Gathering question

[c-shale]

When I see the % chance of gathering an HQ item if I'm doing botany (for example), is the percentage taken out of all items gathered, or out of all gathering attempts made?

If it's the former, then overall gathering rate is important, but if it's the latter, I just need to focus on the HQ chances..

[Niwashi]

It's the percent chance for each individual gathering attempt (so it's checked 4 or 5 times per node). But first, your gathering rate has to determine that you get something.
So, for each attempt: First, gathering rate determines whether you succeed in getting something, and if so, then that % HQ chance is checked to determine if it's NQ or HQ.