,transcriber's ,note ,italic text is indicated by underscores1 and bold text by swung dashes4 ,,the ,,cultivation ,,and ,,manufacture ,,of ,,tea4 ,,the ,,cultivation ,,manufacture ,,of ,,tea1 ,,by ,,lieut4-,,col4 ,,edward ,,money1 ,,the ,,original ,,manuscript ,,of ,,which ,,secured ,,the ,,prize ,,of ,,the ,,grant ,,gold ,,medal ,,and ,rs4 #cjj1 ,,awarded ,,by ,,the ,,agricultural ,,and ,,horticultural ,,society ,,of ,,india ,,in ,,the ,,year #ahga4 ,,fourth ,,edition1 ,,revised ,,and ,,supplemented ,,by ,,additional ,,chapters4 ,,london3 ,w4 ,b4 ,,whittingham ,,co41 #ia1 ,,gracechurch ,,street4 ,,calcutta3 ,,thacker ,,co4 #ahhc4 ,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,fourth ,,edition4 ,six new ,chapters are added4 ,so much has been done in ,tea since ,i last wrote1 ,i found it impossible to embody all in the former book1 and so preferred to give it separately4 ,the new ,chapters treat of-- ,,countries ,,outside ,,china ,,and ,,india ,,that ,,produce ,,tea4 ,,tea ,,statistics4 ,,markets ,,for ,,tea ,,outside ,,great ,,britain4 ,,making ,,indian ,,tea ,,known ,,in ,,the ,,united ,,kingdom4 ,,tea ,,machinery4 ,,weighing ,,and ,,bulking ,,of ,,indian ,,teas ,,at ,,custom ,,house4 ,a separate and full ,index of the subjects treated of in the additions to this ,fourth ,edition will be found at the end of the ,book4 ,,edward ,,money4 ,,east ,,india ,,club1 ,,st4 ,,james',s ,,square1 ,july1 #ahhc4 ,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,third ,,edition4 ,the experience of four more years1 which includes six months' residence in the ,neilgherries1 is embodied in the following1 while the whole of the letter-press of the ,second ,edition has been corrected and revised4 ,,edward ,,money4 ,,london1 ,april1 #ahgh4 ,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,second ,,edition4 ,three years' further experience1 and visiting two ,tea districts ,i had not seen before1 have enabled me to amend whatever was faulty in the ,first ,edition4 ,the whole has been revised1 and much new matter is added throughout4 ,a new ,chapter at the end on the ,past1 the ,present1 and the ,future of ,indian ,tea will1 it is hoped1 be found interesting4 ,an ,index 7a great want to the ,first ,edition7 is added1 so that all information on any point can be at once found4 ,the manufacture of ,green ,tea1 of which ,i was ignorant when ,i last wrote1 is given1 and the advisability of that manufacture is discussed4 ,in its present form ,i hope and believe this little work will be found useful and interesting to all connected with ,tea4 ,,edward ,,money4 ,,darjeeling1 ,may1 #ahgd4 ,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,first ,,edition4 ,the following ,essay was written with1 firstly1 the object of competing for the ,gold ,medal and the ,money ,prize offered by the ,agricultural and ,horticultural ,society of ,india for the best treatise on the cultivation and manufacture of ,tea2 and1 secondly1 with the view of arranging the hundreds of notes on these subjects1 which1 in the course of eleven years1 ,i had collected4 ,during all these years ,i have been a ,tea planter1 making first for myself and others a garden in the ,himalayas1 and for the last six years doing the same thing for myself in the ,chittagong district4 ,whenever ,i have visited other plantations 7and ,i have seen a great number in many districts71 ,i have brought away notes of all ,i saw4 ,up to the last1 at every such visit1 ,i have learnt something--if rarely nothing to follow1 something at least to avoid4 ,i have now tested all and everything connected with the cultivation and manufacture of ,tea by my own experience1 and ,i can only hope that what ,i have written will be found useful to an industry destined yet1 ,i believe1 in spite of the late panic--the natural result of wild speculation--to play an important part in ,india4 ,i have endeavoured to adapt this ,essay to the wants of a beginner1 as there are many of that class now1 and may yet be more in days to come1 who must feel1 as ,i often have1 the want of a really practical work on ,tea4 ,to those who have ,tea properties in unlikely climates and unlikely sites1 ,i would say two words4 ,no view ,i have taken of the advantages of different localities can in any way affect the results of enterprises already entered upon4 ,but if the note of warning1 sounded in the following pages1 checks further losses in ,tea1 already so vast1 while it fosters the cultivation on remunerative sites1 ,i shall not have written in vain4 ,,edward ,,money4 ,,sungoo ,,river ,,plantation1 ,,chittagong1 ,november1 #ahgj4 ,,contents ,,chapter ,,page ,i4 ,,past ,,and ,,present ,,financial ,,prospect ,,of ,,tea #a ,,ii4 ,,labour1 ,,local ,,and ,,imported #aj ,,iii4 ,,tea ,,districts ,,and ,,their ,,comparative ,,advantages4 ,,climate1 ,,soil1 ,c41 ,,in ,,each #ac ,,iv4 ,,soil #ca ,v4 ,,nature ,,of ,,jungle #cd ,,vi4 ,,water ,,and ,,sanitation #ce ,,vii4 ,,lay ,,of ,,land #cg ,,viii4 ,,laying ,,out ,a ,,garden #db ,,ix4 ,,varieties ,,of ,,the ,,tea ,,plant #dg ,x4 ,,tea ,,seed #ed ,,xi4 ,,comparison ,,between ,,sowing ,,in ,,nurseries ,,and ,,in ,,situ #eg ,,xii4 ,,sowing ,,seed ,,in ,,situ1 ,,id ,,est1 ,,at ,,stake #ei ,,xiii4 ,,nurseries #fb ,,xiv4 ,,manure #fg ,,xv4 ,,distances ,,apart ,,to ,,plant ,,tea-,,bushes #ga ,,xvi4 ,,making ,a ,,garden #gc ,,xvii4 ,,transplanting #gf ,,xviii4 ,,cultivation ,,of ,,made ,,gardens #ha ,,xix4 ,,pruning #hf ,,xx4 ,,white ,,ants1 ,,crickets1 ,,and ,,blight #hi ,,xxi4 ,,filling ,,up ,,vacancies #ib ,,xxii4 ,,flushing ,,and ,,number ,,of ,,flushes #ig ,,xxiii4 ,,leaf-,,picking #ajb ,,xxiv4 ,,manufacture4 ,,mechanical ,,contrivances #aji ,,xxv4 ,,sifting ,,and ,,sorting #acd ,,xxvi4 ,,boxes4 ,,packing #adg ,,xxvii4 ,,management1 ,,accounts1 ,,forms #aeb ,,xxviii4 ,,cost ,,of ,,manufacture1 ,,packing1 ,,transport1 ,c4 #afj ,,xxix4 ,,cost ,,of ,,making ,a #cjj-;,,acre ,,tea ,,garden #afc ,,xxx4 ,,how ,,much ,,profit ,,tea ,,can ,,give #afh ,,xxxi4 ,,the ,,past1 ,,present1 ,,and ,,future ,,of ,,indian ,,tea #agd ,,xxxii4 ,,countries ,,outside ,,china ,,and ,,india ,,that ,,produce ,,tea #ahc ,,xxxiii4 ,,statistics ,,regarding ,,indian ,,tea #aid ,,xxxiv4 ,,markets ,,outside ,,great ,,britain #bjg ,,xxxv4 ,,making ,,indian ,,tea ,,known ,,in ,,the ,,united ,,kingdom #bah ,,xxxvi4 ,,tea ,,machinery #bbb ,,xxxvii4 ,,weighing ,,and ,,bulking ,,of ,,indian ,,teas ,,at ,,custom ,,house #bgb ,,addenda ,,to ,,third ,,edition #bic ,,index #bii ,,prize ,,essay ,,on ,,the ,,cultivation ,,and ,,manufacture ,,of ,,tea ,,in ,,india4 ,,premium1 ,,three ,,hundred ,,rupees ,,and ,,the ,,grant ,,gold ,,medal4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,past ,,and ,,present ,,financial ,,prospects ,,of ,,tea4 ,will ,tea pay8 ,certainly1 on a suitable site1 and in a good ,tea climate2 equally certainly not in a bad locality with other drawbacks4 ,why1 then1 has ,tea only paid during the last few years 787 ,simply because nothing will pay1 which is embarked on without the requisite knowledge2 and this was pre-eminently the case with ,tea4 ,nothing was known of ,tea formerly1 when everybody rushed into it2 not much is known even now4 ,still1 with those drawbacks and many others1 the enterprise has survived1 and it is very certain the day will never come that ,tea cultivation will cease in ,india4 ,i believe there is nothing will pay better than ,tea1 if embarked on with the necessary knowledge in suitable places1 but failing either of these success must not be hoped for4 ,it was madness to expect aught but ruin1 under the conditions which the cultivation was entered on in the ,tea-fever days4 ,people who had failed in everything else were thought quite competent to make plantations4 ',tis true ,tea was so entirely a new thing at that time1 but few could be found who had any knowledge of it4 ,still1 had managers with some practice in agriculture been chosen1 the end would not have been so disastrous4 ,but any one--literally any one--was taken1 and tea planters in those days were a strange medley of retired or cashiered army and navy officers1 medical men1 engineers1 veterinary surgeons1 steamer captains1 chemists1 shop-keepers of all kinds1 stable-keepers1 used-up policemen1 clerks1 and goodness knows who besides6 ,is it strange the enterprise failed in their hands8 ,would it not have been much stranger if it had not8 ,this was only one of the many necessities for failure4 ,i call them 8necessities0 as they appear to have been so industriously sought after in some cases4 ,i must detail them shortly1 for to expatiate on them would fill a book4 ,no garden should exceed #ejj acres under ,tea4 ,if highly cultivated one of even half that size will pay enormously1 far better than a larger area with low cultivation4 ,add1 say1 #djj acres for charcoal1 c41 making #ijj or say #a1jjj acres the outside area that can be required1 and the outside that should ever have been purchased for any one estate4 ,instead of this1 individuals and ,companies rushing into ,tea bought tracts of five1 ten1 fifteen1 and twenty thousand acres4 ,the idea was that1 though it might not be all cultivated1 by taking up so large an area all the local labour where there was any would be secured4 ,often1 however1 these large tracts were purchased where local labour there was none1 and what the object there was is a mystery4 ,i conceive1 however1 there was a hazy idea that if #ejj acres paid well1 #a1jjj would pay double1 and that eventually even two or three thousand acres would be put under ,tea and make the fortunate possessor a millionaire4 ,in short1 there were no bounds1 in fancy1 to the size a garden might be made1 and thus loss ,no4 #b took place when absurdly large areas were bought of the ,government and large areas cultivated4 ,the only fair rules for the sale of waste lands were those of ,lord ,canning1 which the ,secretary of ,state at home1 who could know nothing of the subject1 chose to modify and upset4 ,instead of ,rs4 #b-h per acre for all waste lands 7by no means a low price1 when the cost of land in the ,colonies is considered7 and that the applicant for the land 7who had1 perhaps1 spent months seeking for it7 should have it1 the illiberal and unjust method of putting the land up to auction with an upset price of ,rs4 #b-h was adopted1 the unfortunate seeker1 finder1 and applicant1 through whose labour the land had been found1 having no advantage over any other bidder4 ,the best1 at least the most successful plan in those days1 though as unfair and illiberal as the ,government action1 was to wait till some one1 who was supposed to know what good ,tea land was1 applied for a piece1 and then bid half an anna more than he did1 and thus secure it4 ,it paid much better than hunting about for oneself1 and it was kind and considerate on the part of ,government to devise such a plan6 ,in those fever days1 with the auction system1 lands almost always sold far above their value4 ,the most absurd prices1 ,rs4 #aj and upwards per acre1 were sometimes paid for wild jungle lands4 ,tracts1 which natives could have1 and in some cases did lease from ,government for inconceivably small sums1 representing1 say1 at thirty years' purchase1 #d annas per acre1 were put up for auction with a limit of ,rs4 #b-h1 and sold perhaps at ,rs4 #h or #aj per acre4 ,had the ,government given land gratis to ,tea cultivators the policy would have been a wise one4 ,to do what they did was scarcely acting up to their professed wish 8to develope the resources of the country40 ,since the above was written1 new rules have been published for the sale of waste lands4 ,the objectionable auction system is continued1 and the upset price is much enhanced1 as follows3-- ,schedule of ,rates of ,upset ,prices4 ,upset price per acre4 ,districts of the ,assam ,division ,rs4 #h ,districts of ,cachar and ,sylhet #h ,districts of the ,chittagong ,division #f ,districts of the ,chota ,nagpore ,division #e ,the ,soonderbuns #e ,all other ,districts #aj ,it is not likely that ,government will sell much land at such exorbitant rates4#a ,security of title1 it is generally thought1 is one of the advantages of buying land from the ,state2 but ,i grieve to state my experience is that the reverse is the case1 and will so remain until the following is done3-- ,first4 ,the ,government should learn what is and what is not theirs to sell4 ,such an absurdity1 then1 as ,government ascertaining1 years after the auction1 that they had sold lands they had no right to sell1 could not be4 ,secondly4 ,that before land is sold it be properly surveyed and demarcated2 and what might so easily have been done1 and which alone would have compensated for much of bad procedure in other respects1 that the simple and obvious plan before the sale1 of sending a ,european official to show the neighbouring villagers and intending purchasers the boundaries of the land to be sold1 be resorted to4 ,this last simple expedient would have saved some grantees years of litigation1 and many a hard thought of the said grantees against the ,government4 ,it would naturally occur to any one at all conversant with the subject2 but1 alas6 in ,india this is often not the condition under which laws are made4 ,but there is another difficulty at the back of all this4 ,though the ,waste ,land ,rules enact that the ,government1 and not the grantee1 shall be the defendant in any claim for land within a lot sold1 practically the said enactment in no way saves grantees from litigation4 ,claimants for land always plead that it is not within the boundaries of the land sold1 and ergo the grantee is made the defendant to prove that it is4 ,the villagers never having been shown the boundaries by any ,government official 7for it is not enacted in the ,waste ,land ,rules71 the question whether the land claimed is within or without the boundaries is an open one1 not always easily decided1 and the suit runs its course4 ,i even know of cases where1 though survey has been charged for at the exorbitant rate of four annas an acre1 the outer boundaries of the lot have never been surveyed at all1 but merely copied from old ,collectorate maps1 which showed the boundaries between the zemindaree and waste lands4#b ,is it strange1 then1 if buying lands from ,government is often buying litigation1 worry1 loss of time and money4 ,in many countries1 for example ,prussia 7there ,i know it is so1 for ,i have tested it again and again71 there are official records which can and do show to whom any land in question belongs4 ,this may scarcely be practicable in ,india1 but surely the question of title being1 as it is1 in a far worse state in ,india than in most countries1 any change would be for the better4 ,anyhow1 the present mode the ,government adopts in selling lands is a grievous wrong to the purchasers4 ,words cannot describe the worry and loss some have suffered thereby1 and it might all be so easily avoided4 ,i have above detailed two of the drawbacks ,tea had to contend with in its infancy2 the absurdly high price paid for land was the third4 ,again1 companies and proprietors of gardens wishing to have large areas under cultivation gave their managers simple orders to extend1 not judiciously1 but in any case4 ,what was the result8 ,gardens might be seen in those days with #bjj acres of so-called cultivation1 but with #fj or even #gj per cent4 vacancies1 in which the greater part of the labour available was employed in clearing jungle for #ajj acres further extension in the following spring4 ,i have seen no garden in ,assam or ,cachar with less than #bj per cent4 vacancies1 many with far more2 and yet most of them were extending4 ,i do not believe now any garden in all ,india exists with less than #ab per cent4 vacancies1 but a plantation as full as this did not exist formerly4 ,as the expenditure on a garden is in direct proportion to the area cultivated1 and the yield of ,tea likewise in direct proportion to the number of plants1 it follows the course adopted was the one exactly calculated to entail the greatest expenditure for the smallest yield4 ,this unnecessary1 this wilful extension1 was the fourth and a very serious drawback4 ,under this head the fourth drawback may also be included--the fact that the weeds in all plantations were ahead of the labour2 that is to say1 that gardens were not kept clean4 ,this is more or less even the case to-day2 it was the invariable rule then4 ,the consequence was two-fold--first1 a small yield of ,tea2 secondly1 an increased expenditure2 for it is a fact that the land fifty men can keep always clean1 if the weeds are never allowed to grow to maturity and seed1 will take nearer one hundred if the weeds once get ahead4 ,the results1 too1 differ widely3 in the first case the soil is always clear2 in the second clear only at intervals4 ,the first1 as observed1 can be accomplished with fifty1 the latter will