Chapter XV Distances Apart to Plant Tea Bushes
When the idea existed, which it did once, that ploughs could be used to cultivate a garden between the lines, these latter, with this object, were placed unnecessarily wide apart.
All distances may be seen in different gardens, viz., 6 × 6, 6 × 3, 6 × 4, 5 × 4, 5 × 5, 4 × 3, &c., &c.
The plough idea has nowhere been found to answer, and is exploded.23 Still, even for hand labour to cultivate, and for facilities in picking leaf, it is necessary there should be room enough one way to pass along. Cultivation here means digging, and space enough for this must be left between the lines. Giving so much, what is then the principle that should guide us? Clearly, with a view to the largest yield obtainable, to place as many plants on the land as it will bear.
Four or 4½ feet are, I think, the best distances between the lines.
They give space enough for air to cultivate, and to pass along, even when the trees are full grown.
Where manure is obtainable and the soil can be kept up to a rich state by yearly applications, a garden can scarcely be planted too close.
I see no objection to trees touching each other in the lines.
On considerable slopes, to prevent the wash of soil, the plants should be placed as close as possible, say 3½ feet between and 2 feet in the lines.
A closely planted garden will grow less weeds than a widely planted one, and will consequently be cheaper to work.
As the expenditure on a garden is in direct proportion to the area, and the yield in direct proportion to the number of plants (always supposing there is power enough in the soil to support them), it follows that a closely planted garden must be very much more profitable than the reverse.
Hybrid plants grow to a larger size than Chinese, and should therefore have more room.
The following is a useful table:—
Table showing the Plants to an Acre, and the Area one lakh of seedlings will cover, at the distances named.
| Distances in feet | Square ft. to each plant | Plants in one acre | The area in acres one lakh of seedlings will cover | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 by 6 | 36 | 1,210 | 82½ | Too wide for any plants. |
| 6 „ 5 | 30 | 1,452 | 69 | |
| 6½ „ 4 | 26 | 1,675 | 59¾ | |
| 5 „ 5 | 25 | 1,742 | 57½ | |
| 6 „ 4 | 24 | 1,815 | 55 | |
| 6 „ 3½ | 21 | 2,074 | 48 | For Hybrids, but still I think too wide. |
| 5 „ 4 | 20 | 2,178 | 45½ | |
| 6 „ 3 | 18 | 2,420 | 41¼ | Good distances for Hybrids. |
| 4 „ 4 | 16 | 2,722 | 36¾ | |
| 5 „ 3 | 15 | 2,904 | 34½ | |
| 4 „ 3 | 12 | 3,630 | 27½ | Chinese for early return. |
| 3½ „ 3½ | 12¼ | 3,555 | 28 | Chinese. |
| 3½ „ 3 | 10½ | 4,148 | 24 | |
| 6 „ 3¼ | 19½ | 2,233 | 44¾ | Hybrid. |
| 5 „ 3¼ | 16¼ | 2,726 | 36¾ | Chinese. |
| 5 „ 3½ | 17½ | 2,489 | 40 | |
| 3½ „ 2 | 7 | 6,223 | 16 | Best distance for Chinese on steep slopes. |
On flat lands I advise—
| Hybrid, if high-class | 4 × 3½ or 4½ × 4 |
| Chinese | 3 × 3 |
All the following equal one acre:—
| 4 roods. | 4,840 | square | yards. |
| 160 poles. | 43,560 | „ | feet. |