TEA. 117 



I hope to have a supply of the seed of China stock from Kumaon next 

 November, and with it to cause the extension of the experiment at this place. 



I think that it is reasonable to expect quite as good tea to be produced here as 

 in Kumaon. * I have not tasted the Kumaon tea, but, from the opinion expressed 

 on it in England, I am satisfied that it is a very drinkable beverage, and that 

 with similar success here, the tea will be a valuable addition to our products. 

 I have recently tried two kinds of the Assam tea presented by Mr. Stokes to a 

 friend. They are excellent teas, and I shall be well content to have an equally 

 good article manufactured here. 



Mr. A. Macfarlane's report on the tea plants in Mr. Smith's 

 ground is annexed : 



" According to your request I have the pleasure of transmitting you my 

 opinion of the tea plants in your garden in this place. The two larger plants 

 have made "very good progress, considering their closeness to each other, which 

 prevents them from throwing their branches freely in every direction, but as 

 they have attained so great a size I would not recommend their being trans- 

 planted, because let it be done ever so carefully, the roots must receive more or 

 less injury, and should the injury be great the death of the tree is certain. 



The smaller ones on the contrary are much stunted ; this is caused by their 

 confined situation, being completely choked up by the rose trees, which prevents 

 their receiving a proper supply of light and air, so necessary to vegetation. They 

 are also planted too closely, and, as the plants are still small, by availing your- 

 self of the most favourable season, and using great care in the operation, they 

 might be transplanted with safety, and should then be placed at a distance of 

 not less than six feet apart. The difficulty of transplanting is occasioned by 

 the depth to which the root penetrates , as it generally grows downwards, and 

 in a large tree is principally in the subsoil. The larger plants should be pruned 

 of their lower branches to allow a free current of air. This operation is gen- 

 erally performed in November, but any time during the cold season or before 

 the rains, while the plant is at rest, would answer : as I have no knowledge of 

 this climate, I would leave it to more experienced persons to judge of the pro- 

 per season. To conclude, the plants are in a very healthy condition, and had 

 they been in the hands of a cultivator, would now have been giving a very fair 

 supply of produce. 



The small sample I tried was of a very good flavor, but on account of the 

 defective manner of manufacture, for want of proper materials, no proper 

 judgment can be formed." (Simmonds's Col. Mag., vol. xvi. p. 44.) 



Report upon the Tea Plantations of Deyra, Kumaon and Gurh- 

 wal, by Robert Fortune, Esq., addressed to John Thornton, Esq., 

 Secretary to the Government, North Western Provinces, dated 

 -Calcutta, September 6th, 1851 : 



KAOLAGIR TEA PLANTATION. 



1. Situation and extent, The Deyra Boon, or Valley of Deyra, is situated in 

 latitude 3 deg. 18min. north, and in longitude 78 deg. east. It is about 60 miles 

 in length from east to west, and 16 miles broad at its widest part. It is bounded 

 on the south by the Sewalick range of hills, and on the north by the Himalayas 

 proper, which are here nearly 8,000 feet above the level of the sea. On the west 

 it is open to the river Jumna, and on the east to the Ganges, the distance be- 

 tween these rivers being about 60 miles. 



In the centre of this flat valley, the Kaolagir tea plantation has been formed. 

 Eight acres were under cultivation in 1847. There are now 300 acres planted, 

 and about 90 more taken in and ready for many thousands of young plants raised 

 lately from seeds in the plantation. 



2. Soil and culture. The soil of this plantation is composed of clay, sand, and 

 vegetable matter, rather stiff, and apt to get " baked" in dry weather, but free 



* Dr. Jameson, in a late commuuication, remarks "From the accounts I have received 

 of that place (Darjeeling), I doubt not but that the plants there grown will yield tea of a 

 superior description." 



