MANCTAL OF THE NILAGIBl DISTRICT, 515 



The following paper has been kindly prepared by Mr. Brace, CH. XXIX. 

 one of the earliest tea planters in the district. Mr. Brace has also 

 had considerable experience in tea cultivation in Northern India. 

 I have onaitted the introductory historical notice and remarks 

 relating to climate and soil, regarding which information is given 

 elsewhere. 



Tea. 



MONOGEAPH ON THE CULTIVATION OF TEA ON THE 

 NILAGIEIS. 



(By E. J. C. Brace, Esq., of K6tagiri.) 



Suitability of climate and soils of the district for growth of tea. — Varieties of the 

 plant — the China — the indigenous — the hybrid. — Selection of seed. — Selection of 

 land — aspect and soil — lay of land — clearing — shelter— terracing — lining — 

 pitting —planting. — Nurseries — propagation by cuttings — cultivation and 

 pruning — yield. — Manuring — manures and their application. — Weeding. — 

 Fodder crops. — Manufacture — difference between black and green teas. — 

 Manufacture of black tea — withering — rolling — second rolling — rolling by 

 machinery— colouring — drying appliances— drying off — storing — tasting teas. — 

 Manufacture of green tea — sifting — packing. 



For all practical purposes the Nilagiris may, as regards their Suitability of 

 Buitability for tea cultivation, be divided into two main divisions/ soj^^for^tea 

 each having a different climate, which not only necessitates the 

 cultivation of a different class of plant, but also a different course of 

 treatment. A line drawn across the map of the Nilagiri District, 

 from Kodanad on the north to Melkunda on the south, will as 

 nearly as possible effect the de.sired demarcation. The eastern 

 half will show the warm and sheltered side, which is not only 

 protected from the violence of the south-west monsoon, but also 

 less subject to the cold dry winds of the winter season. The 



* Since the above lines were wi-itten the large tract of country known as South. 

 East Wainad has been added to the Nilagiri District. I am of opinion that both 

 the climate and soil are all that could be desired for successful cultivation of the 

 tea plant, and am confident that with a good selection of plant, and equally high 

 cultivation, gardens here will rival both in quantity and quality of their produce 

 the best gardens of Assam and Cachar. Pure indigenous plants might be grown 

 here with the greatest success. There are several classes of soils unsuited to coffee, 

 but on which tea will thrive. The ti-aveller passing through Waindd can hardly 

 fail to notice, on almost every estate, a greater or less extent of exhausted or 

 1 diseased coffee, the maintenance of which can hardly be compensated for by the 

 crop. Yet these same poor fields might be made to yield excellent crops of tea. 

 In some places the pi-evalence of bug, borer, or leaf disease renders coffee cultivation 

 a very precarious investment, but as tea is never matei'ially affected by these pests 

 it may be gi-own with safety. The worst enemy of the tea plant is the red spider, 

 but that has not hitherto, to my knowledge, been met with in Southern India. 



Better grown tea plants than those now coming into bearing in the Ouchterlony 

 Valley could not, I believe, be found in Assam or Cachar, and the teas produced 

 there should, with careful manufacture, hold their own well in the London market. 



