TEA SEED. 55 



If the object is to grow as little seed as possible after the 

 pruning in the cold weather, which destroys the greater part, 

 send round boys to pick off such of the germs as remain. 



If this is done ever so carefully, some will escape, enough 

 say to give one maund seed from 10 acres of garden, and this 

 as a rule is enough to fill up vacancies in a good garden. 



The following figures regarding seed will be found useful, 

 but remember the higher the class of plant the less durable 

 the seed : 



Seven maunds seed, with capsules, give 4 mds. clean seed. 



One maund clean seed (fresh) =26,000 seeds. 



(ten days old) =32,000 



(one month old) =35,000 



Say therefore, in round numbers, that one maund Tea 

 seed = 30,000 seeds. 



With good Tea seed, sown shortly after it is picked, about 

 20,000 will germinate. 



If you get 8,000 to germinate with seed that has come a 

 long distance, you are lucky. 



After a two months' journey 3,000 is probably the outside 

 which will be realised. 



My experience, with seed imported into another District 

 from Assam or Cachar, is that more than 4,500 Seedlings 

 cannot be expected from each maund. 



