Aug.  I,  r8g6.] 
THE  t'ROPICAL 
trom  the  outset.  Further,  all  land  long  under  native 
cultivation  should  ho  allowed  to  lapse  into  jungle, 
or,  as  it  wore,  lie  fallow  for  three  or  more  years,  and, 
of  course,  the  longer  the  better  before  planting. 
The  first  operation  in  tea  planting  is  the  cloarau',e 
of  the  land;  it  may  be  from  forest,  but  often  upon 
partially  cleared  and  cultivated  or  grazing  land.  In 
the  case  of  forest  toon  and  a few  other  very  valuable 
trees,  the  drip  and  shade  of  which  are  least  injurious, 
should  be  marked  for  preservation  at  considerable 
intervals.  The  felling  of  trees  is  a work  the  Nepali  is 
expert  at,  and  delights  in,  his  bump  of  destruction 
being  highly  developed.  The  trees  are  sometimes  pre- 
pared so  that  the  fall  of  one  carries  others  over  with 
it,  and  so  on  continuously  down  th^  slope  like  nine- 
pins, with  a crash  that  resounds  through  the  soli- 
tude of  the  hill  sides  lik;  muffled  thunder.  After 
the  storage  of  useful  timber,  the  next  step  is  the 
burning,  over  which  there  is  considerable  excitement. 
This  is  carried  through  as  soon  as  tho  clearance  has 
been  duly  pro|)ared  and  become  sufflciently  dry,  ad- 
vantage being  t.akc;i  of  a sa'o  and  suitable  wiiiil.  A 
great  number  of  coolies  have  to  bo  in  attendance 
to  guard  tho  lire  from  spreading  to  property  beyond. 
In  addition  to  wood  and  other  growth  there  is  often 
numerous  barnboos  upon  tlie  clearance  which,  when 
being  burnt,  crackle  Ovtid  give  foiub  reports  resembling 
the  roll  of  musketry,  while  the  figures  of  the  natives 
flit  ing  athwart  the  raging  flames,  and  by  times 
being  taxed  to  their  utmost  to  keep  the  '•  burn  ” 
within  safe  bounds,  renders  tho  scene  a lively 
one,  though  not  always  free  from  anxiety  to 
those  responsible.  The  burning  stmnps  and  heavier 
bamboos  often  smoulder  for  days. 
After  the  fire  has  died  out  the  ground  ought  to  be 
trenched  and  thorouglily  cultivated  to  the  depth  of 
18  inches  throughout  the  gentler  slopes,  but  effectively 
though  c.arefiilly  and  to  a lesser  depth  ou  the  steeper 
slopes,  and  in  accordance  with  the  degree  of  steepness 
— extracting  stones  and  all  roots  of  trees,  harnboos, 
jangle  and  weeds  at  whatever  cost,  Oi  such 
steep  and  irregular  ground  much  judgment 
and  ingenuity  have  to  be  exorcised  in  order  to 
direct  the  surface  drainage  into  safe  channels  to 
prevent  “w.ish.”  All  except  the  gentler  slopes 
ought  to  bo  carefully  terraced.  These  terraces  should 
not  be  formed  too  elabora  ely.  with  a deep  well  be- 
hind, and  built  up  sharp  angular  edges  in  front  or 
containing  two  row's  of  bushes  along  side  as  they  some- 
times do,  but  merely  so  as  to  modify  the  slopes  no 
more  than  necess.ary  for  the  stability  of  the  soil  and 
prevention  of  wash.  This  is  more  simply  accomplished 
if  attended  to  at  the  proper  time  and  place  than  it 
would  appear  to  be.  A shallorver  formation  of  ter- 
race will  -interfere  less  with  the  capilarity  and 
natural  circulatim  in  the  soil  than  tho  more  ela- 
borate. The  deeper  and  more  acute  angular  terraces 
greatly  intensify  the  defects  of  tho  Darjooling  climate. 
The  terraces  should  also  be  aligned  as  far  as  prac- 
ticable to  direct  the  surface  drainage  into  safe 
channels.  It  stands  to  reason  that  tho  wash 
should  be  diverted  near  its  source,  and  as  it 
begins  to  accumulate.  T.iradoxical  though  it  may 
seem  it  is  not  generally  tlie  steepest  parts  that  suf- 
fer most,  but  the  gentlest  slopes  even  whore  they 
assirme  almost  tho  form  of  a pi  itcan.  This  arises 
from  the  surrounding  slopes  having  acted  as  a filter, 
so  to  speak,  concentrating  a rash  of  water  upon 
such  after  sudden  downpours.  The  object  of  surface 
drainage  is  to  check  this  accumulation,  and  the  drains 
should  be  laid  off  with  a gentle  run.  Tho  exces- 
sively steep  portions  should  he  laid  off  iii  “spot” 
temicos,  formed  in  the  most  advantageous  places, 
to  contain  one  or  more  plants.  The  laying  off  of 
the  estate  roads  so  as  to  traverse  all  parts  of  the 
gardens,  without  invo'ving  waste  of  locomotive 
power,  is  important,  atid  their  alignment  should 
also  be  such  as  to  aid  in  the  safe  drainage — 
the  reverse  being  easy.  This  somewhat 
difficult  task,  with  the  skill  and  experience 
available  in  the  early  times,  was  not  so  invariably 
succoisful  in  attaining  thi‘  pcrfocti  m and  easy  nui- 
foriu  gradients  as  desirahli'.  Tlie  prevailing  gradients 
of  garden  roads,  except  where  crossing  the  slopes 
or  rounding  ridges,  are  from  1 in  7 to  1 in  5,  widtli 
