No. 149.] 36^ 



of Commons (England) a memoir, in which he recommended the 

 cultivation of it in the districts of Kemaon, Gurhwal, and of Sir- 

 more. After some hesitation on the pai-t of the government a 

 committee was appointed to examine this question, whose report 

 was entirely favorable ; declaring that there was the greatest 

 chance of success on the Himalaya mountain basis and the valleys 

 of that great chain. 



In consequence the work commenced. Seeds arrived at the 

 garden in Calcutta in January, 1835, and they produced a great 

 number of plants, which were despatched to the localities recom- 

 mended for nurseries. Some of them at Bhurtport, between the 

 chains of Eheermental and the Gazur, at the elevation of 4,500 

 feet above the level of the sea ; some at Luchmaisir, near Almorah, 

 at 5,200. One thing essential to the success of tea culture, is that it 

 should be in a climate which has a very decided winter of six weeks or 

 two months^ and in which it freezes and snowfalls. 



Since 1845, the plantations have been much extended. In 

 Deyra only, the Director, Dr. Jamison, says 100,000 acres are suited 

 to it. More than half a million shrubs were growing. In 1846, a 

 large quantity of Himalaya tea was sold at Almorah, at consider- 

 ably augmented prices. The medium price was six and a half 

 rupees (about four dollars) a pound ; some qualities sold as high 

 as $4.60 a pound, and these were chiefly purchased by natives 

 to sell again in Thibet and in Chinese Tartary. In 1847, the 

 prices at the same place rose to, for green tea, from $5.40 to $6 

 a pound. The government then sent Dr. Jamison to create new 

 plantations throughout the mountainous regions on the north- 

 western frontier. 



Mr. Fortune is now occupied in China with the tea business. 

 England will soon become a strong competitor with China. The 

 experiment has been successful, and an immense revenue will be 

 received by the government on the sal© of its teas. 



The snow often falls on the tea plants so deep that, unless they 

 were bundled together, the separate stalks would be broken 

 down. 



[Assembly, No. 149.] Y 



