moisture, rain falls, and the bushes, being thus placed in such favourable circumstances for vegetating, are soon covered again with young leaves, from which the main crop of the season is obtained. No one acquainted with vegetable physiology can doubt the advantages of such weather in the cultivation of tea for mercantile purposes. And these advantages, to a certain extent at least, seem to be extended to the Himalayas, although the regular rainy season is later than in China. I have already shown, from Dr. Jameson's table, that spring showers are frequent in Kumaon, although rare in the plains of India; still, however, I think it would be prudent to adapt the gathering of leaves to the climate, that is, to take a moderate portion from the bushes before the rains, and the main crop after they have commenced. 3. On the Vegetation of China and the Himalayas. One of the surest guides from which to draw conclusions on a subject of this nature is found in the indigenous vegetable productions of the countries. Dr. Royle, who was the first to recommend the cultivation of tea in the Himalayas, drew his conclusions, in the absence of that positive information from China which we now possess, not only from the great similarity in temperature between China and these hills, but also from the resemblance in vegetable productions. This resemblance is certainly very striking. In both countries, except in the low valleys of the Himalayas (and these we are not considering), tropical forms are rarely met with. If we take trees and shrubs, for example, we find such genera as Pinus, Cupressus, Berberis, Quercus, Viburnum. Indigofera, Andromeda, Lonicera, Deutzia, Rubus, Myrica, Spiraea, Ilex, and many others common to both countries. Amongst herbaceous plants we have Gentiana, Aquilegia, Anemone, Rumex, Primula, Lilium, Leontodon, Ranunculus, &c., equally distributed in the Himalayas and in China, and even in aquatic plants the same resemblance may be traced, as in Nelumbium, Caladium, &c. And more than this, we do not find plants belonging to the same genera only, but in many instances the identical species are found in both countries. The Indigofera, common in the Himalayas, abounds also on the tea-hills of China, and so does Berberis nepalensis, Lonicera diversifolia, Myrica sapida, and many others. Were it necessary, I might now show that there is a most striking resemblance between the geology of the two countries as well as in their vegetable productions. In both the black and green tea countries to which I have alluded, clay-slate is most abundant. But enough has been advanced to prove how well many parts of the Himalayas are adapted for the cultivation of tea; besides, the flourishing condition of many of the plantations is, after all, the best proof, and puts the matter beyond all doubt. 4. Suggestions. Having shown that tea can be grown in the Himalayas, and that it would produce a valuable and remunerative crop, the next great object appears to be the production of superior tea, by means of fine varieties and improved cultivation. It was well known that a variety of the tea-plant existed in the southern parts of China from which inferior teas only were made. That, being more easily procured than the fine northern varieties, from which the great mass of the best teas are made, was the variety originally sent to India. From it all those in the Government plantations have sprung. It was to remedy this, and to obtain the best varieties from those districts which furnish the trees of commerce, that the Honourable Court of Directors sent me to China in 1848. Another object was to obtain some good manufacturers and implements from the same districts. As the result of this mission, nearly twenty thousand plants from the best black and green tea countries of Central China have been introduced to the Himalayas. Six first-rate manufacturers, two lead-men, and a large supply of implements from the celebrated Hwuy-chow districts were also brought and safely located on the Government plantations in the hills. A great step has thus been gained towards the objects in view. Much, however, remains still to be done. The new China plants ought to be carefully propagated and distributed over all the plantations; some of them ought also to be given to the Zemindars, and more of these fine varieties might be yearly imported from China. The Chinese manufacturers, who were obtained some years since from Calcutta or Assam, are, in my opinion, far from being first-rate workmen ; indeed, I doubt much if any of them learned their trade in China. They ought to be gradually got rid of and their places supplied by better men, for it is a great pity to teach the natives an inferior method of manipulation. The men brought round by me are firstrate green-tea makers; they can also make black tea, but they have not been in the habit of making so much black as green. They have none of the Canton illiberality or prejudices about them, and are most willing to teach their art to the natives, many of whom will, I have no doubt, soon become excellent tea manufacturers. And the instruction of the natives is one of the chief objects which ought to be kept in view, for the importation of Chinese manipulators at high wages can only be regarded as a temporary measure; ultimately the Himalayan tea must be made by the natives themselves; each native farmer must learn how to make tea as well as how to grow it; he will then make it upon his own premises, as the Chinese do, and the expenses of carriage will be much less than if the green leaves had to be taken to the market. But as the Zemindars will be able to grow tea long before they are able to make it, it would be prudent in the first instance to offer them a certain sum for green leaves brought to the Government manufactory. I have pointed out the land most suitable for the cultivation of tea, and shown that such land exists in the Himalayas to an almost unlimited extent. But if the object the Government have in view be the establishment of a company to develop the resources of these hills, as in Assam, I would strongly urge the propriety of concentrating, as much as possible, the various plantations. Sites ought to be chosen which are not too far apart, easy of access, and if possible near rivers; for, no doubt, a considerable portion of the produce would have to be conveyed to the plains or to a seaport. In my tour amongst the hills I have seen no place so well adapted for a central situation as Almorah or Hawulbaugh. Here the Government has already a large establishment, and tea-lands are abundant in all directions. The climate is healthy, and better suited to an European constitution than most other parts of India. Here plants from nearly all the temperate parts of the world are growing as if they were at home. As examples, I may mention Myrtles, Pomegranates, and Tuberoses from the south of Europe; Dahlias, Potatoes, Aloes, and Yuccas from America; Melianthus major and bulbs from the Cape; the Cypress and Deodar of the Himalayas; and the Lagerstræmias, Loquats, Roses, and Tea of China. In these days, when tea has become almost a necessary of life in England and her wide-spreading colonies, its production upon a large and cheap scale is an object of no ordinary importance. But to the natives of India themselves the production of this article would be of the greatest value. The poor paharie, or hill peasant, at present has scarcely the common necessaries of life, and certainly none of its luxuries. The common sorts of grain which his lands |
