498 TEA 



earliest record of its introduction to the Botanic Gardens goes as 

 far back as 1839 for Assam Tea, and to 1824 for China Tea. 

 Tea is now extensively grown in Southern India, Bengal, Assam, 

 Java and Ceylon. In the latter country it is the principal planting 

 product ; here the export rose from 23 Ib. in 1873 to about 192 

 million Ib. in 1913, and about 400,000 acres are now under the 

 product. China is considered to be the largest tea-producing 

 country, though the bulk of its production is consumed locally. In 

 recent years, tea has been successfully cultivated in Natal and 

 Nyasaland. The tea plant, more especially the Assam Tea, is 

 adaptable to a wide range of temperature and various conditions 

 of soils, provided the rainfall is not less than about 70 inches and 

 is evenly distributed ; in Ceylon it thrives from sea-level to over 

 6,000 ft. It will not, however, flourish in a dry climate, especially 

 at low elevations. The soil must be well drained and should 

 contain a certain amount of humus : when the latter is deficient 

 it should be supplied by means of green-manuring, as by inter- 

 planting quick-growing leguminous trees or shrubs which can be 

 loppjd frequently, the twigs and leaves being left on the ground 

 to form a mulch, or preferably dug in. Manuring periodically by 

 artificial or cattle manure is necessary in order to maintain the 

 crop in a remunerative condition. Tea seed is usually sold by the 

 maund (80 Ib.). A maund may contain 2,000 or more seeds, ac- 

 cording to the jat (the better the jat the heavier the seed), and 

 this should give about 15,000 plants. " Planted at 4 by 4 ft. apart, 

 a maund of seed should be sufficient for 3j acres; at 5 by 4 ft., 4? 

 acres; and at 5 by 5 ft., 5i acres." (RUTHERFORD'S Note-book). 



Propagation is entirely by seed, which may be sown in raised 

 nursery beds, at distances of 4 inches apart each way, the beds 

 being shaded by fern fronds or Grevillea leaves fixed in the ground 

 slanting-wise. It is best, however, to raise plants in small plant- 

 baskets or bamboo joints. In about ten months from the time 

 of sowing, the seedlings should be ready for planting out in the 

 field. Holes being made in lines, the plants are set out at 

 distances of about 4 ft. by 4 ft. or 5 by 4 ft. apart, being shaded, 

 and watered when necessary, until well established. About eighteen 

 months after planting, the plants are " topped " (i.e. cut back 

 to 12 or 15 inches from the ground) so as to induce a spreading 

 bush. The first crop of leaf is obtained in the third year in 

 the low-country, it being a year or so later at higher elevations. 

 At low elevations plucking takes place about every ten days, and 