take nearly double the men4 ,the fifth drawback ,i shall advert to again later1 viz41 the selection of sloping land1 often the steepest that could be found1 on which to plant ,tea4 ,the great mischief thus entailed will be fully described elsewhere4 ,it was the fifth1 and not the least1 antagonistic point to success4 ,number six was the difficulty in the transport of seed to any new locality1 for nine times out of ten a large proportion failed2 and again the enormous cost of ,tea seed in those days1 ,rs4 #bjj a maund 7,rs4 #ejj at least1 deducting what failed1 was its real price74 ,this item of seed alone entailed an enormous outlay1 and was the sixth difficulty ,tea cultivation had to contend with4 ,it was1 however1 a source of great profit to the old plantations1 and principally accounts for the large dividends paid for years by the ,assam ,company4 ,again1 many managers at that time had no experience to guide them in the manufacture of ,tea2 each made it his own way1 and often turned out most worthless stuff4 ,there is great ignorance on the subject at the present time1 but those who know least to-day1 know more than the best informed in the ,tea-fever period4 ,indian ,tea was a new thing then2 the supply was small1 and it fetched comparatively much higher prices than it does now4 ,still much of it was so bad that the average price all round was low4 ,tea manufacture1 moreover1 as generally practised then1 was a much more elaborate and expensive process than it is now4 ,this will be explained further on1 under the head of 8,tea ,manufacture20 ,i merely now state the fact in support of the assertion that the bad ,tea made in those days1 and the expensive way it was done1 was the seventh hindrance to successful ,tea cultivation4 ,often in those days was a small garden made of #cj or #dj acres1 and sold to a ,company as #aej or #bjj acres6 ,i am not joking4 ,it was done over and over again4 ,the price paid1 moreover1 was quite out of proportion to even the supposed area4 ,two or three lakhs of rupees 7#bj1jjjl4 or #cj1jjjl47 have been often paid for such gardens1 when not more than two years old1 and #dj per cent4 of the existing area1 vacancies4 ,the original cultivators 8retired0 and the ,company carried on4 ,with such drags upon them 7apart from all the other drawbacks enumerated7 could success be even hoped for8 ,certainly not4 ,i could tell of more difficulties the cultivation had to contend with at the outset1 but ,i have said enough to show1 as ,i remarked1 8that it was not strange ,tea enterprise failed1 inasmuch as it would have been much stranger if it had not40 ,do any of the difficulties enumerated exist now8 ,and may a person embarking in ,tea to-day hope1 with reasonable hope1 for success8 ,yes1 certainly1 ,i think as regard the latter--the former let us look into4#c ,people who understand more or less of ,tea are plentiful1 and a good manager1 who knows ,tea cultivation and ,tea manufacture well1 may be found4 ,it will scarcely pay to buy land of the ,government at the present high rates1 but many people hold large tracts in good ,tea localities1 and would readily sell4 ,there is plenty of flat land to be got1 so no evil from slopes need be incurred4 ,tea seed is plentiful and cheap4 ,the manufacture of ,tea 7though still progressing7 is simple1 economical1 and more or less known4 ,anyhow a beginner now will commence where others have left off4 ,of course to buy a made garden cheap is better than to make one2 but the result in this case is of course no criterion of what profit may be expected from ,tea cultivation4 ,as many of the items to be calculated under the heads of cultivation1 manufacture1 and receipts will be better understood after details on these subjects are gone into1 ,i shall reserve the consideration of 8how much profit ,tea can give0 to the end of this treatise4 ,,footnotes3 #a ,since the ,second ,edition went to press1 further ,rules for ,waste ,lands have been enacted4 ,generally speaking1 they are only now leased to applicants4 #b ,i need scarcely observe it is impossible to define lands from maps alone without the field-book4 #c ,note to ,third ,edition4--,since the above was written1 ,teas1 both ,indian and ,chinese1 have had a heavy fall1 due to the simple fact that the supplies have exceeded the demands4 ,but with increased knowledge and experience1 producers can afford to sell cheaper1 and the present absurdly low prices ruling will1 ,i think1 work their own cure4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,labour1 ,,local ,,and ,,imported4 ,when the very large amount of labour required to carry on a plantation is considered1 it is evident that facilities for it are a sine qu non to success4 ,assam and ,cachar1 the two largest ,tea districts1 are very thinly populated1 and almost entirely dependent on imported labour4#d ,the expense of this is great1 and it is the one1 and consequently a great drawback to those provinces4 ,the only district ,i know of with a good ,tea climate and abundance of local labour is ,chittagong4#e ,several other places have a good supply of local labour1 but then their climates are not very suitable4 ,each coolie imported costs ,rs4 #cj and upwards 7it used to be much more7 ere he arrives on the garden and does any work4 ,after arrival he has to be housed2 to be cared for and physicked when sick2 to be paid when ill as when working2 to have work found for him1 or paid to sit idle when there is no work2 and in addition to all this every death1 every desertion1 is a loss to the garden of the whole sum expended in bringing the man or woman4 ,contrast this with the advantages