Abstract
Canopy characteristics were investigated by the stratiform clipping method on Oct. 9th. 1998 in three tea (Camellia sinensis L.) bushes of which the second crop were plucked on Jun. 11, 15 and 19th in 1998. Autumn canopies were structured above the skiffing position of the last autumn in all tea bushes. The weight of branches, the weight of leaves, leaf area index, the number of apical buds and lateral buds concentrated in -4-0cm, 0-+6cm, 0-+6cm, -2-+4cm and -4-+2cm layers (0cm : the plucking position of the second crop, + : upper direction, - : under direction from the position), respectively. These values were higher as the second crop had been plucked later. A simulation of various autumn skiffing heights for these bushes concluded that a later plucking of the second crop induce more buds appeared on the canopy surface keeping enough leaf layer before the next crop.
