[19] A little enquiry would have shown this was not true, even when it was written. All Tea planters, brokers, and all interested in Tea, know now (many knew it then) that the “Assam species,” viz., the indigenous, makes the most valuable Tea produced.—E. M.
[20] In no climate is the success of it certain, for early rains often fail, and then it is all loss. I would, therefore, in all cases advise nurseries in reserve.
[21] In planting “at stake” (see [last Chapter]) the conditions are different. There the plant is in its permanent home, and the more quickly and deeper the tap-root descends the better, as the plant will then draw moisture from low down when the soil is dry.
[22] It is brought and placed between the lines, in one garden in the Chittagong district, for one to two annas a maund!
[23] Land before it is planted can be cultivated with ploughs. My manager is using them largely in the Western Dooars, the land being there all flat. He uses English ploughs, bought of Ransomes and Sims, Ipswich, with bullocks, and often an elephant. He finds the latter the best. After ploughing he uses English harrows.
[24] In no case trust to the latter alone.
[25] In a 500-acre garden the number is 1,250,000, which ought all to be pruned in two months!
[26] The best plan with the lowest branches is to pull them off, with a sharp downward action, as then they will not grow again.
[27] But not before the end of 18 months after transplanting, as the object at first is to get a long tap-root to draw moisture from low down, and this is best attained by allowing the plant to grow as it will. I look on this as all-important. I care not how high a plant may grow, for 18 months I would in no way interfere with its growth.
[28] A long controversy on this point lately took place in the papers; that is to say, the point discussed was, whether white ants do or do not attack living tea trees.