November 8, 1888. j 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
425 
Assam and its Tea Gardens. —The report of the adminis¬ 
tration of Assam for the past year illustrates the theory of the survival 
of the fittest. \\ hile the amount of land under Tea cultivation is in¬ 
creasing, the number of gardens is decreasing, owing to amalgamation 
and other influences. The average size of the Assam gardens is in¬ 
creasing year by year, showing combination among owners or more 
capital, and the small cultivators are disappearing. There were 883 
gardens in 1886 and 873 in 1887, although new gardens were opened 
during the latter year. Even more was done in previous years to amal¬ 
gamate gardens with a view to economy and convenience of working. 
The total area under Tea cultivation in 1887 was 960,171 acres, an in¬ 
crease of 16,037 acres over 1886. In 1882 the area of the gardens was 
783,362 acres. These figures represent the areas held by the Tea 
planters, and • either not yet worked at all or in one or other of the 
various stages between jungle and productive Tea garden. The area 
under mature plants last year was 177,900 acres, and under immature 
33,179. The area under mature plants increases steadily in Assam ; in 
1882 it was 156,707 acres, 1885 159,876. The total Tea production of 
the province for 1887 is given at 68,451,180 lbs., an increase of 6,731,502 
lbs., or 10-91 per cent, over 1886, and more than double the production 
of 1885. According to the figures of the Indian Tea Association, Assam 
produced 74'89 per cent, of the whole crop of Indian Tea in 1887. The 
yield per acre for the whole province was 385 lbs. for the year, as com¬ 
pared with 363 lbs. in 1886. The tendency of the cost of production is 
to decrease with the improved communications and methods of cultiva¬ 
tion and manufacture. More is obtained from the soil at less cost; it is 
handled more cheaply and effectually, and reaches the consumer by 
more economical communications. The price is now lower than it ever 
was before, yet the planters are doing fairly well as regards profits. The 
explanation is that the Tea can now be turned out for less than was 
possible a few years ago. The use of machinery of an improved 
character is now largely extended, while freight and cost of transport 
are much less. The coolies are growing older and more skilled in their 
work, and can do more and far better than they could when raw hands. 
The Indian Tea Association estimates that Assam will produce 70,975,884 
lbs. this year out of a total Indian crop of 95,829,312 lbs .—(Tropical 
Agriculturist'). 
WINTERING TUBEROUS BEGONIAS. 
Begonias in beds have succeeded well this season, considerably 
better than for the past three years, owing probably to the plentiful 
rain which fell during the June and July months. Last summer some 
of the old scarlet Pelargoniums, such, for instance, as Vesuvius, Tom 
Thumb, Triomphe de Stella, &c., completely eclipsed the Begonias 
for bloom, notwithstanding the very little growth they made, while 
this season just the reverse is the fact. We planted out in the first 
week of June, and from the first the plants grew freely, quickly 
filled the beds, and throughout the whole of summer have presented 
a very charming appearance, the scarlet and pink varieties having 
been especially fine, and they, judging by their vigorous appear¬ 
ance, would have continued so but for the 3° of frost registered on 
the morning of October 3rd. This, however, settled them. Begonias 
are about the first to suffer in this respect, yet, so long as the tubers 
escape, it is of little consequence about the tops. Ours having been 
cut down almost close to the ground, we are now busy preparing 
them for their winter quarters. Our practice is only in common 
with that of many, but as we scarcely ever lose a single tuber during 
the whole of their resting period, it may be of use to some to give 
details of our practice. In the first place the tubers are carefully 
dug up, leaving attached to each a moderate ball of earth. These in 
their sorts are then transferred to the late Peach house to gradually 
ripen. In about a fortnight we remove the soil from the top, by 
which time the latter, as a rule, part readily. We do not imme¬ 
diately after removing the soil commence to store them, but allow 
them to remain in the Peach house for a few days longer, so that 
the tubers may get fairly dry, but not at all shrivelled. Each sort 
is then packed in boxes according to their various sizes. For this 
purpose we use boxes which hold about 100 to 150 tubers. At the 
bottom of the boxes is placed about an inch depth of moderately 
dry leaf soil on which is a layer of tuber3 barely touching each 
other, then more leaf soil, and so on, until the boxes are filled. 
We then place them in a cellar safe from frost, and in this position 
they remain till spring, and the bulbs keep as firm and as fresh as 
possible. Where these plants are much appreciated it is desirable 
always to have a fresh stock coming on to take the place of older 
ones, and this is best done by annually sowing seed taken from some 
of the best plants grown indoors expressly for that purpose. And 
I need hardly say to grow them satisfactorily in beds, a nd especially 
in dry seasons, the beds must be deeply dug and have an abundance 
of manure worked in, and during their growing season let them 
receive several good soakings of farmyard drainage water.— 
II. Maiikiiam, Mereworth Castle Gardens. 
TOMATOES AT MARSTON. 
