8 CULITVATION AND MANUFACTURE OF TEA. 



was a much more elaborate and expensive process than it is 

 now. 



This will be explained further on, under the head of 

 " Tea Manufacture ; " I merely now state the fact in support 

 of the assertion that the bad Tea made in those days, and 

 the expensive way it was done, was the seventh hindrance 

 to successful Tea cultivation. 



Often in those days was a small garden made of 30 or 40 

 acres, and sold to a Company as 150 or 200 acres ! I am 

 not joking. It was done over and over again. The price 

 paid, moreover, was quite out of proportion to even the 

 supposed area. Two or three lakhs of rupees (2o,ooo/. or 

 3o,ooo/.) have been often paid for such gardens, when not 

 more than two years old, and 40 per cent, of the existing 

 area, vacancies. The original cultivators " retired" and the 

 Company carried on. With such drags upon them (apart 

 from all the other drawbacks enumerated) could success be 

 even hoped for ? Certainly not. 



I could tell of more difficulties the cultivation had to 

 contend with at the outset, but I have said enough to show, 

 as I remarked, " that it was not strange Tea enterprise 

 failed, inasmuch as it would have been much stranger if it 

 had not." 



Do any of the difficulties enumerated exist now ? And 

 may a person embarking in Tea to-day hope, with reason- 

 able hope, for success ? Yes, certainly, I think as regard the 

 latter the former let us look into.* 



People who understand more or less of Tea are plentiful, 

 and a good manager, who knows Tea cultivation and Tea 

 manufacture well, may be found. It will scarcely pay to 



* Note to Third Edition. Since the above was written, Teas, both Indian 

 and Chinese, have had a heavy fall, due to the simple fact that the supplies 

 have exceeded the demands. But with increased knowledge and experience, 

 producers can afford to sell cheaper, and the present absurdly low prices 

 ruling will, I think, work their own cure. 



