108 CULTIVATION AND MANUFACTURE OF TEA. 



I advise the following plan in picking. Please refer to 

 the diagram : 



If the garden has been severely pruned (as it ought to 

 be) take only the bud a for two flushes : then for two more 

 nip the stalk above i, taking the upper part of leaf c, as 

 shown (done with one motion of the fingers). But from the 

 fifth flush take off the shoot at the line above 2, and by 

 a separate motion of the fingers take off the part of leaf e 

 where the black line is drawn. By this plan, when the rains 

 begin, the trees will show a large picking surface, for plenty 

 of buds will have been preserved for new growth. After the 

 month of August you may pick lower if you like, as you 

 cannot hurt the trees. For instance, you may nip the stalk 

 and upper part of leaf e together, and separately the upper 

 part of/. 



The principle of picking is to leave the bud at the axis 

 of the leaf down to which you pick intact. 



Some planters pick all through the season at the line 

 above i, and take the d and perhaps the e leaf separately. I 

 do not like the plan, for though it will make strong Teas, the 

 yield will be small. Moreover, the plants will form so much 

 foliage ; they will not flush well ; and again, they will grow 

 so high that boys who pick will not readily reach the top. 



Shortly, the principle I advocate is to prune severely, so 

 that the plant in self-defence must throw out many new 

 shoots ; to be sparing and tender with these until the 

 violence done to the tree is in a measure, but not quite, 

 repaired ; then, till September, to pick so much that the 

 wants of the plant in foliage are never quite attained ; and 

 after September to take all you can get. 



I believe this principle (for the detailed directions given 

 may be varied, as for instance when trees have not been 

 heavily pruned) will give the largest yield of leaf, and will 

 certainly not injure the plants. 



