97 



CHAPTER XXII. 



FLUSHING AND NUMBER OF FLUSHES. 



THE Tea plant is said to flush when it throws out new 

 shoots and leaves. The young leaves thus produced are 

 the only ones fit to make Tea, and the yield of a plantation 

 depends therefore entirely on the frequency and abundance 

 of the flushes. 



The way a flush is formed is fully explained under the 

 head of " leaf picking" (pages 103, 104, and 107). 



The number of flushes in different plantations varies 

 enormously, owing, first, to climate ; secondly, to soil ; thirdly, 

 to the pruning adopted ; fourthly, to the degree of cultiva- 

 tion given ; and fifthly, though not least, to the presence or 

 absence of manure. 



How to secure all these advantages to their fullest 

 extent is shown under those heads, and we have here only 

 to consider what is a low, a medium, and a high rate of 

 flushing per season. 



In doing this we must speak of elevated (as Himalayan) 

 gardens separately. The cool climate of heights makes it 

 impossible for Tea to flush there as on the plains. 



Speaking generally of elevated gardens (the higher they 

 are the shorter the period, and vice versa), seven months 

 may be considered as the average producing period, viz., 

 from beginning of April to end of October, and during that 

 time twelve to fifteeen flushes may be obtained, which, 

 I believe, with high cultivation and liberal manuring, can 

 be increased to eighteen. 



In all localities, with favourable Tea climates, the plants 



H 



