[1] Since the Second Edition went to press, further Rules for Waste Lands have been enacted. Generally speaking, they are only now leased to applicants.

[2] I need scarcely observe it is impossible to define lands from maps alone without the field-book.

[3] Note to Third Edition.—Since the above was written, Teas, both Indian and Chinese, have had a heavy fall, due to the simple fact that the supplies have exceeded the demands. But with increased knowledge and experience, producers can afford to sell cheaper, and the present absurdly low prices ruling will, I think, work their own cure.

[4] Not so much so now as when this was first written.

[5] Note to Third Edition.—A portion of the Western Dooars may perhaps be added, but the labour, though adjacent, is not strictly local. Up to the present, however, I have had but little expense in importing coolies to the gardens there in which I am interested.

[6] What a designation! Who invented it, I wonder? A clever man, doubtless, for Government interference was probably his hobby, and he quickly perceived the very title would, more or less, render the office necessary.

[7] Note to Third Edition.—I give them, as far as I know, in the order they became Tea districts. Though in the said order there is, I believe, no great error, I may be open to correction in one or two instances.

[8] These are virtually one, and I shall allude to both as Cachar.

[9] When this was written the demand for Green Teas in Europe was greater than it is now. Still Kumaon has found a local market for Green Tea over the border, that is, among the Asiatic tribes, and Darjeeling might do the same.

[10] Is it possible that the continued deception (it was nothing less) was owing to the fact that Government had gardens to sell there? They were advertised for sale a long time at absurd prices.

[12] The oak tree leaves cause a rich deposit of vegetable matter.

[13] The Western Dooars are in many parts covered with this coarse grass, and nowhere is there better soil.

[14] I am now commencing a second garden in the Western Dooars on flat table land, and the site is an exceptionally favourable one.

[15] A garden I have just finished in the Western Dooars is 300 acres in extent, all on flat land without any breaks in the cultivation, and all divided into sections of 5 acres each. Being in one large block it is not divided into gardens at all, only sections.

[16] It is a singular fact that none exists in Northern Cachar, that is, on the northern side of the river.

[17] And also the introduction of a bad class of plants.—E. M.

[18] A single small sample of Tea very carefully made, and with an amount of labour which could never be bestowed on the mass, is little or no criterion. Tea is better made in Kumaon in 1878 than it was in 1842, but Kumaon Tea does not vie in price with Eastern Bengal produce. All the Himalayan Tea is weak, though of a delicate flavour; all Tea grown at high elevation must be so.—E. M.

[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.

[29] By “best class” I mean the most indigenous class.

[30] Mind again this be of the same nature as the garden soil.

[31] The baskets are too frail; being often wetted, they fall to pieces before the planting time.

[32] It may be that the transplanting and transporting tools invented by Mr. Jeben (see page 79) will solve the difficulty of filling up vacancies.

[33] Where new gardens are made on rich virgin soil, to manure them at all for the first few years is, I think, unnecessary. But the richest soils on Tea gardens get exhausted in time, and manure should be applied before this point is arrived at.

[34] See foot-note, page 86, which shows that for 18 months after transplanting, young bushes should not be pruned or picked at all.

[35] I mean manufactured Tea. The infusion is called liquor.

[36] In describing manufacture I shall call the leaf brought in “Leaf,” until it enters on the rolling process; from that time until the drying over charcoal is concluded, “Roll;” and after that, “Tea.”

[37] Pekoe tips are the whitish or orange-coloured ends that may be seen in Pekoe Tea. See pages 105, 106, and 116.

[38] The out-turn consists of the Tea leaves after infusion.

[39] At the end of the season, however, sunning has more than the above effect. It then makes the Tea “Chubby” in form, of a reddish colour, and improves the strength of the liquor.

[40] It is better, because the “tips” having been hard-rolled give stronger liquor.

[41] It was the best, but is superseded by a new rolling-machine (Jackson’s) I have seen quite lately.

Note to Third Edition.—Jackson’s rolling-machine, by a late Calcutta legal decision, is declared to be simply Kinmond’s, with alterations. As Jackson is now prohibited from selling his machines, I presume the two inventors will come to some understanding as to the alterations, which are most certainly improvements.

[42] I had not seen Jackson’s machine when I thought as above.

[43] Unfortunately it is not. It is advertised at Rs. 300, with a yearly royalty of Rs. 50 the first year and 20 after. The royalty should be dropped, and the machine sold for Rs. 150, which would give the inventor a good profit.

[44] Note to 3rd edition.—It is a question no longer. Many besides myself have now proved that charcoal fumes are in no way necessary.

