MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 



527 



this season^ that the seed crop of the preceding year has matured, CH. XXIX. 

 and that of the coming season has formed its flower buds. Except- ^^ 



ing at very low elevations hard pruning every year is not advisable. 



The growth at the higher elevations is not suSiciently strong to 

 enable the plants to stand it. Severe pruning once in from 3 to 4 

 years is sufficient, and should in old estates be accompanied by 

 forking and manuring wherever practicable. 



A few remarks are necessary on the subject of picking. It has —picking. 

 been already stated that after the second trimming, plucking 

 may be commenced from the centre shoots that have made a 

 growth of from 6 to 8 inches : the lighter, within reasonable limits, 

 that these shoots are picked the better. Young plants of this age 

 have seldom many more leaves than are sufficient to keep the 

 plant in health and support vigorous growth. It is only the 

 supernumerary leaves produced in excess of the requirements 

 by a course of artificial treatment that should be picked and made 

 into tea. The planter's object is to produce an excessive and 

 unnatural yield of leaf, and to do this and maintain the trees in 

 health, skilful management is necessary. 



Each of the leaves on the above shoot are known to planters by 

 technical names, as follows : — 



1 At high elevan'ona February and March are the best months in which to 

 prune. — Ed. 