of local labour4 ,in many cases no expense for buildings is necessary1 as the labourers come daily to work from adjacent villages1 and in such cases no expense is entailed by sick men1 for these simply remain at home4 ,there is no loss by death or desertions4 ,when no work is required on the garden1 labour is simply not employed4 ,all this makes local labour1 even where the rate of wages is high1 very much cheaper than imported4 ,the action of ,government in the matter of imported labour has much increased the difficulties and expense necessarily attendant on it4 ,it is a vexed and a very long question which ,i care not to enter into minutely1 for it has been discussed already ad nauseam2 still ,i must put on record my opinion1 after looking very closely into it1 that the ,government has not acted wisely1 inasmuch as any ,state interference in the relations of employer and employed 7outside the protection which the existing laws give7 is a radical mistake4 ,as for the law passed on the subject to the effect that a coolie who has worked out his agreement and voluntarily enters into a new one shall be1 as before1 under ,government protection1 and his employer answerable as before to ,government1 for the way he is housed1 treated when sick1 c41 it is not easy to see why such enactments are more necessary in his case than in that of any other hired servant or labourer throughout all ,india4 ,all evidence collected1 all enquiries made1 tend to show that coolies are well treated on ,tea estates4 ,it is the interest of the proprietors and managers to do so1 and self-interest is a far more powerful inducement than any the ,government can devise4 ,the meddling caused by the visits of the 8,protector of ,coolies0#f to a garden conduces to destroy the kind feelings which should 7and in spite of these hindrances often do7 exist between the proprietor or manager and his men4 ,i do not hesitate in my belief that imported coolies on ,tea plantations would be better off in many ways were all ,government interference abolished4 ,i do not decry ,government action to the extent of seeing the coolies understand their terms of engagements1 and are cared for on their journey to the ,tea districts2 but once landed on the garden1 all ,government interference should cease4 ,the idea of the ,state laying down how many square yards of jungle each coolie shall clear in a day1 how many square feet he shall dig1 c41 c46 ,can any certain rates be laid down for such work8 ,is all jungle the same1 all soil the same2 and even if such rates could be laid down1 how can the rules be followed8 ,bah6 they are not1 never will be1 and the whole thing is too childish for serious discussion4 ,it is not difficult to sit at a desk and frame laws and rules that look feasible on paper4 ,it is quite another thing to carry them out4 ,over-legislation is a crying evil in ,india1 but there is still a worse1 namely1 legislation and official action on subjects of which the said officials are utterly ignorant4 ,i have said enough to show imported labour cannot vie with local1 nor would it do so were all the evils of ,government interference removed4 ,i therefore believe ,tea property in ,india will eventually pay best where local labour exists4 ,this will naturally be the case when other conditions are equal1 but so great are the advantages of local labour1 ,i believe it will also be the case in spite of moderate drawbacks4 ,,footnotes3 #d ,not so much so now as when this was first written4 #e ,note to ,third ,edition4--,a portion of the ,western ,dooars may perhaps be added1 but the labour1 though adjacent1 is not strictly local4 ,up to the present1 however1 ,i have had but little expense in importing coolies to the gardens there in which ,i am interested4 #f ,what a designation6 ,who invented it1 ,i wonder8 ,a clever man1 doubtless1 for ,government interference was probably his hobby1 and he quickly perceived the very title would1 more or less1 render the office necessary4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,tea ,,districts ,,and ,,their ,,comparative ,,advantages1 ,,climate1 ,,soil1 ,,etc41 ,,in ,,each4 ,the ,tea districts in ,india1 that is1 where ,tea is grown in ,india to-day1 are--#g #a4 ,assam4 #b4 ,the ,dehra ,dhoon4 #c4 ,kumaon 7,himalayas74 #d4 ,darjeeling 7,himalayas74 #e4 ,cachar and ,sylhet4#h #f4 ,kangra 7,himalayas74 #g4 ,hazareebaugh4 #h4 ,chittagong4 #i4 ,terai below ,darjeeling4 #aj4 ,neilgherries 7,madras ,hills74 #aa4 ,western ,dooars4 ,in fixing on any district to plant ,tea in1 four things have to be considered--viz41 soil1 climate1 labour1 and means of transport4 ,when--the district being selected--a site has to be chosen1 all but the second of these have to be considered again1 and the lay of land1 nature of jungle1 water1 and sanitation are also of great importance in choosing a site4 ,i will first1 then1 discuss generally the ,tea districts given above as regards the advantages of each for ,tea cultivation4 ,i have seen and studied ,tea gardens in all the districts named1 except ,no4 #b4 ,what ,i know of the ,dehra ,dhoon is from what ,i have read1 and what is generally known of the climate4 ,before1 however1 comparing each district1 we should know what are the necessities of the ,tea plant as regards climate and soil4 ,tea1 especially the ,china variety1 will grow in very varying climates and soils1 but it will not flourish in all of them1 and if it does not flourish1 and flourish well1 it will certainly not pay4 ,the climate required for ,tea is a hot damp one4 ,as a rule1 a good ,tea climate is not a healthy one4 ,the rainfall should not be less