TEA. 119 



about 4,500 feet above the level of the sea. The land is of an undulating cha- 

 racter, consisting of gentle slopes and terraces, and reminded me of some of the 

 best tea districts in China. Indeed, the hills themselves, in this part of the 

 Himalayas, are very much like those of China, being barren near their summit 

 and fertile on their lower sides. 



Thirty-four acres of land are under tea cultivation here, including the adjoin- 

 ing farm of Chullar. Some of the plants appear to have been planted in 1844 ; 

 but, as at Paorie, the greater number are only from one to three years old. 



2nd. Soil and culture. The soil is what is usually called a sandy loam ; it is 

 moderately rich, being well mixed with vegetable matter. It is well suited for 

 tea cultivation. The greater part of the farm is terraced as at Guddowli, but 

 some few patches are left in natural slopes in accordance with the Chinese me- 

 thod. Irrigation is practised to a limited extent. 



3rd. Appearance and health of the plants. All the young plants here are in 

 robust health and are growing well, particularly where they are growing on 

 land where water cannot flood or injure them. As examples of this, I may 

 point out a long belt between Dr, Jameson's house and the flower garden, and 

 also a piece of ground a little below the house in which the Chinese manu- 

 facturers live. Some few of the older bushes appear rather stunted ; but this 

 is evidently the result of water remaining stagnant about the roots, and partly 

 also of over plucking ; both defects, however, admit of being easily cured. 



LUTCHMISSER AND KuPPEENA PLANTATIONS. 



1st. Situation and extent. These plantations are on the hill side near Al 

 morah, and about 5,000 feet above the level of the sea. The situation is some- 

 what steep, but well adapted to the growth of tea. The former contains three 

 acres, and the latter four acres under cultivation. 



2nd. Soil and culture. The soil is light and sandy, and much mixed with 

 particles of clay-slate, which have crumbled down from the adjoining rocks. I 

 believe these plantations are rarely irrigated, and the land is steep enough to 

 prevent any stagnant water from remaining about the roots of the plants. 



3rd. Appearance and health of plants. Most of the bushes here are fully 

 grown, and in full bearing, and generally in good health. On the whole, I 

 consider these plantations in excellent order. 



BHEEMTAL PLANTATIONS. 



The lake of Bheemtal is situate in latitude 29 deg. 20 min. north, and in 

 longitude 79 deg. 30 min, east. It is 4,000 feet above the level of the sea, and 

 some of the surrounding mountains are said to be 8,000 feet. These form the 

 southern chain of the Himalayas, and bound the vast plain of India, of which a 

 glimpse can be had through the mountain passes. Amongst these hills there 

 are several tals or lakes, some flat meadow-looking land, and gentle undulating 

 slopes, while higher up we have steep and rugged mountains. It is amongst 

 these hills, that the Bheemtal tea plantations have been formed. They may be 

 classed under three heads, viz. 



1st. Anoo and Kooasur plantations. These adjoin each other, are both 

 formed on low flat land, and together cover about forty acres. The plants do not 

 seem healthy or vigorous ; many of them have died out, and few are in that state 

 which tea plants ought to be in. Such situations never ought to be chosen for 

 tea cultivation. The same objection applies to these as to those at Deyra, but 

 in a greater degree. No doubt, with sufficient drainage, and great care in cul- 

 tivation, and the tea plant might be made to exist in such a situation; but I am 

 convinced it would never grow with that luxuriance which is necessary in order 

 to render it a profitable crop. Besides, such lands are valuable for other purposes. 

 They are excellent rice lands, and as such of considerable value to the natives. 



2nd. Bhurtpoor plantation. This plantation covers about four and a half 

 acres of terraced land on the hill side, a little to the eastward of those last 

 noticed. The soil is composed of a light loam, much mixed with small pieces of 

 clay-slate and trap or green-stone, of which the adjacent rocks are composed. 

 It contains a small portion of vegetable matter or humus. Both the situation 

 and soil of this plantation are well adapted to the requirements of the tea 

 shrub, and consequently we find it succeeding here as well as at Guddowli, 



