September 2, 1889.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
205 
by the large drawback granted by the Italian Gover- 
nment upon the duty paid on the chief and dearest 
ingredient in manufacture — sugar. The Customs tariff 
in force imposes a duty of 76*75 lire upon 100 
kilos, of the sugar used (classed in the tariff as 
of second class), but grants a drawback of 6O50 lire 
upon 100 kilos, of the exported article. Without 
this large measure of support there can be no doubt 
this industry would immediately and wholly collapse. 
With it even, it finds it difficult to hold its ground. 
Exporters tell me that the United Kiugdom is 
beginning to call for the fruit to be sent to it direct 
from the countries of production in the same con- 
dition that it reaches Leghorn, viz., steeped in brine, 
and the manager of one of the factories I visited 
confirmed this with an air of very natural chagrin 
by telling me that he had himself seen 600 hogs- 
heads of fruit shipped in brine in one vessel last year 
from Bastia for Englaul. — Gardeners' Chronicle. 
# 
REPOET ON TEA CULTURE IN 
ASSAM FOE 1888. 
In the Brahmapootra Valley, the sub-division of 
Dibrugarh shows the largest area under tea grants 
(113,029 acres), and in the Surma Valley the sudder 
sub-division of Oachar comes first with 178,639 acres. 
The largest outturn is, however, reported from Dib- 
rugarh, not Silchar. 
Omitting the Khasi Hills, where the area under 
tea is altogether insignificant, there was an increase 
in the area held by tea-planters in every district ex- 
cept Durrung, Nowgong, and Sibsaugor. In Cachar, 
the area is believed to be below the truth, as land 
leased for tea-growing, from private individuals has 
not been included. In Sylhet, the figures received 
from managers have been used, as much of the land 
under tea being rented from zemindars, cannot appear 
in the district registers. In Durrung the decrease is 
mainly due to a revision of the register. In Now- 
gong, the alteration is caused by the resignation of 
two 30-year Lease Rule grants, and the closing of two 
gardens. In Sibsaugor, the decrease was due to the 
closing of gardens. In Luckimpore, there have been 
considerable extensions, hence the increase in area. 
Managers or agents furnished figures for 797 out of 
a total of 863 gardens. Deputy-Commissioners made 
estimates for 62 gardens, and for 4 i o information 
was forthcoming. Last jear managers or agents gave 
figures for 822 gardens aud Deputy-Commissioners 
were obliged to estimate for only 47. The decrease 
in the number of gardens from which returns w* re 
obtained is partly due to the earlier date at which 
they were called for, and the greater punctuality 
which was req lired from Deputy-Commissiouers. In 
many gardens figures for 1888 are not avilable in 
March 1889, and estimates have to be resorted to. 
In Habiguu, Jowai, Dhubri, Goalpara, Gowhatty, 
Muugledye, Nowgong. Golaghat, Dibrugarh, aud 
North Luckimpore figures received from every garden, 
exoept a few in Gowhatty managed by natives. In 
Cachar, out of 181 gardens^ statistics were obtained 
for 160, for 14 the figures of 1887 were taken, 
aud for 1, newly opene I, no figures could be had. 
In Sylhet, managers furnished figures for 101 gardens, 
the Deputy-Commissioner made estimates for 11, and 
for 3 no returns were obtainable. In the Dibrugarh 
sub-division one manager declined to furnish figures. 
In Sibsaugor, returns were obtained from 167 gardens, 
aud estimates made as to the remaining 9. In the 
Tezpore sub-divisiou managers or agents furnished 
figures fo- 17 ea'deus, and the figures of 1887 were 
repeu e.i to h .emaining 7. The thanks of the 
Chiof CwinmiSBiouer are due to those managers and 
agents who have assisted in thu compilation of this 
report bv furnishing the statistics required. Without 
the cordial co-oporatiou of the tea planters, it is 
impossible for Deputy-Commissioners to furnish reli- 
able statistics, and unless these are obtained, much 
valuable information is lost to the planting commu- 
nity. 