than #hj to #ajj inches per annum1 and the more of this that falls in the early part of the year the better4 ,any climate which1 though possessing an abundant rainfall1 suffers from drought in the early part of the year is not1 cteris paribus1 so good as one where the rain is more equally diffused4 ,all the ,tea districts would yield better with more rain in ,february1 ,march1 and ,april2 and therefore some1 where fogs prevail in the mornings at the early part of the year1 are so far benefited4 ,as any drought is prejudicial to ,tea1 it stands to reason hot winds must be very bad4 ,these winds argue great aridity1 and the ,tea plant luxuriates in continual moisture4 ,the less cold weather experienced where ,tea is1 the better for the plant4 ,it can stand1 and will grow in1 great cold 7freezing point1 and lower in winter1 is found in some places where ,tea is71 but ,i do not think it will ever be grown to a profit on such sites4 ,that ,tea requires a temperate climate was long believed and acted upon by many to their loss4 ,the climate cannot be too hot for ,tea if the heat is accompanied with moisture4 ,tea grown in temperate climes1 such as moderate elevations in the ,himalayas1 is quite different to the ,tea of hot moist climates1 such as ,eastern ,bengal4 ,some people like it better1 and certainly the flavour is more delicate2 but it is very much weaker1 and the value of ,indian ,tea 7in the present state of the home market1 where it is principally used for giving 8body0 to the washy stuff from ,china7 consists in its strength4 ,another all-important point in fixing on a climate for ,tea is the fact1 that apart from the strength the yield is double in hot1 moist climes1 what it is in comparatively dry and temperate ones4 ,a really pleasant climate to live in cannot be a good one for ,tea4 ,i may now discuss the comparative merits of the different ,tea districts4 ,,assam4 ,this is the principal home of the indigenous plant4 ,the climate in the northern portions is perfect1 superior to the southern1 as more rain falls in the spring4 ,the climate of the whole of ,assam1 however1 is very good for ,tea4 ,the ,tea plant yields most abundantly when hot sunshine and showers intervene4 ,for climate1 then1 ,i accord the first place to ,northern ,assam4 ,southern ,assam is1 as observed1 a little inferior4 ,the soil of this province is decidedly rich4 ,in many places there is a considerable coating of decayed vegetation on the surface1 and inasmuch as in all places where ,tea has been or is likely to be planted it is strictly virgin soil1 considerable nourishment exists4 ,the prevailing soil also is light and friable1 and thus1 with the exception of the rich oak soil in parts of the ,himalayas1 ,assam in this respect is second to none4 ,as regards labour we must certainly put it the last on the list4 ,the ,assamese1 and they are scanty1 won't work1 so the planters1 with few exceptions1 are dependent on imported coolies2 and inasmuch as the distance to bring them is enormous1 the outlay on this head is large1 and a sad drawback to successful ,tea cultivation4 ,the ,burhampootra--that vast river which runs from one end of ,assam to the other--gives an easy mode of export for the ,tea1 but still1 owing to the distance from the sea-board1 it cannot rank in this respect as high as some others4 ,,cachar4 ,the indigenous ,tea is also found in a part of this province4 ,the climate differs but little from ,assam4 ,in one respect it is better2 more rain falls in the spring4 ,the soil is not equal to ,assamese soil2 it is more sandy1 and lacks the power4 ,again1 there is much more flat land fit for ,tea cultivation in ,assam1 and there can be no doubt as to the advantage of level surfaces4 ,as regards transport ,cachar has the advantage1 for it has equally a water-way1 and is not so distant from ,calcutta4 ,the labour aspect is much the same in the two provinces1 both being almost entirely dependent on imported coolies2 but ,cachar is nearer the labour fields than ,assam4 ,however1 after discussing separately the advantages of each province1 ,i propose to draw up a tabular statement1 which will show at a glance the comparative merits of each on each point discussed4 ,,chittagong4 ,this is a comparatively new locality for ,tea4 ,the climate is better than ,cachar in the one respect that there is less cold weather1 but inferior in the more important fact that much less rain falls in the spring4 ,in this latter respect it is also inferior to ,assam1 particularly to ,northern ,assam4 ,there is one part of ,chittagong1 the ,hill ,tracts 7,tea has scarcely been much tried there yet71 which1 in the fact of spring rains1 is superior to other parts of the province1 as also in soil1 for it is much richer there4 ,on the whole1 however1 ,chittagong must yield the palm to both ,assam and ,cachar on the score of climate1 and also1 ,i think1 of soil4 ,for though good rich tracts are occasionally met with1 they are not so plentiful as in the two last-named districts4 ,always1 however1 excepting the ,hill ,tracts of ,chittagong2 there the soil is1 ,i think1 quite equal to either ,assam or ,cachar4 ,as regards labour 7a very essential point to successful ,tea cultivation71 ,chittagong is most fortunate4 ,with few exceptions 7and those only partial7 all the plantations are carried on with local labour1 which--excepting for about two months1 the rice-time--is abundant4 ,for transport 7being on the coast with a convenient harbour1 a continually increasing trade1 ships also running direct to and from ,england71 it is very advantageously situated4 ,chittagong possesses another advantage