CHAPTER III._The Cultivation and Manufacture of Tea

TEA DISTRICTS AND THEIR COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES, CLIMATE, SOIL, ETC., IN

EACH.

The Tea districts in India, that is, where Tea is grown in India

to-day, are--[7]

1. Assam.

2. The Dehra Dhoon.

3. Kumaon (Himalayas).

4. Darjeeling (Himalayas).

5. Cachar and Sylhet.[8]

6. Kangra (Himalayas).

7. Hazareebaugh.

8. Chittagong.

9. Terai below Darjeeling.

10. Neilgherries (Madras Hills).

11. Western Dooars.

In fixing on any district to plant Tea in, four things have to be

considered--viz., soil, climate, labour, and means of transport.

When--the district being selected--a site has to be chosen, all but

the second of these have to be considered again, and the lay of land,

nature of jungle, water, and sanitation are also of great importance in

choosing a site.

I will first, then, discuss generally the Tea districts given above

as regards the advantages of each for Tea cultivation. I have seen and

studied Tea gardens in all the districts named, except No. 2. What I

know of the Dehra Dhoon is from what I have read, and what is generally

known of the climate.

Before, however, comparing each district, we should know what are

the necessities of the Tea plant as regards climate and soil. Tea,

especially the China variety, will grow in very varying climates and

soils, but it will not flourish in all of them, and if it does not

flourish, and flourish well, it will certainly not pay.

The climate required for Tea is a hot damp one. As a rule, a good Tea

climate is not a healthy one. The rainfall should not be less than 80

to 100 inches per annum, and the more of this that falls in the early

part of the year the better. Any climate which, though possessing

an abundant rainfall, suffers from drought in the early part of the

year is not, _cæteris paribus_, so good as one where the rain is more

equally diffused. _All_ the Tea districts would yield better with more

rain in February, March, and April; and therefore some, where fogs

prevail in the mornings at the early part of the year, are so far

benefited.

As any drought is prejudicial to Tea, it stands to reason hot winds

must be very bad. These winds argue great aridity, and the Tea plant

luxuriates in continual moisture.

The less cold weather experienced where Tea is, the better for the

plant. It can stand, and will grow in, great cold (freezing point,

and lower in winter, is found in some places where Tea is), but I do

not think it will ever be grown to a profit on such sites. That Tea

requires a temperate climate was long believed and acted upon by many

to their loss. The climate _cannot_ be too hot for Tea if the heat is

accompanied with moisture.

Tea grown in temperate climes, such as moderate elevations in the

Himalayas, is quite different to the Tea of hot moist climates, such as

Eastern Bengal. Some people like it better, and certainly the flavour

is more delicate; but it is very much weaker, and the value of Indian

Tea (in the present state of the home market, where it is principally

used for giving “body” to the washy stuff from China) consists in its

strength. Another all-important point in fixing on a climate for Tea

is the fact, that apart from the strength the yield is double in hot,

moist climes, what it is in comparatively dry and temperate ones. A

really pleasant climate to live in _cannot_ be a good one for Tea. I

may now discuss the comparative merits of the different Tea districts.

ASSAM.

This is the principal home of the indigenous plant. The climate in

the northern portions is perfect, superior to the southern, as more

rain falls in the spring. The climate of the whole of Assam, however,

is very good for Tea. The Tea plant yields most abundantly when hot

sunshine and showers intervene. For climate, then, I accord the first

place to Northern Assam. Southern Assam is, as observed, a little

inferior.

The soil of this province is decidedly rich. In many places there is a

considerable coating of decayed vegetation on the surface, and inasmuch

as in all places where Tea has been or is likely to be planted it is

strictly virgin soil, considerable nourishment exists. The prevailing

soil also is light and friable, and thus, with the exception of the

rich oak soil in parts of the Himalayas, Assam in this respect is

second to none.

As regards labour we must certainly put it the last on the list. The

Assamese, and they are scanty, won’t work, so the planters, with few

exceptions, are dependent on imported coolies; and inasmuch as the

distance to bring them is enormous, the outlay on this head is large,

and a sad drawback to successful Tea cultivation.

