62 CULTIVATION AND MANUFACTURE OF TEA. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



NURSERIES. 



CHOOSE a level site, with, if possible, the command of water 

 at a higher level anyhow with water handy. Either irri- 

 gating or hand-watering for seed beds is a necessity if vigorous 

 and well-developed plants are to be looked for. 



The soil should be of the light, friable kind recommended 

 for the Tea-plant (see " Soil ") and of the same nature as the 

 soil of the garden, the ultimate home of the plants. This 

 latter is all-important, for seedlings will never thrive (pro- 

 bably not live) transplanted into a new kind of mould, 

 particularly a poorer kind. 



If possible, the soil of the seed beds should be poorer 

 than the soil of the garden on no account richer. Taking 

 care it is of the same nature as the garden soil, choose the 

 poorest you can find. The principle is well known in 

 England, and it applies equally to India. From poor to 

 rich soil plants thrive, but never the other way. 



For the above reason, if you manure seed beds, do it very 

 sparingly. 



Artificial shade for seed beds is a necessity ; at least very 

 many more seeds will germinate when it is given. 



Natural shade over seed beds is very bad ; for, firstly, " the 

 drippings " are highly injurious ; and, secondly, shade is only 

 required till the plants are two or three inches high ; after 

 that any shade is bad, for plants brought up to the time of 

 transplanting in shade are never very hardy. 



Seed beds, where water is handy, should not be dug deep. 

 If so dug, and the soil is consequently loose a long way down, 



