HORTKTTLTTTRE. 649 



different periods of liarvestintr, and of the effect of rain and temperatnre on 

 the yield. In most cases the data iriven. covering different months of the iilnck- 

 ins season from Jnne to November of each year inclnsive, are tabnlated and 

 further illustrated by jii-aphical diagrams. 



With regard to the relation of yield and weather, it appears from the data 

 obtained that either an excessively high temperature or an excessive rainfall 

 causes a drop in the yield of leaf, although at the end of the season the fall 

 in temperatnre is accompanied, as might be expected, T)y a corresjionding 

 decline in the leaf growth. 



The experimental plats consisted of old or more or less deteriorated stands 

 of tea and the soil was of a very light and sandy nature, containing over 00 

 per cent of silicates. The chief purpose of the experiments was to determine 

 the best means of restoring the vigor of these plantations. Witji the cattle 

 manure applications were made of 20 tons per acre (applied triennially) and 

 of 6§ tons per acre applied annually. Of the oil cakes 2 forms were used, 

 mustard cake and castor meal, both being broadcasted in applications of either 

 1,2.'')0 lbs. jter acre triennially, or one-third of this amount per acre applied 

 annually. As compared with the cattle manure the use pf oil cake was found 

 to be more economical although cattle manure is necessary on soils i»oor in 

 organic matter. The best results were secured by the use of about 410 lbs. of 

 nuistard cake applied annually, this giving an increased yield of oOO lbs. of tea 

 per acre at an increased cost for production of 3 cts. per po\ind. With the 

 stable manure the effect of the dressing was more marked the second year. The 

 larger dressing pi'odnced the greatest effect, while with the oil cake dressings 

 the effect was immediate and proved to be almost as great when the smaller 

 quantity was used as with the larger amount. The quality of the leaf was not 

 affected by the use of either cattle manure or oil cake. The improvement of 

 the bush was noticeable in both instances but appeared to be greater with the 

 oil cake. 



On account of the increasing price of oil cake attempts were made to deter- 

 mine whether satisfactory results could be secured by the use of purely artificial 

 manures, and several well-known ingredients were tested. These experiments 

 resulted in a continuous increase in yield throughout the two seasons, but it is 

 believed that the use of either superphosphate and sulphate of potash or of basic 

 slag and sulphate of potash alone without manures containing nitrogen will 

 prove too costly. In no case has the quality of the leaf suffered from the appli- 

 cation of artificial manures except possibly slightly at the end of the season 

 with nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia used alone. Sulphate of ammonia 

 gave the best results at an increased cost of about 12f cts. per pound of tea. 

 From the experiments as a whole it appears that oil cake is the cheapest ferti- 

 lizer for manuring purposes, the next cheapest form at pi-esent being sulphate 

 of anunonia. The experiments with commercial fertilizers have not been con- 

 ducted sufliciently long to determine the most economical pi'oportions of each 

 to use and they may eventually prove to be cheaper than oil cake when used in 

 the right projiortion. 



The results in green manuring for KtOH have already been noted (E. R. K., 

 IS, p. 3.37). Of the plants suggested to be grown as annual crops among the 

 tea, the following have been tested and I'eported on: Mati-kalai (Pha.'ieoJu.'i 

 mungo), iMaxinchni l^cfihania cannnhina), groundnuts, Crotoluria striritn. and 

 arahar dhal {Cajanus indicus). Of these crops mati-kalai and dhaincha are 

 said to be without rival under Assam conditions as green manuring i)lants 

 among tea and are recommended for general use. The latter plant is said to 

 have some advantages over the former since it is neither a creeper nor a 

 favorite food of cattle and goat.s, and grows in poorer land 