The Burhampootra--that vast river which runs from one end of Assam to

the other--gives an easy mode of export for the Tea, but still, owing

to the distance from the sea-board, it cannot rank in this respect as

high as some others.

CACHAR.

The indigenous Tea is also found in a part of this province. The

climate differs but little from Assam. In one respect it is better;

more rain falls in the spring.

The soil is not equal to Assamese soil; it is more sandy, and lacks the

power. Again, there is much more flat land fit for Tea cultivation in

Assam, and there can be no doubt as to the advantage of level surfaces.

As regards transport Cachar has the advantage, for it has equally a

water-way, and is not so distant from Calcutta.

The labour aspect is much the same in the two provinces, both being

almost entirely dependent on imported coolies; but Cachar is nearer the

labour fields than Assam.

However, after discussing separately the advantages of each province,

I propose to draw up a tabular statement, which will show at a glance

the comparative merits of each on each point discussed.

CHITTAGONG.

This is a comparatively new locality for Tea. The climate is better

than Cachar in the one respect that there is less cold weather,

but inferior in the more important fact that much less rain falls

in the spring. In this latter respect it is also inferior to Assam,

particularly to Northern Assam. There is one part of Chittagong, the

Hill Tracts (Tea has scarcely been much tried there yet), which, in

the fact of spring rains, is superior to other parts of the province,

as also in soil, for it is much richer there. On the whole, however,

Chittagong must yield the palm to both Assam and Cachar on the score

of climate, and also, I think, of soil. For though good rich tracts

are occasionally met with, they are not so plentiful as in the two

last-named districts. Always, however, excepting the Hill Tracts of

Chittagong; there the soil is, I think, quite equal to either Assam or

Cachar.

As regards labour (a very essential point to successful Tea

cultivation), Chittagong is most fortunate. With few exceptions (and

those only partial) all the plantations are carried on with local

labour, which--excepting for about two months, the rice-time--is

abundant.

For transport (being on the coast with a convenient harbour, a

continually increasing trade, ships also running direct to and from

England), it is very advantageously situated.

Chittagong possesses another advantage over all other Tea districts

in its large supply of manure. The country is thickly populated, and

necessarily large herds of cattle exist. The natives do not use manure

for rice (almost the sole cultivation), and, consequently, planters can

have it almost for the asking. The enormous advantages of manure in

Tea cultivation are not yet generally appreciated: it will certainly

double the ordinary yield of a Tea garden. A chapter is devoted to this

subject.

TERAI BELOW DARJEELING.

I have seen this, and the Tea in it, since I wrote the first edition of

this Essay.

The soil is _very_ good for Tea. The climate is also a good one, but

there is not as much rain in the early part of the year as planters

could wish. Much difficulty exists about labour, owing to the very

unhealthy climate. As the jungle is cleared, however, this last

objection will be in a measure got over. As it stands now, it is

perhaps the most unhealthy Tea locality in India.

Communication will be very easy when the Northern Bengal Railway is

finished, which it will be immediately.

Except in the point of salubrity (which is, however, an important one),

I think this locality a favourable one for Tea.

THE DEHRA DHOON.

I have heard the first Tea in India was planted here. The lucky men,

two officers, who commenced the plantation, sold it, I believe, in its

infancy, to a company for five lakhs of rupees. What visions did Tea

hold forth in those days!

In climate the Dehra Dhoon is far from good. The hot dry weather of the

North-west is not at all suited to the Tea plant. Hot winds shrivel it

up, and though it recovers when the rains come down, it cannot thrive

in such a climate. One fact will, I think, prove this. In favourable

climates, with good soil and moderate cultivation, 18 flushes or crops

may be taken from a plantation in a season. With like advantages, and

_heavy_ manuring, 22 or even more may be had. In the “Selections from

the Records of the Government of India” on Tea, published in 1857 (a

book to which many owe their ruin), the following appears, showing how

small are the number of flushes in the North-west:--

[Sidenote: Three general gatherings.]

