TEA SEED. 25 



days until most of the capsules have split. It is then 

 shelled, and the clean seed laid on the floor of any building 

 where it will remain dry. Sunning it after shelling is 

 objectionable. 



The sooner it is sown after it is shelled the better. 



If for any reason it is necessary to keep it, say a fortnight 

 or three weeks before sowing, it is best kept towards germi- 

 nating in layers covered with dry mould. But if to be kept 

 longer leave it on the dry floor as above, taking care it is 

 thinly spread (not more than one seed thick if you have 

 space) and collected together, and re-spread every day to 

 turn it. 



For transport to a distance it should be placed in coarse 

 gunny bags only one-third filled. If these are shaken and 

 turned daily during transit a journey of a week will not very 

 materially injure the seed. 



For any long journey it is best placed in layers in 

 boxes with thoroughly dry and fine charcoal between the 

 layers, and sheets of paper here and there to prevent the 

 charcoal running to the bottom. 



It is scarcely necessary to consider how Tea seed can be 

 utilized when not saleable, for seed prevents leaf, and there- 

 fore it should not be grown if there is no market for it. It 

 will, however, make oil, but the price it would fetch for this 

 purpose would not compensate for the diminished yield of 

 leaf it had caused. It is also valuable as manure mixed 

 with cattle-dung, but it would not pay to grow it for this 

 purpose either. 



My advice therefore is to allow no more seed on the 

 garden than you require for your own use (even the fullest 

 gardens require some yearly) or than you can sell at a 

 remunerative price. 



If the object is to produce a considerable quantity of 

 seed, set apart a piece of the plantation for it, and do not 



