178 CULTIVATION AND MANUFACTURE OF TEA. 



Flat land for Tea gardens is a great desideratum. Steep 

 lands are difficult to cultivate ; the soil is continually washing 

 away from the roots of the plants ; it is impossible to manure 

 them successfully, and the consequence of all this is that the 

 Tea bushes do not thrive. 



The Chinese plant gives a small and inferior produce, the 

 indigenous and hybrid kind a larger and very superior one ; 

 thus I think the latter one of the 'necessary conditions for 

 success.' On the other points, with the exception of manur- 

 ing, nothing need be said, inasmuch as their necessity is evi- 

 dent ; but on the point of manure I must say a few words. 

 The Tea plant is being continually denuded of its leaves ; 

 nothing is returned to the soil ; and consequently in process of 

 time that soil is exhausted. It was held once that manure 

 destroyed the flavour of Tea. This idea, at variance with all 

 agricultural experience, is now completely exploded, like many 

 others received from the Chinamen who first came from the 

 Flowery Land to teach the art of Tea cultivation and Tea 

 manufacture to the Indian public. Many of them had never 

 perhaps seen a Tea bush, anyhow in many respects theirs 

 was faulty teaching, and all experienced planters are convinced, 

 and it is truth, that more knowledge on Tea exists in India 

 than China at the present time. 



But to return to the subject of manure. It is, and is now 

 generally allowed to be, a necessity to the lengthened and 

 successful maintenance of a plantation. Means for its produc- 

 tion are now largely adopted in Assam and Cachar, and the 

 results will be a yield per acre the most sanguine have never 

 dreamt of. Chittagong, on this head, has great advantages ; 

 manure in any quantity can there be procured for a trifle : and 

 the results have shown its great value. 



We have scarcely yet entered on the third stage to which 

 any new speculation, after the two first, (the wild venture, and 

 the unreasoning panic have passed) tends ; but as knowledge 