_Method of gathering Tea Leaves._--The season for gathering leaves

generally commences about the beginning of April, and continues until

October; the number of gatherings varies, depending on the moistness

and dryness of the season. If the season be good, that is to say,

if rain falls in the cold weather and spring, and the general rains

be favourable, as many as five gatherings may be obtained. These,

however, may be reduced to three general periods for gathering--viz.,

from April to June, from July to August 15, and from September to

October 15. If the season be a dry one, no leaves ought to be taken

off the bushes after October 1, as by doing so they are apt to be

injured. If, however, there are good rains in September, leaves can

be pulled until October 15, but no later, as by this time they have

got hard and leathery and not fitted for making good Teas, and it

is necessary to give the plants good rest in order to recruit. Some

plants continue to throw out new leaves until the end of November;

but those formed during this month are generally small and tough.

When this was written, the experience detailed related to Dehra Dhoon,

the Kumaon, and Kangra gardens, and we see that five flushes or

gatherings are thought good. It however makes matters in this respect

(far from a general fault in the said “Records”) worse than they are.

Ten and twelve flushes, with _high_ cultivation, can be got in the

North-west. But what is this as against twenty and twenty-five?

Labour is plentiful and cheap. The great distance from the coast makes

transport very expensive.

KANGRA.

This is a charming valley, with a delightful climate more favourable

to Tea than the Dehra Dhoon, still it is not a perfect Tea climate. It

is too dry and too cold. The soil is good for Tea, better than that

of the Dhoon, but inferior to some rich soils in the Himalayan oak

forests. Local labour is obtainable at cheap rates. Distance makes

transport for export very difficult; but a good local market now exists

in the Punjab, and a good deal of Tea is bought at the fairs, and taken

away by the wild tribes over the border. With the limited cultivation

there, I should hope planters will find a market for all their produce.

Manure must be obtainable (manure had not been thought of for Tea when

I visited Kangra), and if liberally applied, it will increase the yield

greatly.

Kangra is strictly a Himalayan district, but the elevation is moderate,

if I remember right, about 3,000 feet, and the land is so slightly

sloping it may almost be called level. A great advantage this over the

steep lands, on which most of the Himalayan gardens, many in Cachar,

and some in Assam and Chittagong, are planted.

Kangra is _not_ the best place for a man who wants to make money by

Tea; but for one who would be content to settle there, and content to

make a livelihood by it, a more desirable spot with a more charming

climate could not be found. Land, however, is not easily procured.

The Teas produced in Kangra are of a peculiarly delicate flavour, and

are consequently highly esteemed in the London market.

DARJEELING.

This, too, I have seen since I published the first edition of this

Essay. The elevation of the station, 6,900 feet, is far too great;

but plantations lower down do tolerably well (that is, well for hill

gardens). The climate, like all hill climates, is too cold. As regards

transport the Darjeeling plantations will be well situated when the

railroad now constructing is finished. Like elevations in Darjeeling

and Kumaon are in favour of the former, _first_, because the latitude

is less; _secondly_, because Darjeeling has much more rain in the

spring. I believe, therefore, that the hill plantations of Darjeeling

have a better chance of paying than the gardens in Kumaon, but, as

stated before, no elevated gardens, that is, none in the Himalayas,

have any chance in the race against plantations in the plains, always

providing the latter are in a good Tea climate.

In two respects, however, Darjeeling is behind Kumaon. The soil is not

so good, and the land is much steeper. It is more than absurd, some of

the steeps on which Tea is planted in the former; and such precipices

can, I am sure, never pay. Gardens, barely removed above the Terai

(and there are such in Darjeeling), can scarcely be called “elevated,”

and for them the remarks applied to the Terai are more fitting. As a

broad rule it should be recognised that the lower Tea is planted in the

Himalayas the better chance it has.

All the plants in the Darjeeling gardens, with but few exceptions, are

China.