over all other ,tea districts in its large supply of manure4 ,the country is thickly populated1 and necessarily large herds of cattle exist4 ,the natives do not use manure for rice 7almost the sole cultivation71 and1 consequently1 planters can have it almost for the asking4 ,the enormous advantages of manure in ,tea cultivation are not yet generally appreciated3 it will certainly double the ordinary yield of a ,tea garden4 ,a chapter is devoted to this subject4 ,,terai ,,below ,,darjeeling4 ,i have seen this1 and the ,tea in it1 since ,i wrote the first edition of this ,essay4 ,the soil is very good for ,tea4 ,the climate is also a good one1 but there is not as much rain in the early part of the year as planters could wish4 ,much difficulty exists about labour1 owing to the very unhealthy climate4 ,as the jungle is cleared1 however1 this last objection will be in a measure got over4 ,as it stands now1 it is perhaps the most unhealthy ,tea locality in ,india4 ,communication will be very easy when the ,northern ,bengal ,railway is finished1 which it will be immediately4 ,except in the point of salubrity 7which is1 however1 an important one71 ,i think this locality a favourable one for ,tea4 ,,the ,,dehra ,,dhoon4 ,i have heard the first ,tea in ,india was planted here4 ,the lucky men1 two officers1 who commenced the plantation1 sold it1 ,i believe1 in its infancy1 to a company for five lakhs of rupees4 ,what visions did ,tea hold forth in those days6 ,in climate the ,dehra ,dhoon is far from good4 ,the hot dry weather of the ,north-west is not at all suited to the ,tea plant4 ,hot winds shrivel it up1 and though it recovers when the rains come down1 it cannot thrive in such a climate4 ,one fact will1 ,i think1 prove this4 ,in favourable climates1 with good soil and moderate cultivation1 #ah flushes or crops may be taken from a plantation in a season4 ,with like advantages1 and heavy manuring1 #bb or even more may be had4 ,in the 8,selections from the ,records of the ,government of ,india0 on ,tea1 published in #aheg 7a book to which many owe their ruin71 the following appears1 showing how small are the number of flushes in the ,north-west3-- ,sidenote3 ,three general gatherings4 ,method of gathering ,tea ,leaves4--,the season for gathering leaves generally commences about the beginning of ,april1 and continues until ,october2 the number of gatherings varies1 depending on the moistness and dryness of the season4 ,if the season be good1 that is to say1 if rain falls in the cold weather and spring1 and the general rains be favourable1 as many as five gatherings may be obtained4 ,these1 however1 may be reduced to three general periods for gathering--viz41 from ,april to ,june1 from ,july to ,august #ae1 and from ,september to ,october #ae4 ,if the season be a dry one1 no leaves ought to be taken off the bushes after ,october #a1 as by doing so they are apt to be injured4 ,if1 however1 there are good rains in ,september1 leaves can be pulled until ,october #ae1 but no later1 as by this time they have got hard and leathery and not fitted for making good ,teas1 and it is necessary to give the plants good rest in order to recruit4 ,some plants continue to throw out new leaves until the end of ,november2 but those formed during this month are generally small and tough4 ,when this was written1 the experience detailed related to ,dehra ,dhoon1 the ,kumaon1 and ,kangra gardens1 and we see that five flushes or gatherings are thought good4 ,it however makes matters in this respect 7far from a general fault in the said 8,records07 worse than they are4 ,ten and twelve flushes1 with high cultivation1 can be got in the ,north-west4 ,but what is this as against twenty and twenty-five8 ,labour is plentiful and cheap4 ,the great distance from the coast makes transport very expensive4 ,,kangra4 ,this is a charming valley1 with a delightful climate more favourable to ,tea than the ,dehra ,dhoon1 still it is not a perfect ,tea climate4 ,it is too dry and too cold4 ,the soil is good for ,tea1 better than that of the ,dhoon1 but inferior to some rich soils in the ,himalayan oak forests4 ,local labour is obtainable at cheap rates4 ,distance makes transport for export very difficult2 but a good local market now exists in the ,punjab1 and a good deal of ,tea is bought at the fairs1 and taken away by the wild tribes over the border4 ,with the limited cultivation there1 ,i should hope planters will find a market for all their produce4 ,manure must be obtainable 7manure had not been thought of for ,tea when ,i visited ,kangra71 and if liberally applied1 it will increase the yield greatly4 ,kangra is strictly a ,himalayan district1 but the elevation is moderate1 if ,i remember right1 about #c1jjj feet1 and the land is so slightly sloping it may almost be called level4 ,a great advantage this over the steep lands1 on which most of the ,himalayan gardens1 many in ,cachar1 and some in ,assam and ,chittagong1 are planted4 ,kangra is not the best place for a man who wants to make money by ,tea2 but for one who would be content to settle there1 and content to make a livelihood by it1 a more desirable spot with a more charming climate could not be found4 ,land1 however1 is not easily procured4 ,the ,teas produced in ,kangra are of a peculiarly delicate flavour1 and are consequently highly esteemed in the ,london market4 ,,darjeeling4 ,this1 too1 ,i have seen since ,i published the first edition of this ,essay4 ,the elevation of the station1 #f1ijj feet1 is far too great2 but plantations lower down do tolerably well 7that is1 well for hill gardens74 ,the climate1 like all hill