41 



between the plants of 3 to 12 feet long, 1 foot wide and 

 l'/2 foot deep to ensure them more light. 



Manure also is used, mostly oxen-manure mixed 

 with vegetable substances. 



5. As regards diseases, the tea-plant suffers mostly 

 from rust caused by an insect called ,,Heliopeltis theivora" 

 the same insect that attacks the Peruvian bark. 



All kinds of measures have been adopted to stamp 

 out this disease, but in vain. The most effective measure 

 is killing the insects, lopping the shrubs and embedding 

 the whole cut-off mass, so as to annihilate the eggs which 

 the insect lays in the as yet tender and green shoots. The 

 surviving insects, finding no young leaves left, are con- 

 demned to death by want of food. 



6. Tea-plants can be harvested in their third or 

 fourth year. The first harvest is but insignificant, and is 

 followed by a light lopping ; afterwards the production 

 of leaves steadily increases. If the tea-shrubs have been 

 planted well and thorough care has been taken of them, 

 the harvest may continue, so to say, ad infinitum. The two 

 leaves at the extremity of the tree yield the finest tea, 

 viz: the ,,pecco", both the green tea as well as the black ; 

 the following leaf produces the ,,souchon" and the other 

 leaves the n conggo". 



From time to time the shrubs must be forced to 

 form shoots and prevented from blossoming and so pro- 

 ducing seed. This is effected by a more or less thorough 



