pans for a few minutes, and then spreadout in the sun to dry. They are then collected into largesacks or into loose bales and ca

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