in  which  they  are  collected  are  brought  to  the

Overseer,  and  before  him  the  beetles  are  destrayed  by  boiling  water.  They
never  attack  a  strong  healthy  plant,  but  confine  their  ravages  to  newly  trans-
planted plants,  and  they  are  only  met  with  on  the  setting  in  of  the  hot  wea-
ther. Transplanting,  therefore,  ought,  if  possible,  to  be  avoided  during  the
spring.  In  its  habits  the  beetle  is  nocturnal,  and  thus  frequently  commits
extensive  ravages  before  it  is  discovered.  In  the  Deyrah  Dhoon  and  Kangra
Valley  rats  in  burrowing  commit  great  havoc  by  gnawing  the  roots  of  the  Tea
plants  by  trucking  and  keeping  the  land  clear.  They  are,  however,  soon
forced  to  leave  the  Plantation.  If  water  be  available,  by  flooding  the  land
they  can  easily  be  destroyed.
For   transplanting,   in  order  to  economise  labor,  the  men  ought   to  be

divided  into  five  gangs  ; — the  first,  to  dig  holes
Gardeners  divided  into  gangs.
to  receive  the  plants ;  the  second,  to  dig  the

plants ;  the  third,  to  carry  the  plants ;  the  fourth,  to  plant  the  plants  when
brought ;  and  the  fifth,  to  bring  manure.  By  thus  acting,  both  time  is


economised  and  the  plants  are  much  better  planted.  In  removing  the  plants
from  the  seedling  beds,  care,  as  already  stated,  is  to  be  taken  not  to  cut  the

top  root,  and  if  two  or  three  plants  or  more
Two  or  more   plants,  if  neces-
sary, to  be  put  in  one  and  the      have    their   rootlets    entwined,    it   is    much
same  hole.
better  to  put  them  all   htfo  one  and  the  same

hole,  than  attempt  to  separate  them,  and  thus  injure  their  rootlets.  On
doing  so,  let  them  be  well  pressed  down  with  the  foot,  and  watered  to  settle
the  earth  round  the  plants.
