514 



MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 



CH. XXIX. 

 Tea. 



Exports and 

 imports. 



II. The introduction by Government of experts to teach 

 the best method of manufacture. 



III. The purchase of Indian instead of China tea by the 



Commissariat. 



IV. The importation and raising by Government of the best 



kinds of hybrid China and indigenous Assam seed. 



The first concession was partially accorded by Government, 

 the second refused, as also the third, the last was approved, but 

 the approval was practically inoperative. 



In treating of this enterprise, Mr. Breeks urged the import- 

 ance of encouraging tea-planting to the utmost with the view 

 of developing the resources of the N"ilagiris and other hill 

 plateaux, holding that as the plant flourished in climates congenial 

 to the European constitution, it aiforded " the best hope of 

 inducing any number of them to people our hill plateaux.'' This 

 forecast seems likely to be fulfilled as regards the Nilagiris, for in 

 the eight years that have passed since he wrote the area taken up 

 for this cultivation has risen to 4,200 acres, of which 2,550 are 

 mature and ],650 immature plants, the yield of which must 

 approximate 400,000 lb., in value probably not less than Rupees 

 3,50,000. The land taken up for the cultivation exceeds 7,000 

 acres, being double the area so appropriated in 1876. 



The following statement shows the quantity of tea exported 

 from, and imported into, the Presidency from 1869-70 to 1878-79. 

 The figures indicate a rapid increase in the local consumption of 

 tea, as, although much of the tea manufactured in the Presidency 

 is consumed in the country, the imports do not indicate a corre- 

 sponding decline. 



Imports and Exports of Tea into and from Madras Presidency {including 

 foreign and coasting, hut excluding British Ports vnthin the Presi- 

 dency). 



' Imports from Calcutta very small. 



