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The World's Commercial Products 



the most reliable records it would appear that_the tea plant was first introduced into Natal 

 about 1850, from that " clearing-house of the botanical world" — Kew. The most import- 

 ant, fact was that the plants flourished in their new home. Tea-growing as a definite 

 industry, however, was not seriously undertaken until about a quarter of a century 

 later. It will be remembered that the destruction of the coffee plantations by a fungoid 

 disease was essentially the cause of the existence of the now splendid Ceylon tea industry, 

 and it was precisely the same misfortune which in 1877-78 necessitated Natal planters 

 seeking a new field for the investment of their capital. When it became evident that coffee 

 was doomed as a cultivation of first-class importance, Mr. (now Sir) J. L. Hulett became 

 convinced that, with suitable plants, tea would prove the salvation of the planters. The 



WEIGHING THE DAYS PLUCKING IN CEYLON 



matter was brought before the Lower Tugela Planters' Association, and on the Government 

 being asked to render assistance, free freight on seed imported from India was offered to the 

 colonists. The latter formed a syndicate to defray expenses, and seed from Calcutta was landed 

 in Natal in March, 1877, and immediately planted out in nurseries. Unfortunately, about the 

 time the seedlings were planted out a severe drought visited the country, and out of 4,000 plants 

 successfully raised from the seed only 1,200 survived. The seriousness of this set back was in- 

 creased 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 generally 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. 



