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to the Supreme Government ' that the experiment 

 had completely failed ; and that with the exception 

 of a few plants on the Neelghiri Hills, and in 

 the Nugger country, the rest [had] withered away/ 

 It must not be concluded, however, from this, that 

 no part of the south of India will grow tea; as from 

 the unavoidable ingorance of those entrusted with 

 the charge of these early experiments, no other 

 result could have been anticipated. 



The 20,000 plants destined for Assam fared little 

 better. They were sent up in boats in the care 

 of a Sergeant. When they reached Assam, 8,000 

 only were living. But even this nucleus would, 

 in time, have served to propagate the plant, had 

 proper precautions been observed in organizing the 

 nurseries and plantations prepared to receive them. 

 Such, however, was not the case, and as it will not 

 be altogether uniustructive, I will here trace the 

 progress of these ' unfortunate plants/ 



' A spot T says Dr. Griffith ' was fixed upon (as a 

 nursery) by the Deputation, at Chykwa, appearing to 

 possess the requisite peculiarities of soil and situation. 

 The spot was completely cleared for the reception of 

 plants, and after a considerable time had elapsed, 

 owing to the difficulty of procuring labourers, they 

 were at length, under the superintendence of Mr. 

 BRUCE and of a malee from the Botnnic Gardens, 

 removed to their final destination. About August, I 

 visited the Nursery with Lieut. MILLAR, commanding 



