CO129-038 - Sir Bonham - 1851 [10-12] & Public Offices - 1851 [10-12] — Page 180

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less than Bhurtpoor, and although terraced in the same way, the angle is much lower. In some parts of the farm the plants are doing well, but generally they seemed to be suffering from too much water and hard plucking. I have no doubt, however, of the suc- cess of this farm, when the system of cultivation is improved. I observed some most vigorous and healthy bushes in the Overseer's garden, a spot adjoining the plantation, which could not be irrigated, and was informed they "never received any water, except that which fell from the skies."

In the Bheemtai district, there are large tracts of excellent tea- land. In crossing over the hills towards Nainee Tal, with J. H. Batten, Esq., Commissioner of Kumaon, I pointed out many tracts admirably adapted for tea-cultivation, and of no great value to the natives; generally, those lands on which the mundooa is cultivated are the most suitable.

I have thus described all the Government plantations in Gurhwal and Kumaon. Dr. Jameson, the Superintendent, deserves the highest praise for the energy and perseverance with which he has conducted his operations. I shall now notice the plantations of the zemindars under the superintendence of the Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner of Kumaon and Gurhwal.

ZEMINDAREE TEA PLANTATIONS.

1st, at Lohba. This place is situated in Eastern Gurhwal, about 50 miles to the westward of Almorah, and is at an elevation of 5000 feet above the level of the sea. It is one of the most beau- tiful spots in this part of the Himalayas. The surrounding moun- tains are high, and in some parts precipitous, while in others they are found consisting of gentle slopes and undulations. On these undulating slopes there is a great deal of excellent land suitable for tea-cultivation. A few tea-bushes have been growing vigorously for some years in the Commissioner's garden, and they are now fully ten feet in height. These plants having succeeded so well, naturally induced the authorities of the province to try this culti- vation upon a more extensive scale. It appears that in 1844, about 4000 young plants were obtained from the Government plantations, and planted on a tract of excellent land, which the natives wished to abandon. Instead of allowing the people to throw up their land, they were promised it rent-free upon the condition that they attended to the cultivation of the tea, which had been planted on a small portion of the ground attached to the village.

This arrangement seems to have failed, either from want of kuowledge, or from design, or perhaps partly from both of these

causes.

More lately, a larger number of plants have been planted, but I regret to say with nearly the same results.

But results of this discouraging kind are what any one acquainted with the nature of the tea-plant, could have easily foretold, had the treatment intended to be given it been explained to him. Upon inquiry, I found the villagers had been managing the tea-lands just as they had been doing their rice-fields, that is, a regular system of irrigation was practised. As water was plentiful, a great number, indeed nearly all, the plants seem to have perished from this cause. The last planting alluded to had been done late in the spring, and just at the commencement of the dry weather, and to these plants little or no water seems to have been given. So that in fact it was going from one extreme to another equally bad, and the result was of course nearly the same.

I have no hesitation in saying that the district in question is well adapted for the cultivation of tea. With judicious manage- ment, a most productive farm might be established here in four or five years. Land is plentiful, and of little value either to the natives

or to the Government.

2nd, at Kutoor.-This is the name of a large district, 30 or 40 miles northward from Almorah, in the centre of which the old town or village of Byznath stands. It is a fine undulating country, con- sisting of wide valleys, gentle slopes, and little hills, while the whole is intersected by numerous streams, and surrounded by high moun- tains. The soil of this extensive district is most fertile, and is capable of producing large crops of rice, on the low irrigable lands, and the dry grains and tea on the sides of the hills. From some cause, however, either the thinness of population, or the want of a remunerative crop, large tracts of this fertile district have been allowed to go out of cultivation. Everywhere I observed ruinous and jungle-covered terraces, which told of the more extended culti- vation of former years.

*

Amongst some hills near the upper portion of this district, two small tea plantations have been formed under the patronage and superintendence of Captain Ramsay, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Kumaon. Each of them covers three or four acres of land, and had been planted about a year before the time of my visit. In this short space of time, the plants had grown into nice strong bushes, and were in the highest state of health. I never saw, even in the most favourable districts in China, any plantations looking better than these.

The crops

of this district, such as rice, mundooa, and other grains, are Bo plentiful and cheap, as scarcely to pay the carriage to the nearest market-town, much less to the plains. In Almorah, a maund of rice or mundooa sells for something less than a rupee; barley for eight annas; and wheat for a rupee.

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