112 



TEA. 



as far as possible, all dead wood, as, during the process of decay, it 

 furnishes food for myriads of white ants, which, in the opinion of 

 some planters, attack the tree as soon as the supply of dead wood has 

 failed tbem. In Southern India, at all events, I have never seen a 

 healthy tea plant attacked by white ants, and I doubt much, if they 

 do not, attacking a diseased and unhealthy plant, do the planter as 

 much good as harm. 



The planter's next care is to select the sites for his bungalow, 

 factory, and oiB.ce, in one group ; the writer's house in a second ; and 

 cooly lines, as most convenient, elsewhere. For the factory group, I 

 prefer a flat of two or three acres in extent, so situated that a water 

 channel can run through it. The bungalow and factory should be 

 built close to one another, and in as central a position as possible, so 

 that the manager can, during the season of manufacture, be in and out 

 of his tea-house at the shortest notice. The chances of tea being 

 damaged is thereby much lessened. The writer's and servants' 

 houses should also be near the main group of buildings. The cooly 

 lines may be built at some little distance from the bungalow, and, if 

 possible, out of sight of it. If, for these buildings, a natural flat 

 cannot be obtained, artificial means must be resorted to, and a wide 

 terrace cut out from the side of the hill, care being taken to cut 

 a deep drain at the back, as damp is to the native one of the most 

 fertile sources of disease. On some large estates a hospital will be 

 required, and where needed no effort should be spared to render it 

 as comfortable and effective as possible. It now remains to connect 

 the factory group of buildings with the main source of communication, 

 the various building sites with one another ; and to make all parts 

 of the estate accessible by roads of easy gradient. 



It is often necessary to establish means of communication beyond 

 the limits of the estate, that is, to the nearest Government road, or 

 navigable river. If possessed of very strong powers of persuasion, 

 the planter may induce our Indian Government to contribute to the 

 expense of making these roads ; but as a rule he may expect but little 

 help from that quarter. At the same time I think unnecessary 

 expenditure on roads a mistake ; I believe that, both on the score of 

 economy and the efficient working of the estate, there ought to be good 

 communication throughout its whole extent. The first road to be con- 

 sidered is that from the factory to the easiest source of supplies. This 

 road should be made at least 8 feet wide the first year, all revet- 

 ments and bridges being made full 15 feet, and the gradient should 

 not be less than 1 in 17. By adopting this course, the road can 

 ultimately be made available for cart traffic at a trifling cost. 



The general design of the estate is now complete. It only remains 

 to get it ready for subsequent planting operations. The main drains 

 are the next consideration. These are intended to carry off all the 

 volume of water which cannot be absorbed by the soil. The existence 

 of these on an estate are of the greatest importance, and I do not think 

 that the majority of planters see sufficiently the necessity that there 

 is for them. The heavier the volume of water that runs down the 

 hill-side, and the steeper the gradient at which it flows, the more soil it 

 will wash away in its course, and if an efficient system of drainage is 



