MANUAL OF THE NILAQIRI DISTRICT. 519 



very serious matter to a man who is opening out largely and CH. XXIX. 

 dependent on Bengal for his supply of seed. An average of from ^^ 



lOjOOO to 12,000 plants per maund of imported seed must be 



considered satisfactory. 



From a maund of seed off my own hybrid plants grown at a 

 mean elevation of 5,400 feet I can as a rule raise from 25,000 to 

 30,000 seedlings, and the plants so raised are in no way inferior to 

 those imported direct from Assam. That the produce of plants 

 grown on the liills at a moderate elevation is quite as good as 

 that imported has been satisfactorily proved. Had the course 

 I proposed been adopted at the time of its suggestion, I feel confi- 

 dent that great stimulus would have been given to tea planting on 

 these hills. 



Mr. Robertson, the Superintendent, Government Farm, Saida- Selection 

 pet, as also did the late Mr. Mclvor, lays great stress upon the ^^^spect and 

 subject of aspect. They maintain that the northern slopes of soil. 

 these hills are invariably better clothed vnth a natural growth 

 of vegetation, and consequently better supplied with springs of 

 water ; also that in addition to these advantages the growth of 

 vegetation on slopes facing the north was more rapid, and the 

 heat during the dry months from the southerly declination of the 

 sun's course less severely felt. It would be presumptuous on my 

 part to pass over the opinion held by such scientific and experi- 

 enced authorities, but I must confess that, after having cultivated 

 the tea plant on all aspects, I have never been able to attribute 

 the freer growth of any one plot of cultivation to aspect alone. 

 Soil and shelter from wind were generally able to account for it. 

 Nor am I of opinion that the richest soils, consequently those 

 best adapted to the successful cultivation of the tea plant, are 

 only to be met with on lands still covered with natural forest. 

 There are large tracts of scrub grass and fern lands, more 

 especially in the sheltered valleys of the eastern slopes, which, 

 no doubt, previous to the immigration of the Badagas to these 

 hills, were covered by natural forest ; and many of these by the 

 secondary growth give positive evidence of the fact. Doubtless 

 the Badagas, on their establishing themselves on these hills, 

 were possessed of sufficiently sound judgment to avail themselves 

 of the right which lay in their power, viz., to select the most 

 favourable sites for the erection of their villages and the cultiva- 

 tion of their crops ; and a careful observer will note that they have 

 almost invariably succeeded in doing so. One of the safest tests 

 of the suitability of a plot of land for tea cultivation is a luxuriant 

 growth of the common bracken fern (Fteris aquiUna). It clearly 

 indicates sufficient moisture, richness of soil, and good drainage. 

 Such lands undoubtedly require constant weeding for the first 

 three years, but amply repay the trouble and care taken with them. 



