TEA DISTRICTS. I/ 



are occasionally met with, they are not so plentiful as in the 

 two last-named districts. Always, however, excepting the 

 Hill Tracts of Chittagong ; there the soil is, I think, quite 

 equal to either Assam or Cachar. 



As regards labour (a very essential point to successful Tea 

 cultivation) Chittagong is most fortunate. With few excep- 

 tions (and those only partial) all the plantations are carried 

 on with local labour, which excepting for about two months, 

 the rice-time, is abundant. 



For transport (being on the coast with a convenient har- 

 bour, a continually increasing trade, ships also running direct 

 to and from England), it is very advantageously situated. 



Chittagong possesses another advantage over all other 

 Tea districts in its large supply of manure. The country is 

 thickly populated, and necessarily large herds of cattle exist. 

 The natives do not use manure for rice (almost the sole cul- 

 tivation), and, consequently, planters can have it almost for 

 the asking. The enormous advantages of manure in Tea cul- 

 tivation are not yet generally appreciated. It will certainly 

 double the ordinary yield of a Tea garden. A chapter is 

 devoted to this subject. 



TERAI BELOW DARJEELING. 



I have seen this, and the Tea in it, since I wrote the first 

 edition of this Essay. 



The soil is very good for Tea. The climate is also a good 

 one, but there is not as much rain in the early part of the 

 year as planters could wish. Much difficulty exists about 

 labour, owing to the very unhealthy climate. As the jungle 

 is cleared, however, this last objection will be in a measure 

 got over. As it stands now, it is perhaps the most unhealthy 

 Tea locality in India. 



C 



