120 



TEA. 



Hawulbaugh, Almorali, and otlier places wliere it is planted on tiie slopes of 

 the hills. 



3rcl. Russia pIoMatioji. — This plantation extends over seventy-five acres, 

 and is formed on sloping land. The elevation is somewhat less than Bhnrt- 

 poor, and although terraced in the same way, the angle is much lower. In some 

 parts of the farm the plants are doing well, but generally they seemed to be 

 sufiering from too much water and hard plucking. I have no doubt, however, 

 of the success of this farm, when the system of cultivation is improved. I 

 observed some most vigorous and healthy bushes in the overseei''s garden, a 

 spot adjoining the plantation, which could not be irrigated, and was informed 

 they "never received any water, except that which fell from the skies." 



In the Bheemtal district, there are large tracts of excellent tea land. In cross- 

 ing over the hills towards iSTainee Tal, with J. H. Batten, Esq., Commissioner of 

 Kumaon, I pointed out many tracts admirably adapted for tea cultivation, and 

 of no great value to the natives ; generally, those lands on which the mundooa 

 is cultivated are the most suitable. 



I have thus described all the Government plantations in Gurhwal and Kumaon . 

 Dr. Jameson, the superintendent, deserves the highest praise for the energy and 

 perseverance with which he has conducted his operations. I shall now notice 

 the plantations of the zemindars, under the superintendence of the commissioner 

 and assistant-commissioner of Kumaon and Gui'hwal. 



Zemundaree Tea Plantations. 



\st, at Lohba. — This place is situated in eastern Gurhwal, about 50 miles to 

 the westward of Almorah, and is at an elevation of 5,000 feet above the level of 

 the sea. It is one of the most beautiful spots m this part of the Himalayas. The 

 surrounding moimtains are high, and in some parts precipitous, while in others 

 they are found consisting of gentle slopes and undulations. On these undulating 

 slopes, there is a great deal of excellent land suitable for tea cultivation. A few 

 tea bushes have been growing vigorously for seme years in the commissioner's 

 garden, and they are now fully ten feet in height. These plants having suc- 

 ceeded so well, naturally induced the authorities of the province to try this cul- 

 tivation upon a more extensive scale. It appears that in 1844, about 4,000 

 young plants were obtained from the Government plantations, and planted on a 

 tract of excellent land, which the natives wished to abandon. Instead of allow- 

 ing the people to throw up their land, they \<ere promised it rent-free upon the 

 condition that they attended to the cultivation of the tea, which had been planted 

 on a small portion of the ground attached to the village. 



This arrangement seems to have failed either from svant of knowledge, or from 

 design, or perhaps partly from both of these causes. More lately, a larger num- 

 ber of plants have been planted, but I regret to say with nearly the same re- 

 sults. 



But results of this discouraging kind are what any one, acquainted with the 

 nature of the tea plant, could have easily foretold, had the treatment, intended to 

 be given it, been explained to him. Upon enquiry, I found the villagers had been 

 managing the tea lands just as they had been doing their rice fields, that is, a 

 regular system of irrigation was practised. As water was plentiful, a great num- 

 ber, indeed nearly all, the plants seem to have perished from this cause. The 

 last planting alluded to had been done late in the spring, and just at the com- 

 mencement of the dry weather, and to these plants little or no water seems to 

 have been gi^en ; so that, in fact, it was going from one extreme to another 

 equally bad, and the result was of course nearly the same. 



I have no hesitation in saying that the district in question is well adapted foi 

 the cultivation of tea. With judicious management, a most productive farm 

 might be established here in four or five years. Land is plentiful, and of little 

 value either to the natives or to the Government. 



2nd^ at Kutoor. — This is the name of a large district 30 or 40 miles northward 

 from Almorah, in the centre of which the old town or village of Ej'znath stands. 

 It is a fine undulating country, consisting of wide valleys, gentle slopes, and 

 little hills, while the whole is intersected by numerous streams, and surrounded 

 by high mountains. The soil of this extensive district is most fertile, and is 

 capable of producing large crops of rice, on the low irrigable lands, and the dry 



