MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 513 



of Mr. Munn in securing suitable land. Shortly after this a garden CH. XXIX. 

 was begun at Kotagiri, and in 1 863 tlie estate known as Belmont -"jT. ^ 

 was formed on the Bishopsdown property in Ootacamand. 



In Sir William Denison's reign some direct encouragement was Ti-a manipu- 

 afforded to the industry by introducing, in 1863, skilled manipula- jj^^.„^| .^„a '^ 

 tors from the North-West Provinces, distributing in 1864 a nmserv 

 supply of tea seed procured from the same source gratuitously, Doddubeita. 

 and by forming (18()4) a small tea nursery for raising good and 

 fresh seed at Doddabetta within the Government Chinchona 

 Plantations. The manipulators remained eighteen months ; their 

 services do not appear to have been much appreciated. The 

 nursery at Doddabetta has been of little use to Government or the 

 public, and is now leased to a private planter. 



The energy however of the Nilagiri planters has sufficed for the A^iicultiuai 

 success of the enterprise without the fostering aid of Government, an^ its*^re3uit3 

 The introduction of the new Waste Land Rules in 1863 was, as to u-a. 

 however, the measure which set this energy free. By the end 

 of 1869 there were probably some two or three hundred acres 

 of tea cultivation in the district. At the Agricultural Exhibition 

 held at Ootacamand in October 1869 no less than eighteen 

 exhibitors appeared. The exhibits were in some cases of very 

 good quality. The teas were with two exceptions black. Report- 

 ing on this product, the Commissioner, Mr. Breeks, wrote : " I 

 attach great importance to tea, viewed as an investment for 

 English capital on these hills. Several private individuals have 

 commenced its cultivation here, and it is most important to 

 ascertain whether it can be carried on profitably. * * * * 

 As far as soil and climate go the practicability of growing tea 

 on the Neilgherries has been established. But the tea plant will 

 grow almost anywhere ; what we want to know is whether, under 

 proper conditions of locality and management, tea planting in 

 the Neilgherries will pay. Labour, means of transit, quantity 

 of produce per acre, are all questions for the planter on the spot. 

 * * * No two planters here manufacture alike ; and colour, 

 strength, and flavour are much affected by elevation.^' 



He suggested to Government the forwarding of the specimens 

 to England for brokers' opinions. The Government approved 

 the suggestion. The brokers' report will be found in G.O., 

 16th September 1870. Many of the exhibits were pronounced 

 good and some very good, the values ranging from Is. 4cZ. to Qs. 

 per pound. The Government, in agreeing to the above proposal, 

 requested the Commissioner to report as to the steps to be taken 

 to develope the enterprise. This report will be found in G.O., 5th 

 October 1871, Revenue Department. The planting community 

 suggested the following measures : — 



I. Free tenure of land for a certain period. 



66 



