20 CULTIVATION AND MANUFACTURE OF TEA. 



great advantage this over the steep lands, on which most of 

 the Himalayan gardens, many in Cachar, and some in Assam 

 and Chittagong, are planted. 



Kangra is not the best place for a man who wants to 

 make money by Tea ; but for one who would be content to 

 settle there, and content to make a livelihood by it, a more 

 desirable spot with a more charming climate could not be 

 found. Land, however, is not easily procured. 



The Teas produced in Kangra are of a peculiarly delicate 

 flavour, and are consequently highly esteemed in the London 

 market. 



DARJEELING. 



This, too, I have seen since I published the first edition 

 of this Essay. The elevation of the station, 6,900 feet, is far 

 too great ; but plantations lower down do tolerably well (that 

 is, well for hill gardens). The climate, like all hill climates, 

 is too cold. As regards transport the Darjeeling plantations 

 will be well situated when the railroad now constructing is 

 finished. Like elevations in Darjeeling and Kumaon are in 

 favour of the former, first, because the latitude is less ; 

 secondly, because Darjeeling has much more rain in the spring. 

 I believe, therefore, that the hill plantations of Darjeeling 

 have a better chance of paying than the gardens in Kumaon, 

 but, as stated before, no elevated gardens, that is, none in 

 the Himalayas, have any chance in the race against planta- 

 tions in the plains, always providing the latter are in a good 

 Tea climate. 



In two respects, however, Darjeeling is behind Kumaon. 

 The soil is not so good, and the land is much steeper. It is 

 more than absurd, some of the steeps on which Tea is planted 

 in the former ; and such precipices can, I am sure, never pay. 

 Gardens, barely removed above the Terai (and there are such 



