TEA DISTRICTS. IJ 



is less cold weather, but inferior in the more important 

 fact that much less rain falls in the spring. In this latter 

 respect it is also inferior to Assam, particularly to Northern 

 Assam. There is one part of Chittagong, the Hill Tracts 

 (Tea has scarcely been much tried there yet), which, in the 

 fact of spring rains, is superior to other parts of the pro- 

 vince, as also in soil, for it is much richer there. On the 

 whole, however, Chittagong must yield the palm to both 

 Assam and Cachar on the score of climate, and also, I 

 think, of soil. For though good rich tracts are occasionally 

 met with, they are not so plentiful as in the two last-named 

 districts. Always, however, excepting the Hill Tracts of 

 Chittagong ; there the soil is, I think, quite equal to either 

 Assam or Cachar. 



As regards labour (a very essential point to successful 

 Tea cultivation), Chittagong is most fortunate. With few 

 exceptions (and those only partial) all the plantations are 

 carried on with local labour, which excepting for about 

 two months, the rice-time is abundant. 



For transport (being on the coast with a convenient 

 harbour, a continually increasing trade, ships also running 

 direct to and from England), it is very advantageously 

 situated. 



Chittagong possesses another advantage over all other 

 Tea districts in its large supply of manure. The country 

 is thickly populated, and necessarily large herds of cattle 

 exist. The natives do not use manure for rice (almost the 

 sole cultivation), and, consequently, planters can have it 

 almost for the asking. The enormous advantages of manure 

 in Tea cultivation are not yet generally appreciated : it 

 will certainly double the ordinary yield of a Tea garden. 

 A chapter is devoted to this subject. 



