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the experiment a complete failure neglected it in 

 Madras, starved it in the Himalayas, and abandoned 

 it altogether in Assam ; that Amung, the Chinaman, 

 who bought the last Government plantation in 

 Assam, succeeded no better with tea, than Mr. Finnic 

 and his brother Americans, did with cotton ; that the 

 Assam Company afrer an expenditure of 200,000 

 in fruitless efforts to make the cultivation pay, found 

 themselves insolvent, and their 20 shares selling 

 at less than a shilling a piece;* and finally it will be 

 seen, that experiments with tea have been in 

 progress for twenty-seven years, arid Government 

 though most anxious to do so, has not yet been 

 able in the Himalayas, to withdraw from the field, 

 without jeopardizing its success. 



Similarly with cotton, there is no record of the past 

 of tea, except what is contained in Dr. Jameson's 

 reports ; and every planter must, consequently, be 

 also an experimentalist. f 



# It is within my knowledge that one gentleman, in 1846-4? 

 bought 150 of the shares of this Company for Rs. 50. They are worth 

 at the present market rate Rs. 72,000. 



t I am at present carrying- on a curious correspondence with a 

 view to ascertain whether tea plants should be planted singly, or in 

 bushes containg six or seven plants. The Assam planters adopt 

 the former, the Himalayan planters the latter plan, each being equally 

 satisfied that the o ther is wrong 1 . No one here can decide between 

 the two. The Chinese do not generally transplant, and sow from six 

 to ten seeds in a hole. In Java they adopt the bush of five plants. 

 But where seed sells at from Rs. 30 to Rs. 150 a mun of SOlbs. it is a 

 question of serious importance to be left undecided, after twenty seven 

 years of experiments. 



