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TEA DISTEICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. XXII. 



the surrounding mountains are said to be 8000 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 tals or lakes, some flat 

 meadow-looking land, and gentle undulating slopes, 

 while higher up are steep and rugged mountains. It 

 is amongst these hills that the Bheem Tal tea-plan- 

 tations have been formed. They may be classed 

 under three heads, viz. : — 



1. Anoo and Kooasur Plantations. — These adjoin 

 each other, are both formed on low flat land, and 

 together cover about forty-six 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 plantations as to those at Deyra, but in a 

 greater degree. No doubt, with sufficient drainage, 

 and great care in cultivation, the tea-plant might be 

 made to exist in such a situation ; but I am con- 

 vinced it would never grow with that luxuriance 

 which is necessary in order to render it a profitable 

 crop. Besides, such lands are valuable for other 

 purposes. They are excellent rice-lands, and as such 

 of considerable value to the natives. 



2. Bhurtpoor Plantation. — 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 greenstone, 