The China plant makes by far the best Green Tea, and I believe the

Darjeeling gardens would pay much better than they do if they altered

their manufacture from black to green. (See further on, under the head

of Hazareebaugh, what has been done in this way.) All Himalayan gardens

should, in my opinion, make Green Tea (Kumaon has awoke to the fact),

for all have China plants, and can therefore make far better Green Tea

than can be produced from the Hybrid which is so general in plain

gardens.[9]

KUMAON.

It was in this district (a charming climate to live in, with

magnificent scenery to gaze at) I first planted Tea in India, and I

much wish for my own sake, and that of others, I had not done so. I

knew nothing of Tea at the time, and I thought a district selected by

Government for inaugurating the cultivation must necessarily be a good

one. No hill climate _can_ be a good one for Tea; but the inner part of

Kumaon, very cold, owing to its elevation, high latitude, and distance

from the plains, is a peculiarly bad one. Yet there it was Government

made nurseries, distributed seed gratis, recommended the site for

Tea (see the “Records” alluded to), and led many on to their ruin by

doing so. The intention of the Government was good, but the officers

in charge of the enterprise were much to blame, perhaps not for making

the mistake at first (no one _at the first_ knew what climate was

suitable), but for perpetuating the mistake, when later very little

enquiry would have revealed the truth. I believe it was guessed at by

Government officials long ago, but it was easier to sing the old tune;

and a very expensive song it has proved to many.[10]

I need scarcely, after this, add that I do not approve of Kumaon for

Tea. An exhilarating and bracing climate for man is not suited to

the Tea plant. The district has one solitary advantage--rich soil.

I have never seen richer, more productive land than exists in some

of the Kumaon oak forests, but even this cannot in the case of Tea

counter-balance the climate. Any crop which does not require much heat

and moisture will grow to perfection in that soil. Such potatoes as

it produces! Were the difficulties of transport not so great, a small

fortune might be made by growing them.

Could any part of Kumaon answer for Tea it would be the lower

elevations in the outer ranges of the hills, but these are precisely

the sites that have _not_ been chosen. Led, as in my own case, partly

by the Government example, partly by the wish to be _out_ of sight of

the “horrid plains,” and _in_ sight of that glorious panorama the snowy

range, planters have chosen the interior of Kumaon. Some wisely (I was

not one of them) selected low sites, valleys sheltered from the cold

winds; but even their choice has not availed much. The frost in winter

lingers longest in the valleys, and though doubtless the yield there is

larger, owing to the increased heat in summer, the young plants suffer

much in the winter. The outer ranges, owing to the heat radiating from

the plains, are comparatively free from frost, but there again the soil

is not so rich. Still they would unquestionably be preferable to the

interior.

Labour is plentiful in Kumaon and very cheap--Rs. 4 per mensem.

Transport is very expensive. It costs not a little to send Tea from the

interior over divers ranges of hills to the plains. It has then some

days’ journey by cart ere it meets the rail, to which 1,000 miles of

carriage on the railroad has to be added.

Since the above was written, Kumaon has secured a good local market,

and I believe sells most of its Tea unpacked to merchants who come from

over the border to buy it.

It has also improved its position greatly by making Green Teas, for

which, as observed before, the China plant is so well fitted. With

those two advantages, though the climate is inferior, I suspect that

Tea there now pays better than in Darjeeling.

Gurhwall is next to Kumaon, and so similar that I have not thought it

necessary to discuss it separately. The climate is the same, the soil

as a rule not so good. There is one exception though, a plantation near

“Lohba,” the Teas of which (owing, I conceive, to its peculiar soil)

command high prices in the London market. The gardens, both in Kumaon

and Gurhwall, have been generally much better cared for than those in

Eastern Bengal. As a rule they are private properties managed by the

owners.

HAZAREEBAUGH.

This district I have resided in since I wrote the first edition of this

Essay. The climate is too dry, and hot winds are felt there. A great

compensation, though, is labour; it is more abundant and cheaper in

this district than in any other. The carriage is all by land, and it

is some distance to the rail. But the Tea gardens at Hazareebaugh can

never vie with those in Eastern Bengal, inasmuch as the climate is very

inferior. The soil is very poor.

