528 MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTEICT. 



CH. XXIX. The convolute hud a is generally known as the flowery pekoe 

 1^ leafj h and c as orange pekoe leaves, e and/ as souchong, and g 



and h, Avere they sufficiently tender in our climate for the purpose 



of manufacture, would turn out the coarse leaf known as congou 

 and bohea. But these leaves are not all picked separately, as 

 their names would lead one to suppose ; the sorting of the teas 

 is accomplished by means of sieves subsequent to manufacture, 

 and will be treated of in its proper place. 



The leaves a and h should be picked together at the point 

 marked in the diagram, the leaves c, d, e, f and g just above the 

 bud at the axil of the leaf, care being taken to leave just sufficient 

 of the leaf above the petiole to protect and support the latent 

 bud. In cases where the planter picks all the leaves, the quality 

 of his teas will be materially improved if the leaves are picked 

 and manufactured separately, but there is little objection to the 

 four leaves a, h, c, d, being picked and manufactured together. 

 The shoots even of old bushes should be allowed to make fair 

 growth for the first few pickings after pruning ; afterwards, when 

 leaves are more numerous, closer plucking may be resorted to. 



The convolute bud at the apex of each shoot is what is ultimately 

 known in the manufactured article as the pekoe tip, that white or 

 orange downy leaf, a full proportion of which shows care in the 

 plucking and manufacture and materially increases the value of 

 the tea. 

 —yield. On the Nilagiris and other elevated hill ranges where tea is 



grown the yield cannot come up in quantity or strength to 

 that of gardens situate in more tropical climates. The hill 

 planter must therefore rely more on the quality than on the 

 quantity of his outturn. 



A good garden of hybrid plants at an elevation of 5,500 to 6,000 

 feet should, under proper treatment, yield when seven years 

 old from 300 to 350 lb. per acre of manufactured tea, and there 

 is every reason to believe that manured and highly-cultivated 

 estates may be made to produce from 350 to 450 lb. per acre. 

 On the western side of the hills, on the high elevations, I think 

 that from 150 to 250 lb. should be looked upon as a satisfactory 

 return.^ 



The following table will give an idea of what outturn may 

 reasonably be expected under favourable circumstances : — 



1st year Nil. 



2nd ,, „ 



1 I think Mr. Brace has put these figures too low. From 200 to 300 lb. is in my 

 opinion a moderate estimate. — Ed, 



