TEA. 



119 



about 4:,o00 feet above the level of the sea. The land is of an imckilating 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, ai-e very mnch like those of China, being barren near their summit 

 and fertile on their lower sides. 



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

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

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



2)-(d. 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. 



Zrd. Appearance and health of the pilants. — All the young plants here are in 

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

 land where water cannot flood or injm-e 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 hoirse 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 KuPPEEXA PlAXTATIOXS. 



\st. sanation 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. 



Zrd. Appearance and health of plants. — ^lost of the bushes here are fully 

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

 consider these plantations in excellent order. 



Bheemtal Plaxtatioxs. 



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 tah or lakes, some flat meadow-looking land, and gentle undulating- 

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

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

 classed under three heads, viz. — 



\st. Anoo and Kooasur pAantations. — These adjoin each other, are both 

 formed on la v: f. y.t 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. Xo doubt, with suflicient 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 vcduaUe for other purposes. 

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



2nd. Bliurtpoor pilantation. — 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 comj)osed. 

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

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

 shrub, and consequently we find it !:ucteeding here as well as at Guddowli, 