[45] See this subject further discussed in the Addenda.

[46] I now believe Jackson’s rolling-machine, previously alluded to, will finish the rolling entirely.

[47] Note to 3rd edition—I am now sending out the glass necessary for a glass withering house to be erected on the garden just finished in the Western Dooars.

[48] The more the leaf is withered the thicker in consistency and the smaller in quantity the juice that exudes, as also the yellower in colour. Further, the more the leaf is withered the darker the outside of the balls. Bright rusty red is the colour produced with moderately withered leaf; very dark greenish red with much withered leaf.

[49] Much Green Tea is coloured, but none from India has been so treated.

[50] Note to Third Edition.—Since this was written Green Teas have gone down considerably in value. They are still much used in America, but in Great Britain there is but little demand for them.

[51] We have yet to see what Jackson’s machine can do.

[52] Even to break Tea on them it is a mistake to use brass sieves. Tea is best broken by a wooden roller, heavily weighed with lead, run in. The glaze or gloss on Tea is thus preserved.

[53] I need hardly remark that the Hindustani word Namuna (pronounced Nemoona) means sample.

[54] I think I need hardly pause to correct the popular error that the Green and Black Teas are made from two different species of plant. Most of my readers will know that they are both made from the same leaf, the difference lying only in the manufacture.

[55] Note to Third Edition.—As previously stated in foot-note page 133, Green Teas are now but little used in Great Britain.

[56] Large lead is 37 by 22 inches; small lead, 25 by 19 inches.

[57] Note to Third Edition.—This matter of equal tares is very important. If they differ more than half-a-pound all the Tea is turned out and re-weighed in London, which is a great loss in many ways.

[58] It is not essential that the same quantity of Tea shall be in each box.

[59] This should, except the lid part, be put on the boxes before the Tea is packed.

[60] The object of stamping the end, as well as the lid, is that when the boxes are piled one above the other the mark can be read.

[61] In practice the basket in which the leaf is measured being made to hold 2½ lbs., for which a ticket is given, representing 2 pice, the leaf to make a maund of Tea does not really cost so much.

[62] After experience has shown me this amount, when any quantity of Tea is made, is too high—Rs. 12 to 13 would be nearer the mark.

[63] The cost for seed, nurseries, and transplanting increases each year as the area over which vacancies may exist enlarges.

[64] See note 63 p. 163.

[65] The expenditure for planting the 100 acres each year includes cutting and clearing jungle, removing roots, digging, staking, pitting, and sowing the seed. In fact all expenditure including part of the pay of Manager and Establishment. The rate per acre decreases each year, because each year there is more expenditure of other kinds, which helps to pay for the Manager and Establishment.

[66] The reason why the rate for cultivation on the 100 acres planted each of the three first years increases each year is given in the table and remarks at pages 84 and 85.

[67] See note 65, p. 164.

[68] See note 66, p. 164.

[69] The seed to be bought is now less each year, as it is produced on the garden, and after the fifth year no more has to be purchased. From the fourth, and all subsequent years, nurseries for vacancies are calculated at Rs. 500, which is enough, as the garden has been previously yearly replenished. This expenditure will be continual as long as the garden lasts, for there will always be some vacancies to replace.

[70] Rupees 500 is a fair sum to estimate for ordinary annual repairs to buildings, and it will be required as long as the garden lasts. A temporary Factory was made in 1877, and a permanent building is now allowed for in 1881. Permanent Manager’s and Assistant’s houses are also allowed for in 1882. The garden can afford this now, for the profits are large. (See table at page 172.)

[71] For the rates assumed here see page 84.

[72] See Note 69, p. 165.

[73] See Note 70, p. 165.

[74] See Note 71, p. 165.

[75] See note 69, p. 165.

[76] See note 70, p. 165.

[77] See note 71, p. 165.

[78] See my estimate for cultivation at page 84. I there estimate Rs. 100 per acre per annum from the sixth year, so that Mr. Burland six years ago had come to the same opinion about high cultivation that I hold.

[79] Calculating Tea by maunds is convenient, inasmuch as pounds necessitate such lengthy figures for all calculations. The maund here employed is, however, quite an arbitrary measure. It is not the Indian maund, it equals and is represented exactly by 80 lbs. Any number of maunds multiplied by 80 will naturally give the lbs. of Tea.

[80] Up to this point, viz., the fifth year inclusive, the figures given have been much more than realised, and that on a garden with 15 per cent. vacancies. It has been, though, highly cultivated and liberally manured from the first.