Tho increase in area under mature plauts was largo 
(10,429 aores) and ocourred maiuly in Sylhet where 
it amounted to 5,103 acres. This increase means a 
corresponding decrease in the area under immature 
plants. This was, however, partly made up by ex- 
tensions, amounting to 5,597 acres, thus leaving a 
net decrease in the area under immature plauts of 
4,832 acres. 
The increase in the area of tea under cultivation 
was greatest in Sylhet, and is due there, as well as 
in Cachar, to extensions, mainly in the bill lands, 
which have been found to yield so well of late years. 
The greatest falling-off was iu Kamroop, where the 
loss of 682 acres is unaccounted for by the Deputy- 
Commissioner. In Goalpara, Nowgong, and Sibsaugor 
the decrease was due to the closing o' gardens. In 
Luckimpore, extensions have been pushed on as much 
as possible to lessen the cost of supervision and 
manufacture. The total outturn of tea from the Pro- 
vince is reported as 72,677,9821b, which amount to an in- 
crease of 4,373,524 lb., or 6'41 per cent, on the figures 
for the previous year. The estimate of the Indian 
Tea Association for the outturn of the total Assam 
crop of 1888 was 69,209,004 1b., or nearly 3J million 
lb. less than the estimate given in this report. This 
Province, according to that Association's figures, pro- 
duced 71'86 per cent, of the total amount of tea 
grown in India. As usual the trade figures are the 
lowest, and those sent by Deputy-Commissioners the 
highest. Probably those furnished by the Tea Asso- 
ciation are the most reliable. It is natural that the 
trade returns should be the lowest, for out of the 
total amount produced a certaiu quantity must be 
retained for local consumption. The figures point to 
a steady growth in production. All districts except 
Cachar and the Kbasi Hills show an increase, as com- 
pared with the figures of the preceding year. The 
decrease in Cachar is attributed to the very unfavour- 
able weather and the prevalence of blight. Through- 
out the greater part of the Surma Valley, the early 
part of year was too wet and the close too dry. A 
leading planter in Cachar, quoted by the Daputy 
Commissioner, writes as follows : — 
" During the year the weather proved most un- 
favourable for both growth and manufacture. The 
season was very wet, and for months we had rain 
every day. Then the dry weather set in enrly, and 
there has been hardly any rain since the beginning 
of Octob t. Hail was very destructive in places, and 
many Oachar gardens suffered severely, while, from 
the unusual rainfall, all low gardens having drained 
flats had their outturn greatly reduced. The rain 
falling daily rendered the soil quite sodden, asj there 
was little heat, and in most instances the drains stood 
brimful in parts, as they had not been constructed 
to carry away such an abnormal fall of rain. Tila 
gardens did not suffer in proportion so much from 
the wet, but they too were terribly handicapped, and 
to make matters worse, this vi-ry hard weather seems 
to have been chiefly confiued to the Surma Valley 
districts. Many places in the Assam Valley did 
remarkably well, and had good weather. Red spider 
was very prevalent, and more destructive than ever. 
In some places old plants actually died out, and in 
all cases it took time for the bushes to recover 
from its ravages. The mosquito blight wag as bad 
as usual, but not worse." 
In Sylhet, also, the weather was everywhere un- 
favourable, and the crop not up to the average. 
Heavy l-ain, and absence of the steamy heat so es- 
sential to the growth of tea, distinguished the begin- 
ing of the ytar, and uuusuai drought m irked the 
last two manufacturing months. Red spider also 
proved very destructive. On the whole, however, 
notwithstandin me. e difficulties, the outturn in this 
district is est o ited to have shown an increase on that 
of th' receding ye ir, owing mainly to the improved 
yield iro n plants classed last year as immature. In 
the Brah naoootra Valley, the year was a favourable 
one in all districts, though some damage was doue by 
hail in Sibsaugor. The Deputy-Commissioner, Luckim- 
pore, writes — 
"Ou the whole the year 1888 has been favourable 
for tea. The rainfall has been somewhat below 1887, 
but notwithstanding this, June to September were 
