CULTIVATION AND MANUFACTURE OF TEA. 



in selling lands is a grievous wrong to the purchasers. Words 

 cannot describe the worry and loss some have suffered thereby, 

 and it might all be so easily avoided. 



I have above detailed two of the drawbacks Tea had to con- 

 tend with in its infancy ; the absurdly high price paid for land 

 was the third. 



Again, companies and proprietors of gardens wishing to 

 have large areas under cultivation gave their managers 

 simple orders to extend, not judiciously, but in any case. 

 What was the result ? Gardens might be seen in those days 

 with 200 acres of so-called cultivation, but with 60 or even 

 70 per cent, vacancies, in which the greater part of the labour 

 available was employed in clearing jungle for 100 acres 

 further extension in the following spring. I have seen no 

 garden in Assam or Cachar with less than 20 per cent, 

 vacancies, many with far more ; and yet most of them were 

 extending. I do not believe now any garden in all India 

 exists with less than 12 per cent, vacancies, but a plantation 

 as full as this did not exist formerly. 



As the expenditure on a garden is in direct proportion to 

 the area cultivated, and the yield of Tea likewise in direct 

 proportion to the number of plants, it follows the course 

 adopted was the one exactly calculated to entail the greatest 

 expenditure for the smallest yield. This unnecessary, this 

 wilful extension, was the fourth and a very serious drawback. 



Under this head the fourth drawback may also be 

 included, the fact that the weeds in all plantations were ahead 

 of the labour ; that is to say, that gardens were not kept 

 clean. This is more or less even the case to-day ; it was the 

 invariable rule then. The consequence was twofold -first, 

 a small yield of Tea ; secondly, an increased expenditure ; for 

 it is a fact that the land 50 men can keep always clean, if the 

 weeds are never allowed to grow to maturity and seed, will 

 take nearer 100 if the weeds once get ahead. The results, 



