TEA DISTRICTS. IQ 



to which many owe their ruin), the following appears, 

 showing how small are the number of flushes in the North- 

 west : 



Method of gathering Tea Leaves. The season for gathering 

 leaves generally commences about the beginning of April, and 

 continues until October ; the number of gatherings varies 

 depending on the moistness and dryness of the season. If the 

 season be good, that is to say, if rain falls in the cold weather 

 and spring, and the general rains be favourable, as many as 



five gatherings may be obtained. These, however, 

 T ga e the g r e iSg? ma Y be reduced to three general periods for 



gathering viz., from April to June, from July to 

 August 15, and from September to October 15. If the season 

 be a dry one, no leaves ought to be taken off the bushes after 

 October i, as by doing so they are apt to be injured. If, how- 

 ever, there are good rains in September, leaves can be pulled 

 until October 15, but no later, as by this time they have got 

 hard and leathery and not fitted for making good Teas, and it 

 is necessary to give the plants good rest in order to recruit. 

 Some plants continue to throw out new leaves until the end of 

 November ; but those formed during this month are generally 

 small and tough. 



When this was written, the experience detailed related 

 to Dehra Dhoon, the Kumaon, and Kangra gardens, and 

 we see that five flushes or gatherings are thought good. It 

 however makes matters in this respect (far from a general 

 fault in the said " Records") worse than they are. Ten and 

 twelve flushes, with high cultivation, can be got in the 

 North-west. But what is this as against twenty and twenty- 

 five ? 



Labour is plentiful and cheap. The great distance from 

 the coast makes transport very expensive. 



KANGRA. 

 This is a charming valley, with a delightful climate 



