| b b | | a a a | a Tea plant.  Thus-- | X----------X----------X | b Bed | c c | c Watercourse | b b | +-----------------------------------------+

We have already stated that 41/2 square feet ought to be assigned to each plant.  In China, according to Professor Royle, three to four feet are given; this, however, is too small a space to allow the plant to grow freely.  After the tea plants are transplanted, it is not necessary to protect them.

The best seasons for transplanting are towards the end of February, or as soon as the frost has ceased, and throughout March, and during the rains, and until the end or middle of November, depending on the season.

In transplanting, four parties ought to be employed; viz., one person to dig holes, a second to remove plants, a third to carry them to the ground where they are required, and a fourth to plant.  By this means, not only time is saved, but the plants have a much better chance, when thus treated, of doing well.  When the seedling beds are extensive, so many of the plants ought not to be removed, that is, a plant left every 41/2 feet, and these beds added to the plantation.

On pruning, best season and mode.—­The plants do not require to be pruned until the fifth year, as the plucking of leaves generally tends to make the plants assume the basket shape, the form most to be desired to procure the greatest quantity of leaves; if, however, the plants show a tendency to run into weed, from central branches being thrown out, this ought to be checked by removing the central stem.  In the fourth year a quantity of the old and hard wood ought to be removed, to induce the plants to throw out more branches.  The best season for pruning is from November to March.

    On irrigation.—­To keep the tea-plants healthy, irrigation for two
    or three years is absolutely necessary, and no land ought to be
    selected for a tea plantation which cannot be irrigated.

On the other hand, land liable to be flooded during the rains, and upon which water lies for any length of time, is equally detrimental to the growth of the plant.  This applies to a small portion of the Kooasur plantation, which receives the drainage of the adjoining hills, and the soil being retentive, keeps the water.  Deep trenches have been dug in order to drain it off—­these, however, owing to the lowness of the surrounding country, act badly.  Three successive seasons plants have been put into the ground, and as often have been destroyed on the setting in of the rains, showing the necessity of avoiding such kind of land for tea plantation.

To facilitate irrigation, &c., as already stated, in the Deyrah Dhoon, I have limited the