EFFECT OF CHANGES OF SYSTEM OF WORKING. 



And here, as part of the introduction, to the study of the con. 

 ditions existing in tea soils and their improvement, 1 cannot help 

 remarking that, given the best soil in the world, a constant change 

 in the system of dealing with the bushes will so ruin the tea that 

 a time will come when it will no longer be possible either by prun- 

 ing or by treating the soil to bring them back to anything like a 

 reasonable yield. Such tea must be uprooted and replanted, or 

 abandoned. But it seems a very great pity that tea should be 

 allowed to get into such a condition. I know there are many 

 different ways of dealing with a tea bush all, it may be, equally or 

 almost equally good. Two of the best gardens I know on the south 

 bank of the Brahmaputra have been treated by almost entirely 

 opposite systems of pruning, but the same system has been applied for 

 many years in each case and an equally good result is obtained, 



It would almost seem, if such a system were feasible and I 

 hardly see why it should not be that a plan should be laid out 

 ahead for five or ten years for pruning every plot of tea, and this 

 whatever manager were in charge, should only be altered for some 

 very special reason. The present method of going round each 

 plot with a knife in December, and there and then deciding the 

 year's pruning without reference to the past history of the bush is, I 

 think, far too casual an arrangement for an industry in which the 

 bushes represent both capital and stock in trade. 



SUMMARY. 

 Summarising therefore it may be said that 



(1) The older parts of the Assam gardens are gradually 



deteriorating in yield, and it may be also in quality. 



(2) It is unsound to try and make up for this loss in yield 



by putting out new clearances. 



(3) This deterioration can be largely stopped by the judi- 



cious use of manures, principally obtained locally. 



(4) No new clearance should be put out unless the old area 



is producing its maximum, or it is intended to abandon 

 an area equivalent to the new clearance. 