[81] From the fifth to the tenth year is assumption, except that I know one garden which, to my certain knowledge, has given more then ten maunds an acre, and this in spite of about 15 per cent. vacancies. The garden is an old one, planted about 18 years ago. It is also a very small one. The soil is very poor, but the plants are of the highest class. It was much neglected till about eight years ago. From that time it has been highly cultivated in every way except in the point of irrigation, for it has not that advantage. It has been most liberally manured.

[82] Note to Third Edition.—With high cultivation on a favourable site and in a really good Tea climate, I now believe 10 maunds per acre will eventually be realised.

[84] Note to Third Edition.—The above three statements, quite true when written, are not so now. The heavy fall in the value of both Indian and Chinese Teas in 1877, while pressing hard on the Indian producer, has certainly had the one good effect for him of making Indian Teas more widely known. They are generally known now, in many cases sold pure as Indian Tea, and used by all retail dealers to give the body, or strength lacking in most Chinese kinds.

[85] Note to Third Edition.—Yes; the demand has largely increased, but, alas! production has increased in a greater ratio. In short, the supply exceeds the demand, and hence the low prices now ruling. As regards the use of Indian Teas, so much have the English public been now made familiar with their flavour, they, as a rule, reject any Teas which have it not more or less. In fact, the English public, as I predicted years ago, have now begun to like the new flavour, and even pure Indian Teas are now relished by many.

[86] Note to Third Edition.—The imports have been as follows during the last three years:—

[87] Note to Third Edition.—The annual consumption of all Teas in Great Britain in 1877 was:—

[88] Note to Third Edition.—In 1876 the average prices of the two kinds in bond were:—Chinese, 1s. 2d.; Indian, 1s. 10d. per lb.

[89] Much about Java and its Teas can be found in a book entitled “Java, or How to Manage a Colony,” by J. W. B. Money. Crown 8vo, 2 vols. Hurst and Blackett.

[90] It will not be large because much in the way of extensions has not been executed lately. A higher range of prices will doubtless cause more land to be cultivated, but no produce from such will be available for four or five years.

[91] Estimated on basis of 55,000,000 lbs. available for shipment to the United Kingdom.

[92] Estimated on average monthly deliveries, February to June inclusive, of 4,500,000 lbs.

[93] With few exceptions it is bought by the Natives alone and for the reason given above.—E. M.

[94] “Nil Desperandum” evidently foresees what must be sooner or later. All interested in Tea, owners, planters, and inventors, should aid to achieve the result.

[95] “Nil Desperandum” takes up three spaces—one bullock in each outside space and the hoe in the centre. I don’t like the plan. It could not be done where the tea plants are high.

[96] In wet weather especially the warm air generated in the factory by the fires in it helps the process.

[97] This, after the previous sentence, is obscure.—E. M.

[98] I agree with “Enquirer” in this.—E. M.

[99] They are still higher now. The last three months they have averaged five millions.—E. M.

[100] I should be glad to be set right if I have not rightly calculated the price of coke.—(Writer of the letter.)

[101] I advise only these four kinds. When the trader becomes more sensible, three or even two would be better, but as it is now four are necessary.

[102] With a driving belt from the engine shafting.

[103] Heating before packing has to be done on a large scale. None of the Dryers notified are large enough. A special machine should be devised.

[104] Top is “The Tea Garden;” front, “Weighing Leaf;” back, “Packing;” ends, “Elephant with Howdah,” or, if desired, the plantation mark.

[105] The following are the numbers to be opened by the Custom House regulations:—

This applies to packages of all sizes and kinds, if the tares are equal or nearly so. If the difference in the tares are not great, an average is struck. If tares are various all are turned out!

[106] If tares are nearly equal, and if Teas are well bulked in India, only some packages (about 10 per cent.) are opened, and an average tare struck. But this in no way saves the loss in quantity of Tea, though, of course, less Tea is thus injured.

[107] Since I wrote the above the Customs have framed new rules for Indian Teas. The absurd tare system is done away with.

[108] Note to Third Edition.—No. The furnace has been erected but on two or three gardens. Other inventions have since been brought forward, and the whole matter is still in an uncertain state—I mean as to which of the several apparatuses is the best. I believe in mine still, and intend to erect it on the Western Dooar Gardens in which I am interested, but, of course, I am not an impartial judge! One thing, however, I lay claim to, and that is, that I was the first to show by practical results that the fumes of charcoal are in no way necessary to make Tea.

Note to Fourth Edition.—Since the above note was written (now five years ago) many Tea Drying Machines have been invented (see pages 240 to 259), and I most willingly admit they are all better than my furnace apparatus. The first inventor rarely attains perfection, and as in my case, he generally labours for the benefit of those who come after!—Edward Money.