Tomato crops have not been very abundant generally during the- 
past season with regard to those grown in the open air, and the crop at- 
the above garden has been no exception to the rule, although provision 
was made on rather an extensive scale for outdoor cuture. But though 
the crop was thin outside, there has been a plentiful supply under glassi- 
some grown in a heated pit and trained over close made hurdles proving- 
very prolific. Fruits were cut from these that secured several first prizes 
at leading provincial shows. The fact of the light crops secured from 
open air plants suggested the idea of providing others for winter bearing, 
and I believe the success attending the effort on the part of Mr. Iggulden 
has been already given by him in the pages of the Journal ; but as the- 
Tomato provides a crop of considerable importance of the present day, 
a few further remarks thereon may not be inopportune. Those under 
notice were surplus plants not required for outdoor planting, for which 
object large numbers were prepared, but when it was found the open 
air crops were setting badly, these, instead of being thrown away, were- 
potted and placed under glass to encourage a free growth, and eventu¬ 
ally they replaced the Cucumbers that had done duty for the summer. 
They are stood on the old Cucumber bed and allowed to root through. 
The vigour with which they grow and their freedom of fruiting is simply 
remarkable. A quantity of fruit has already been gathered and many 
others maturing, while quantities are in various stages of development,, 
and a good supply will thus be maintained throughout the winter- 
months. The plants had been freely syringed, often twice during the 
day, this evidently proving effectual in securing a good set, for I noticed 
as many as eight or ten fruits in a cluster. They are very short-jointed 
too, a distance only of about 9 inches or so dividing the numerous 
clusters. 
Free ventilation is of considerable importance in the production of 
good crops of Tomatoes in winter, a high and close temperature only- 
encouraging a too free growth at the expense of fruits. Cold draughts, 
however, must not be allowed, and a good warmth in the pipes coupled 
with judicious ventilation maintains a healthy and buoyant atmosphere, 
which, together with frequent syringings already alluded to, is the 
course that Mr. Iggulden has adopted with such excellent results. In 
maintaining a healthy root action frequent application of artificial 
manures are applied to the surface of the pots, anil I know of none that 
so quickly attracts the roots to the surface as Beeson’s manure, although 
others may have an equally stimulating effect. 
Mr. Iggulden confines himself to one variety only at this season, 
that being a good selection of Large Red, and he is of opinion that while 
there are many good varieties now to be had, this variety still lKfids 
its own for all-round purposes, and is especially adapted for winter 
fruiting. Carter’s Dedham Favourite, Reading Perfection, and Hack- 
wood Park Prolific are among the best for summer and exhibition 
purposes, these being fully represented at seasons other than winter.— 
W. S. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
A SPECIAL meeting of the Council was held on Wednesday. 
Ictober 31st, at 1 p.m., when it was resolved that a cordial vote of 
hanks be sent to all those who were kind enough, to read papers, or 
o exhi-jit fruit, or in any other way to assist in making the late 
^.pple and Pear Conference at Chiswick a success. It was resolved 
hat a report of the Conference be forthwith prepared with a view to 
ts publication as a number of the Journal of the Society. 
The two resolutions passed at the Conference were then read and 
:onsidered, and, with reference to the suggested Sub-Committee on Law 
tnil Parliamentary matters it was resolved, “ That the Government 
laving, at the suggestion of the Council of the R.H.S. and others- 
ixpressly included horticulture in the Bill for the establishment of a 
iepartment of agriculture, it would be unadvisable to appoint a 
eparate Law and Parliamentary Committee, the Council considering: 
tself to be in a position to fulfil the duties of such proposed Com- 
nittee more advantageously than a subsidiary body.” 
With reference to the second resolution of the Conference, relating, 
o the Society’s gardens at Chiswick, the following resolution was- 
lasseil—viz., “ That the Council of the R.H.S. fully appreciate the value 
.ttaching to Chiswick Garden, and are anxious. to extend and 
levelope its resources to the greatest possible extent in every direction, 
or the advancement of horticulture as far as the means placed m their 
lands will allow.” It was further resolved, “ To invite the members of 
he present Fruit and Floral Committees, and also the principal exhi- 
fitors, to attend a meeting in the Council room on Tuesday, isovember 
3th, at 11.30 A.M., to discuss as to the best place in which to hold the 
ortnightlv meetings for 1889.” 
It was" resolved to hold a general meeting of the Fellows of the- 
>ociety in the Council room on Tuesday, November 13th, at L P.M., m 
rder to submit to them the draft of new bye-laws with a view to their 
doDtion It was determined that at the two next meetings of the 
locietv on November 13th and December 11th, any tender plants may be 
,laced in the Council room, where they will be free from exposure to 
01 By kind permission of the Master and Benchers, a grand flower- 