NEILGHERRIES.

The climate is superior to the Himalayan, for the frost is very slight.

Were, however, more heat there in summer, it would be better.

Some of the Teas have sold very well in the London market, for as

regards delicacy of flavour they take a high place.

The soil is good, but the temperate climate which holds on these “blue

mountains” is not favourable to a large produce.

WESTERN DOOARS.

When the second edition of this work was printed, this district was

unknown as Tea locality.

My attention was directed to it in 1874; I was the second who planted

Tea in it, and I have now completed a garden there.

As regards climate, soil, and lay of land, it is perfect, and I believe

it will eventually prove the most paying district in India for Tea.

The Northern Bengal Railway, just opened, gives it great advantages for

transport.

Having now discussed each district, all of which, except the Dehra

Dhoon, I have seen, I give, in further elucidation, Meteorological

Tables. For those not mentioned in the tables I have failed to acquire

the necessary information.

My thanks are due to Dr. Coates, at Hazareebaugh, for his kindness in

supplying me with much of the data from which the following tables are

framed:--

TABLE OF ELEVATION AND TEMPERATURE OF TEA LOCALITIES.

_N.B.--The exact temperature of other Tea Districts not being known, I

have confined myself to these; but general remarks on the elevation and

temperature of other Tea localities will be found elsewhere._

+----------+-------------+---------+--------+---------+---------+-------

+----------+-------------+---------+--------+---------+---------+-------

| | | {|Monthly}| 61·7 | 63·0 | 72·6

| {| | {| Temp. }| | |

| {|Goalparah | 386 {|Do. Max.| 77·2 | 87·9 | 94·0

| {| | {| | | |

| {| | {|Do. Min.| 49·0 | 48·0 | 57·2

| {|-------------+---------+--------+---------+---------+-------

|ASSAM {|Gowhatty | 134 |Monthly}| 63·6 | 67·6 | 74·5

| {| | | Temp. }| | |

| {|-------------+---------+--------+---------+---------+-------

| {|Seebsaugor | 370 |Monthly}| 60·0 | 64·1 | 69·3

| {| | | Temp. }| | |

| {|-------------+---------+--------+---------+---------+-------

| {|Debrooghur | 396 |Monthly}| 62·2 | 63·4 | 71·3

| | | | Temp. }| | |

+----------+-------------+---------+--------+---------+---------+-------

|CACHAR |Cachar | 76 |Monthly}| 62·9 | 66·6 | 73·4

| | | | Temp. }| | |

+----------+-------------+---------+--------+---------+---------+-------

|CHITTAGONG|Chittagong | 191 |Monthly}| 68·5 | 72·3 | 80·5

| | | | Temp. }| | |

+----------+-------------+---------+--------+---------+---------+-------

| | | |Monthly}| | |

|DAR- }| | | Temp.}| 42.2 | 43.8 | 52.0

| JEELING }| Darjeeling | 6952 |Do. Max.| 62·0 | 66·0 | 72·0

| | | |Do. Min.| 32·0 | 28·0 | 39·0

+----------+-------------+---------+--------+---------+---------+-------

| | | |Monthly}| | |

|CHOTA }| | | Temp.}| 62.7 | 67.1 | 73.7

| NAGPORE }| Hazareebaugh| 2010 |Do. Max.| 82·0 | 91·0 | 94·0

| | | |Do. Min.| 44·0 | 46·4 | 55·0

+----------+-------------+---------+--------+---------+---------+-------

|NEIL- }| | |Monthly}| | |

| GHERRIES}| Ootacamund | 7490 | Temp.}| 51·5 | 52·8 | 57·3

+----------+-------------+---------+--------+---------+---------+-------

-------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------

| | | | | |

-------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------

77·6 | 76·0 | 80·3 | 82·1 | 81·6 | 80·5 | 77·5

