530 MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 



(m. XXIX. sufficient extent in the manures generally in use among planters. 

 'jT^ Lime, which is generally found present to a considerable extent 



in the ashes of most other plants, appears only to an inappreciable 



extent in the ash of the tea leaf, the ash of few of the best tea soils 

 containing I'SO per cent, of this substance in any form; but, 

 considering the almost total deficiency of our soils as regards 

 lime, it should not be altogether lost sight of in the manures 

 applied. The plants will absorb sufficient for their requirements, 

 rejecting any excess that the soil may contain. 



I am indebted to the Indian Tea Gazette of June 20th, 1877, 

 for the following extract : — 



"In order to determine now what mineral plant-food a would-be 

 good tea soil must contain, and in what proportion, we must base our 

 remarks upon the tea-plant itself, and upon the inorganic substances 

 in it as revealed by an analysis of its ashes. 



" Mr. Schrottky gives the composition of the ashes of young leaves 

 of the Assam hybrid tea-plant as follows : — 



In 100 Parts. 



Chloride of Sodium 



Do. Soda 



Do. Potash 



Do Magnesia 



Do. Lime 



Oxide of Iron and Manganese 

 Phosphoric Acid 

 Silica 



and states that old leaves and stems will contain more lime aud siHca 

 than here represented." 



Present limits will not allow of my entering at any length on 

 the chemistry of the tea-plant. I must content myself with 

 making a few remarks on the object for which manures are 

 applied, those best suited to the tea-planter's requirements, and 

 the best method for their application. 



The planter's object in applying manm^es must not merely be 

 to return to the soil those substances of which previous crops 

 have deprived it, but also, by the judicious application of those 

 substances which form the chief constituents of the plant he 

 intends to cultivate, to increase its capacity for producing crops. 



The leading substances which enter into the composition of the 

 tea plant, and in one or more of which the majority of our tea 

 soils are presumably deficient, are phosphoric acid, potash, lime, 

 and sulphuric acid. Silica is always present in abundance. 



