LIFE ON A TEYLON TKA I'LAMAI ION 29 



pruniti)^ also directs our attention to another treatment 

 which frequently h;is to bo reaorted to in tea cultiva- 

 tion. This stretch of ground, the home of veteran 

 bushes, has been manurtnl ; first, the Hnes between the 

 plants were forked, and after the soil had thus been 

 prepared to assimilate food, the ground was covered 

 with " green " manure ; the next course on the manure 

 menu consisted of basic slag and sulphate of potash ; 

 the third course wtvs another covering of green manure, 

 given specially with a view to prevent the artificial 

 manure from being blown away. 



The tea-plant is very dependent for health and 

 strength on food and drink. Before talking about its 

 fads and fancies in the way of nourishment, let us 

 see how Nature has equipped it with means of taking 

 nourishment. It has a tap root, which descends 

 straight into the ground to a depth of S or 10 feet. 

 This main root is essentially a " grip," which holds 

 the plant firmly in position ; it plays no very active 

 part in feeding the plant except in times of drought, 

 when it becomes a highly important agent by absorbing 

 moisture which is then only to be found in the depths 

 of the earth. From the tap root, just below the surface 

 of the ground, radiate arms, which, in their turn, send 

 out branches that spread in all directions; and all the 

 members of this surface system throw out hair-like 

 rootlets, which act as mouths. Through the.se mouths 

 the plant absorbs its nourishment in a licjuid form. 



The plant requires a considerable amount of water, 

 but it objects to living in a swamp. When it is grown 

 on low-lying lands, very careful arrangemenUs have to 

 be ma<le for drainage ; but. to a great extent, a hill- 

 side plantation has a natural drainage system. 



