123 



Now supposing a crop of mati kalai adds to the soil 50 Ibs. nitrogen 

 in each crop per acre, we have 246 Ibs. nitrogen added per acre in 

 ten years or 24% Ibs. per annum, 14^ Ibs per annum of phosphoric 

 acid, and 10 Ibs. per annum of potash, The amount of potash 

 would be greater in the second ten years, and the phosphoric acid 

 less, owing to the substitution of basic slag by wood ashes. It will 

 be noted that the amount of nitrogen thus adde.d is considerably 

 less than that removed by the crop, and at a later date it may be 

 necessary to increase the frequency with which oilcake or cattle 

 manure is applied. Inasmuch as the amount of nitrogen fixed by 

 tropical soils per annum independent of plant growth is as yet an 

 unknown quantity, I do not feel called upon to recommend more 

 than the above amount until actual experience in the field has 

 proved it to be necessary. 



The following are analyses of other soils from Halijan of the 

 Eastern Assam Tea Company, on the same belt of grass land of 

 which I have just spoken. Being all young tea no manurial appli- 

 cation is needed at present, except perhaps to No. 2, but they will all 

 be capable of treatment by a method similar to that just described. 



No. i is a virgin soil, the remainder have borne tea for longer or 

 shorter periods. 



On the other side (south) of the Sadya road lie a group of 

 gardens put out on forest land, of which Chubwa may be taken s 

 the type. Chubwa soil is a splendidly deep one, not so rich at the 



