126 



The soils, whether light or heavy, are therefore very similar in 

 chemical composition. As a whole they form a district as rich as, or 

 richer than, any in the valley in phosphoric acid, and to this, com- 

 bined with the perfect climate, which allows of very close plucking, 

 I attribute in large measure the pre-eminence for quality, which this 

 district has obtained. Nevertheless, the soils need, as a whole, organic 

 matter and nitrogen, unless they are to deteriorate. In some places 

 as at Hilika, fairly good hullah soil is obtainable and is of course 

 used for top-dressing. On the whole, however, whether hullah soil be 

 available or not, green manuring should be carried out extensively 

 on the heavier portion of the land, and cattle manure utilised on the 

 lighter sections, combined in both cases with dressings of oil cake. 

 On the lightest land potash manuring will become essential occasion- 

 ally after a few years under tea. A manurial scheme which would 

 probably be suitable is here set out : 



Lighter Sections 



1st year Cattle manure 5 tons per acre. 



2nd year Nothing. 



3rd year Oil cake 10 maunds per acre. 



4th year Green manure in spring with mati kalai. 



5th year Nothing. 



6th year Cattle manure 5 tons per acre, and so on. 



This would give about 25lbs. of Nitrogen per annum per acre to 

 the soil. In the 4th year, in alternate rotations of five years each 

 and therefore once in ten years, 2 cwt. of sulphate of potash or 

 5 cwt. of wood ashes per acre should be added before putting in the 

 mati kalai seed. 



Heavier Sections 



ist year Green manure with mati kalai in spring, 



2nd year Cattle manure 7 tons per acre, or Oilcake 10 maunds per acre. 



3rd year Nothing. 



4th year Green manure as in the 1st year, and so on. 



This would give about 30 Ibs. of Nitrogen per acre per annum, 

 and would in addition open up the land to a considerable extent. 



It must be recognised that in spite of the original perfection of 

 a great deal of this land combined with a great depth, it is becoming 

 necessary, year by year, to pluck closer and closer in order to 

 maintain quality. I was assured of this fact during my visit last 

 December, This can only be due to the exhaustion even of these 

 deep lands in organic matter, and unless some such scheme as I have 



