.73 



I think it may be said that there is absolutely no evidence of this 

 being the case, and such reasonable quantity would be not much 

 more than 10 tons per acre, Of course if an enormous quantity 

 were added, one could not guarantee that an unnatural growth 

 would not be produced (as has, indeed, been shown to be the case with 

 many fruit trees), but the amount I have named could, I am sure, 

 be applied with perfect safety. 



Cattle manure will suit almost any Assam soil, but it is 

 specially indicated on those which are heavier than the average, 

 and its addition would much benefit such lanfd. Very light sand 

 also, especially such as lies over clay would also derive very great 

 advantage from the application, The manure as stated above, 

 should be applied, when well rotted, before the early spring hoe, 

 and immediately buried by the hoeing. Its effect should be visible 

 in May and continue throughout the season, 



One objection has been raised against the use of cattle manure^ 

 that it encourages the orange beetle in the garden, I have been, 

 however, unable to trace any connection, and fancy that the preval- 

 ence of jungle and especially of ulu grass has more to do with the 

 presence of the beetle than the manure application. 



FILLING IN VACANCIES. 



In one matter I regard cattle manure as all but indispensable, 

 namely the filling in of vacancies. There still remain men who 

 deny that it is profitable to fill in the vacant parts of old tea. In 

 some cases I own it would be better to uproot and replant, but 

 where this is not necessary, vacancy filling should be regarded as 

 an essential, and a garden with a large percentage of unoccupied 

 soil should be its own condemnation. For it has now been 

 definitely proved by numerous examples that land can be filled in with 

 perfect success if only care be taken. It is decidedly not sufficient 

 to take a seedling from the nursery, plant it as one would in a 

 fresh clearance, and expect success. It would be a wonder if a 

 plant put out thus did prove a good one. But that such plants 

 cannot be made to flourish where old tea is flourishing has, I think, 

 by many planters, been shown to be a fallacy. 



A mature tea plant is worth about 6 annas in Assam. A planter 

 very successful in filling in vacancies informed me that each plant filled 

 in cost him 2 annas at the time of planting, and he did not expect 



