TEA IN INDIA AND OTHER COUNTRIES 47 



4,000 plants successfully raised from the seed only 1,200 

 survived. The seriousness of this set back was increased 

 by the fact that the surviving plants would require 

 three or four years before they would yield any seed 

 for nursery purposes, and it was not until 1880 that seed 

 was gathered from them, the quantity obtained being 

 barely sufficient to plant five acres. In the following 

 year, however, the planters returned to their task 

 with undiminished determination, and, in spite of many 

 subsequent discouragements, the acreage gradually 

 increased until at the present time it extends to over 

 4,000 acres. The greater part of this area is in the 

 Lower Tugela Division of the country of Victoria, and 

 tea is also grown to a small extent in the Alexandra 

 Division. 



The most productive tea gardens are at an elevation 

 of about 1,000 feet, the land at this altitude being gene- 

 rally of an undulating character, well watered, and the 

 climate sufficiently humid to encourage leaf-production. 

 The plucking season commences in September and lasts 

 until June of the following year, during which period 

 each bush is picked about sixteen times. 



Undoubtedly the most hopeful outlook for the Natal 

 tea industry lies in capturing the South African market ; 

 for, while the annual import of tea into South Africa is 

 considerably over 6,000,000 Ibs., the annual production 

 of the commodity in Natal does not exceed more than 

 2,000,000 Ibs. In order to satisfy the local demand it 

 would be necessary to increase the present acreage 

 threefold, i.e., to about 13,000 acres. 



TEA IN THE CAUCASUS 



For several years past serious efforts have been made 

 by the Russian Government and by private individuals 



