66 



CULTIVATION AND MANUFACTURE OF TEA. 



many lacs of seed, in those days worth many thousand 

 rupees, were thus sacrificed. Private planters in the Hima- 

 layas, taught by the Government method, once did the same. 

 I believe the absurd practice is exploded now. 



Seed cannot be sown too soon after being picked. It is 

 ripe early in November, so the beds should be all ready by 

 November, and if the seed has not far to come it can thus 

 be sown early that month. 



To each maund there are in round numbers 30,000 seeds, 

 (see page 56). The number of plants it will take to fill an 

 acre depends, of course, on the distances they are set apart 

 (see page 72), but having decided this point, also the area 

 to be planted, and consequently the number of maunds of 

 seeds to be sown (see page 56), the following table will be 

 found useful in calculating the size of nursery required : 



Table showing the size of nursery required for one maund and 

 ten maunds seed, the drills being 6 inches apart, and each 

 seed 3 inches or 2 inches from its neighbour. 



If nurseries for more than ten maunds are required, then 

 allow ioo yards to be the breadth, and for each extra ten 

 maunds add respectively for 3 or 2 inches (see ist column) 

 50 or 33 yards to the length. Thus fifty maunds will require 

 nurseries ioo yards by 250 yards, or ioo yards by 165 yards, 

 according as it is decided to plant the seed 3 inches or 2 inches 

 apart in the lines. 