| | | | | |

97·0 | 91·0 | 91·0 | 92·0 | 91·5 | 92·0 | 89·0

| | | | | |

62·6 | 67·0 | 70·0 | 73·7 | 73·0 | 70·1 | 62·3

-------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------

77·4 | 80·4 | 81·8 | 83·0 | 82·9 | 82·2 | 79·2

| | | | | |

-------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------

73·8 | 78·5 | 82·4 | 83·6 | 83·5 | 83·1 | 78·3

| | | | | |

-------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------

72·7 | 77·1 | 80·7 | 83·7 | 81·8 | 81·0 | 75·6

| | | | | |

-------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------

76·8 | 80·9 | 82·2 | 83·3 | 81·7 | 81·2 | 79·6

| | | | | |

-------+---------+---------+---------+-------------------+--------

83·5 | 84·5 | 84·0 | 82·2 | 82·3 | 83·0 | 81·6

| | | | | |

-------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------

| | | | | |

58.7 | 62.1 | 63.7 | 64.9 | 64.4 | 63.0 | 57.3

78·0 | 79·0 | 79·0 | 79·0 | 75·0 | 80·0 | 78·0

48·0 | 48·0 | 57·0 | 58·0 | 59·0 | 57·0 | 44·0

-------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------

| | | | | |

85.6 | 88.6 | 83.8 | 77.8 | 79.3 | 77.5 | 72.6

107·0 | 100·0 | 103·0 | 89·0 | 88·0 | 87·0 | 84·0

67·0 | 72·0 | 71·0 | 71·0 | 73·0 | 70·0 | 59·0

-------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------

| | | | | |

60·1 | 60·8 | 57·9 | 55·8 | 56·1 | 56·4 | 55·9

-------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------

---------+---------+------+------+------+------+-----+

November |December |D.J.F.|M.A.M.|J.J.A.|S.O.N.|Year |

| | | | | | |

---------+---------+------+------+------+------+-----+

69·0 | 64·6 | 63·1 | 75·4 | 81·3 | 75·6 | 73·8|

| | | | | | |

84·3 | 78·3 | | | | | |

| | | | | | |

50·8 | 50·0 | | | | | |

---------+---------+------+------+------+------+-----+

71·1 | 65·5 | 65·6 | 77·4 | 82·6 | 77·5 | 75·8|

| | | | | | |

---------+---------+------+------+------+------+-----+

69·4 | 62·4 | 62·2 | 73·7 | 83·2 | 76·9 | 74·0|

| | | | | | |

---------+---------+------+------+------+------+-----+

67·4 | 61·0 | 62·2 | 73·7 | 82·1 | 74·7 | 73·2|

| | | | | | |

---------+----------------+------+------+------+-----+

70·6 | 65·4 | 64·9 | 77·0 | 82·4 | 77·1 | 75·3|

| | | | | | |

---------+---------+------+-------------+------+-----+

73·7 | 68·9 | 69·9 | 82·8 | 82·8 | 79·4 | 78·7|

| | | | | | |

---------+---------+------+------+------+------+-----+

| | | | | | |

49.4 | 44.7 | 43.5 | 57.6 | 64.3 | 58.4 |55.9 |

69·0 | 60·0 | | | | | |

38·0 | 33·0 | | | | | |

---------+---------+------+------+------+------+-----+

| | | | | | |

64.8 | 61.4 | 63.7 | 82.6 | 80.3 | 71.6 |74.5 |

78·0 | 76·0 | | | | | |

52·0 | 44·0 | | | | | |

---------+---------+------+------+------+------+-----+

| | | | | | |

53·9 | 51·9 | 52·1 | 59·4 | 56·6 | 55·4 |55·9 |

---------+---------+------+------+------+------+-----+

N.B.--The letters in the columns, between December and the year, refer

to months; thus, D. J. F. is December, January, February. The figures

show the average temperature during those months.

TABLE OF LATITUDE, LONGITUDE, AND RAINFALL OF TEA LOCALITIES.

_N.B.--The exact rainfalls of other Tea Districts not being known, I

have confined myself to these; but general remarks on the rainfall in

other Tea localities will be found elsewhere._

+---------+-----------+--------+---------+------------------------

|---------+-----------+--------+---------+------------------------