How to secure all these advantages to their fullest extent is shown under those heads, and we have here only to consider what is a low, a medium, and a high rate of flushing per season.
In doing this we must speak of elevated (as Himalayan) gardens separately. The cool climate of heights makes it impossible for Tea to flush there as on the plains.
Speaking generally of elevated gardens (the higher they are the shorter the period, and vice versâ), seven months may be considered as the average producing period, viz., from beginning of April to end of October, and during that time twelve to fifteen flushes may be obtained, which, I believe, with high cultivation and liberal manuring, can be increased to eighteen.
In all localities, with favourable Tea climates, the plants flush both for a longer period and oftener. Speaking generally also, in this case, of the five best localities, viz., Assam, Cachar, Chittagong, the Terai below Darjeeling, and the Western Dooars (for even in these districts many advantages exist in one garden which do not in another), the following is an approximation to the flushing periods:—
Upper Assam.—February 25th to November 15th.
Lower Assam.—February 20th to November 20th.
Cachar.—February 20th to November 20th.
Chittagong.—March 10th to December 20th.
Terai below Darjeeling and Western Dooars.—March 1st to November 20th.
The opening period is a little late in Upper Assam on account of the cold, and closes a little earlier for the same reason.