AGRICULTURIST.  91 
5 or  0 feet  ; but  paths  ar.3  to  In  found  not  more 
th.ui  I foot  wide,  and  sj  steep  as  to  ascend  or  de- 
scend 1 ill  3.  A sure-footed  pony — wliicli  the  Uhooteah 
ponies  generally  are — is  indispensable;  and  pissing 
across  precipices  with  a sheer  drop  of  hundreds  of 
feet  upon  such  roads  is  trying  to  the  nerves  of  most 
unaccustomed  to  mountain  travelling.  As  has  been 
remarked,  the  length  of  road  is  great  in  proportion 
to  area.  By  careful  survey,  I have  ascertaiued 
that  on  a garden  of  313  acrei,  bsujfiiing  by  the 
service  of  a district  road  zigzagging  through  its 
entire  length  for  4i  miles  from  top  to  bottom, 
the  inadequate  system  of  estate  roads  measured 
18  miles,  leaving  fields  of  tea  very  arduous  to  reach 
from  any  of  the  roads.  The  Ceylon  “ road 
tracer,”  a simple  and  inexpensive,  but  admirable, 
instrument,  is  a most  valuable  aid,  to  the  inexperienced 
especially,  for  the  alignment  of  roads,  but,  in  my  ex- 
perience, even  more  so  in  the  laying  off  of  terraces, 
itoads  generally,  like  terraces,  sliould  have  the  out- 
ward, not  inward,  slope,  but  may  also  have  a drain 
aloug  the  inner  or  hill  side  when  required.  Tho 
removal  of  stones,  as  referred  to,  might  possibly  bo 
carried  to  excess  in  rare  instances,  but  of  this  the 
risk  is  not  great.  I have  often  had  this  done  loan 
enormons  extent,  and  witli  an  unfailing  corresponding 
adv.antage  on  extensions.  The  stones  may  be  disposed 
of  for  buildings,  or  in  forming  embankments,  cul- 
verts, and  fords  for  roads.  B-jsidos,  wheti  a load 
passes  through  good  land  tlie  rich  soil  may  be  re- 
moved and  spread  upon  tlie  poorer  parts  of  the 
garden,  and  replaced  with  atones.  The  remainder  of 
the  stones  cm  be  built  up  in  heaps  upon  spots  of 
convenient  waste  laud.  The  cultivated  area  h is  to 
be  lined  and  “ slaked  ” off  for  planting,  and  no 
little  ingenuity  and  care  are  required  to  get  the 
points  for  the  plants  arranged  in  perfectly 
straight  lines  up  and  down  a steep,  irregular  hillside, 
“ over  hill  and  dale,”  and,  at  the  same  time,  get- 
ting them  to  fall  into  coutonring  lines  along  the 
terraces,  without  loss  of  sp-ace  or  overcrowdiu°'. 
Opinion  has  always  varied,  and  from  time  vacillated, 
as  to  the  distance  the  hashes  should  be  planted  apart, 
and  though  there  is  a guiding  principal  in  regard 
to  this,  it  may  not  be  well  todogmitise.  For  the 
liills,  I would  venture  to  reeommed  5 feat  bj' 4 feet, 
It  liy  4i,  and  at  tlie  closest  4i-  feet  by  4 feet  ou  the 
b ise,  but  for  tlie  Ter  li  greater  distance,  especially 
between  the  rows,  to  admit  of  ploughing  or  horse- 
hoeing  if  found  necessary. 
Tiiere  are  two  modes  of  planting,  the  one  from  nur- 
series by  transplanting,  the  other  by  putting  down 
the  seed  germinated  or  fresh  in  si/u,  or,  as  it  is 
termed,  “at  stake.”  E ich  has  its  own  advocates  and 
advantages,  but  in  the  climate  of  Darjeeling  the 
former  is  preferable;  besides,  two  piramount  ad- 
vantages may  be  claimed  for  it  anywhere— namely, 
five  or  six  montiis  more  are  available  for  the 
thorougli  preparation  of  the  ground,  and  it  admits  of 
the  perfect  scloction  of  the  mo.st  vigorous  seedlings 
of  the  best  and  of  unifonn  variety.  Moreover,  from 
my  own  observation,  I have  often  been  disposed  to 
doubt  whether  the  quality  of  the  produce  is  not 
improved  by  the  transplanting.  This  may  not  be  so, 
but  I have  been  at  a loss  otherwise  to  ciccount  for 
the  different  quality  of  tea  in  adjoining  gardens  on 
similar  soil,  and  under  varying  management.  This  is 
a matter  I would  recommend  to  practical  men,  as 
ivorthyof  being  determined  by  systematic  experiment. 
If  the  transplanting  is  to  be  adopted,  an  extensive 
and  elaborate  system  of  nurseries  is  essential.  For 
nurseries,  tlio  most  advanced  garden  cultivation,  con- 
stant care  and  attention  s indispensable — watering 
in  most  in  .tances,  and  sh  ading  in  hot-exposed  situ- 
ations being  needful.  Tho  nurseries  should  be  numer- 
ous, and  pnictieal,  in  or  near  ail  parts  of  the  prop  > led 
extenfious,  for  economy  in  the  carriage  of  the  seedlings. 
Tho  seed  bods  must  be  thorouglily  freed  from  stones, 
and  the  seed  sliould  be  .sown  rather  wide  apart 
especially  when  machine  planting  i.s  to  be  adopted. 
Tiiough  4 incho.s  by  4 inches  may  seem  too  close, 
judging  from  wliat  is  gciicrally  written,  that  in  prac- 
tice will  be  found  to  work  out  s.itisf ictorily,  tho 
early  and  first  se.asous's  operations  thinning  out,  and 
giving  space  for  th  - i i.i  u;  pl.ints  that  remain. 
