304 On the Tea-Plantations in India. 



other cultivation than the mere destruction of the surround- 

 ing forests. Mr Bruce thinks fire is as beneficial to the tea- 

 plant as it is destructive to all others ; and that the only cul- 

 tivation or care that plant requires is merely to burn it down 

 to the roots, by setting fire to the forest in which it is so com- 

 mon. In the first or second year after this. Mr Bruce is of 

 opinion that we shall have nothing more to do than commence 

 the manufacture of tea from an unlimited stock of plants ex- 

 tended over 120 tracts, which those who peruse Mr Bruce's 

 report may consider equivalent in extent to as many districts 

 or even counties. 



Instead of finding Assam one extensive tea-garden, how- 

 ever, we suspect that the Tea Company will find that be- 

 fore they can manufacture, they must begin to plant ; and 

 that circumspection and skill will be required in the selection 

 of the most suitable lands. We have so poor an opinion of 

 the extent of the wild plant, that we think it would hardly 

 do more than afford sufficient seed for new plantations. So 

 far, therefore, from all things being ready in Assam for the 

 extensive manufacture of tea for commercial purposes, as the 

 public are led to imagine from the report of Mr Bruce, we 

 think that every thing is yet to be effected, and that some 

 time and money have been spent in vain, and the public ex- 

 posed to encounter some degree of disappointment, in conse- 

 quence of Mr Bruce's report being allowed to go abroad with- 

 out a few remarks from the Tea Committee to qualify what 

 appears to us the extravagant views contained in it regarding 

 the extent of the tea localities. With the Assam tea, as with 

 other objects of popular interest, nothing is received with fa- 

 vour that does not flatter our expectations, however unreason- 

 able and absurd these may be in reality. We always find in 

 the long-run, however, that we have to pay pretty dearly for 

 our indulgence ; for while few have the moral courage to ex- 

 press an unpopular opinion, thousands live and flourish for a 

 time by the dissemination of popular error, until something 

 happens to give the question another turn. With regard to 

 the subject before us, all we will venture to recommend is, 

 that such flattering reports as the one we have noticed be not 

 allowed to impress us with the idea, that the present stock of 



