630 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



but it is very much weaker, and the value of Indian tea (in the present state of the 

 home market, where it is principally used for giving "body" to the washy stuff 

 from China) consists in its strength. Another all important point in fixing on a 

 climate for tea is the fact that, apart from the strength, the yield is double in hot, 

 moist climes what it is in comparatively dry and temperate ones. A really pleasant 

 climate to live in can not be a good one for tea. 



Nevertheless, in describing the various tea districts of India, Col. 

 Money does not hesitate to speak highly of the tea produced in several 

 of the elevated and more temperate climates, as for example: "The 

 teas produced in Kangra (elevation 3,000 feet) are of a peculiarly deli- 

 cate flavor, and are consequently highly esteemed in the London mar- 

 ket. 7 ' Or again: "Some of the teas (from the Neilgherries, 7,490 feet 

 elevation) have sold very well in the London market, for as regards 

 delicacy of flavor they take a high place." And in reference to the gen- 

 erally elevated Ceylon tea gardens, he remarks: "I believe, take it all 

 in all, Ceylon tea is no better and no worse than Indian teas." 



"Tea Cultivation in India" contains the following reference to cli- 

 mate: 



Tea, it may be premised, will grow almost anywhere, but not very many climates 

 will enable it to pay. To describe the best climate in two words, we point confi- 

 dently to eastern Bengal a hot, moist climate, where the thermometer in the shade 

 never exceeds 95, never falls below 55; where the rainfall yearly aggregates 100 to 

 130 inches ; where there is never any long drought, but where rain falls at reasonable 

 intervals all the year round; where heavy dews are frequent; where morning fogs 

 are not uncommon; where the sun shines hot in an atmosphere perfectly free from 

 dust; whore at no season can a breath of hot wind be felt; where light, penetrating 

 rain is more common than furious downpours. Fever and tea go together. It may 

 be a painful fact for tea-planters, but it is no less true. No highly successful tea 

 district can ever be a healthy one. 



Iii at least partial con tro version of the preceding quotations, Mr. 

 Armstrong has written in "Tea Cultivation in Ceylon," as follows: 



The higher the elevation the less rainfall is required, and vice versa. Light 

 showers, alternating with sun, if we could order them so, would give us 1,000 pounds 

 an acre at 5,000 feet elevation. The higher we go the better our soil must be. I 

 have known many instances of estates up to 3,000 feet giving 400 to 600 pounds per 

 acre up to 5 years of age ; and at 4,000 to 5,000 feet, from 360 to 420 pounds per acre. 



It will be noted that these yields of tea are exceptionally good and 

 that the climate at the latter elevation can not be otherwise than tem- 

 perate. 



But granting that the production under the Assamese" climatic con- 

 ditions is exceedingly favorable, of what transcendent importance is it 

 if the public dislikes the tea? Mr. Samuel Baildon, in "The Tea In- 

 dustry in India," writes : 



Many Indian planters, while finding their teas too strong for their own drinking, 

 have, through insufficiently reasoning the matter out. thought that Indian tea might 

 be drunk alone, and that an injustice was done to the industry in using their teas 

 for fortifying weaker China ones. But as some of the Indian growths are much too 

 strong for use by themselves, and as a large proportion of the China tea imports into 

 England require strengthening, these strong growths from India which can not.be 

 used alone are valuable for giving strength to inferior Chinese teas, and for this 

 reason only. Indian teas of unpalatable strength predominate over those of medium 

 strength. " Planters whose only experience of Indian tea has been obtained in Assam, 

 or districts where the strongest kinds are grown, have no idea of the really fine, deli- 

 cately flavored teas that are sent to England from other districts teas that undoubt- 

 edly are well suite:! for drinking alone. I well know the regular cries about Indian 

 teas being far more economical tuan Chinese ones, and I believe in and advocate the 

 practice whenever 1 can, but only as applied to Neilgherry, Kangra Valley, or finer 

 Darjeeiing teas. Some of the produce from these districts is delicious and possesses 

 a delicacy of flavor which can not be compared with anything coming from Assam. 



The accompanying table exhibits the mean monthly temperature and 

 rainfall, together with other interesting data, of the climates of several 



