63 



and the manufacture of the leaf were much 

 improved. 



In 1852, the Marquis of D.tlhousie then Governor 

 General of India, visited the Kangra Valley and he 

 was so pleased with the success which had attended 

 the two small experimental gardens established at 

 Nag ro \vtah and Bowarnah, that he sanctioned a 

 plantation on an extensive scale being commenced 

 at Holta. The Kangra valley is about four thousand 

 feet above the level of the sea. It is charmingly 

 situated. Indeed in every respect, this favored spot, 

 whether we view it in. regard to the suitability of 

 the soil for growing tea, the salubrity of its climate 

 in connection with the encouragement of European 

 settlers, or the picturesque beauty of its situation, 

 would seem to have been a most happy selection. 

 A tract of land, of about a thousand acres, was 

 secured, which Mr. Fortune subsequently described 

 as so peculiarly well suited, as to soil and climate, for 

 tea cultivation that I subjoin the extract : 



"This extent of land ' said he in one of his 

 reports to Government 'is bounded on the East and 

 West by two mountain streams which have their 

 sources amongst the snows of the Chumba range. 

 It is very undulating in its general formation, and 

 consists of numerous spurs running out from the 

 mountains, dipping to the South, and sloping gently 

 to the Eastward and Westward. Everywhere it is 

 abundantly supplied with streams of fine water, 



