30£ TEA CULTIVATION. 



the preceding report) without disturbing present possessions, and 

 thus exciting more than the ordinary and normal native disgust 

 at the novelty, the present generation may yet behold the now 

 jealous occupants of rice and wheat fields, humble applicants for 

 Tea seeds."'-" 



Such, too, is the opinion of the District-officer, Captain Ramsay. 

 This season Mr Batten informs me that in several districts, though 

 the crops have been immense, yet the Zemindars find difficulty in 

 paying their revenue, as the market is so glutted with the grain it 

 will not pay the carriage. 



If proofs were wanting, in order to show the advantages of Tea 

 cultivation throughout the Kohistan and British hill provinces, 

 stronger could not be brought forward than the facts here 

 stated. 



Here we have the agricultural population with grain lying on 

 their hands as a perfect drug, and not worth carriage to the avail- 

 able markets, and at the same time complaining that owing to 

 the abundant harvest prevailing throughout the country they 

 cannot pay the revenue. Were the system prevailing in China 

 (according to the statements of Mr. Fortune) introduced into the 

 British Himalayahs, viz. a certain quantity of Tea cultivation in 

 each village community, we could no longer hear the above com- 

 plaints, as for tea-leaves there could always be a ready and remu- 

 nerative market; moreover, the high rate at which they could be 

 purchased at the manufactories, viz. 8 rupees per maund, could 

 admit of their transport by the Zemindars from a great distance, 

 even 60 or 70 miles, with profit. But one of the greatest obstacles 

 to the cultivation of the Tea-plant by Zemindars is the dread that 

 land so occupied will be charged at a higher rate than other produce, 

 or resumed by government. To remove these prejudices steps 

 are now being taken by the commissioner. Let these once be 

 removed, and the agricultural population! convinced of the utility 

 of Tea cultivation, and we shall no longer hear that there are 

 no available lauds. 



Crops cultivated in the Kangra valley. — In the Kangra valley 

 and in the Kohistan of the Punjab, we find the following crops. 



The Khurreef crop, which is sown from February to April, and 

 reaped in October to December. 



Sanwuck or samuk (Panicum frumentaceum). 



* Batten's Report, page 271. 

 t This season many Zemindars have applied for plants and seeds. For 

 extension there will be upwards of three tons of seeds available. 