climates1 is too cold4 ,as regards transport the ,darjeeling plantations will be well situated when the railroad now constructing is finished4 ,like elevations in ,darjeeling and ,kumaon are in favour of the former1 first1 because the latitude is less2 secondly1 because ,darjeeling has much more rain in the spring4 ,i believe1 therefore1 that the hill plantations of ,darjeeling have a better chance of paying than the gardens in ,kumaon1 but1 as stated before1 no elevated gardens1 that is1 none in the ,himalayas1 have any chance in the race against plantations in the plains1 always providing the latter are in a good ,tea climate4 ,in two respects1 however1 ,darjeeling is behind ,kumaon4 ,the soil is not so good1 and the land is much steeper4 ,it is more than absurd1 some of the steeps on which ,tea is planted in the former2 and such precipices can1 ,i am sure1 never pay4 ,gardens1 barely removed above the ,terai 7and there are such in ,darjeeling71 can scarcely be called 8elevated10 and for them the remarks applied to the ,terai are more fitting4 ,as a broad rule it should be recognised that the lower ,tea is planted in the ,himalayas the better chance it has4 ,all the plants in the ,darjeeling gardens1 with but few exceptions1 are ,china4 ,the ,china plant makes by far the best ,green ,tea1 and ,i believe the ,darjeeling gardens would pay much better than they do if they altered their manufacture from black to green4 7,see further on1 under the head of ,hazareebaugh1 what has been done in this way47 ,all ,himalayan gardens should1 in my opinion1 make ,green ,tea 7,kumaon has awoke to the fact71 for all have ,china plants1 and can therefore make far better ,green ,tea than can be produced from the ,hybrid which is so general in plain gardens4#i ,,kumaon4 ,it was in this district 7a charming climate to live in1 with magnificent scenery to gaze at7 ,i first planted ,tea in ,india1 and ,i much wish for my own sake1 and that of others1 ,i had not done so4 ,i knew nothing of ,tea at the time1 and ,i thought a district selected by ,government for inaugurating the cultivation must necessarily be a good one4 ,no hill climate can be a good one for ,tea2 but the inner part of ,kumaon1 very cold1 owing to its elevation1 high latitude1 and distance from the plains1 is a peculiarly bad one4 ,yet there it was ,government made nurseries1 distributed seed gratis1 recommended the site for ,tea 7see the 8,records0 alluded to71 and led many on to their ruin by doing so4 ,the intention of the ,government was good1 but the officers in charge of the enterprise were much to blame1 perhaps not for making the mistake at first 7no one at the first knew what climate was suitable71 but for perpetuating the mistake1 when later very little enquiry would have revealed the truth4 ,i believe it was guessed at by ,government officials long ago1 but it was easier to sing the old tune2 and a very expensive song it has proved to many4#aj ,i need scarcely1 after this1 add that ,i do not approve of ,kumaon for ,tea4 ,an exhilarating and bracing climate for man is not suited to the ,tea plant4 ,the district has one solitary advantage--rich soil4 ,i have never seen richer1 more productive land than exists in some of the ,kumaon oak forests1 but even this cannot in the case of ,tea counter-balance the climate4 ,any crop which does not require much heat and moisture will grow to perfection in that soil4 ,such potatoes as it produces6 ,were the difficulties of transport not so great1 a small fortune might be made by growing them4 ,could any part of ,kumaon answer for ,tea it would be the lower elevations in the outer ranges of the hills1 but these are precisely the sites that have not been chosen4 ,led1 as in my own case1 partly by the ,government example1 partly by the wish to be out of sight of the 8horrid plains10 and in sight of that glorious panorama the snowy range1 planters have chosen the interior of ,kumaon4 ,some wisely 7,i was not one of them7 selected low sites1 valleys sheltered from the cold winds2 but even their choice has not availed much4 ,the frost in winter lingers longest in the valleys1 and though doubtless the yield there is larger1 owing to the increased heat in summer1 the young plants suffer much in the winter4 ,the outer ranges1 owing to the heat radiating from the plains1 are comparatively free from frost1 but there again the soil is not so rich4 ,still they would unquestionably be preferable to the interior4 ,labour is plentiful in ,kumaon and very cheap--,rs4 #d per mensem4 ,transport is very expensive4 ,it costs not a little to send ,tea from the interior over divers ranges of hills to the plains4 ,it has then some days' journey by cart ere it meets the rail1 to which #a1jjj miles of carriage on the railroad has to be added4 ,since the above was written1 ,kumaon has secured a good local market1 and ,i believe sells most of its ,tea unpacked to merchants who come from over the border to buy it4 ,it has also improved its position greatly by making ,green ,teas1 for which1 as observed before1 the ,china plant is so well fitted4 ,with those two advantages1 though the climate is inferior1 ,i suspect that ,tea there now pays better than in ,darjeeling4 ,gurhwall is next to ,kumaon1 and so similar that ,i have not thought it necessary to discuss it separately4 ,the climate is the same1 the soil as a rule not so good4 ,there is one exception though1 a plantation near 8,lohba10 the ,teas of which 7owing1 ,i conceive1 to its peculiar soil7 command high prices in the ,london market4 ,the gardens1 both in ,kumaon and ,gurhwall1 have been generally much better cared for than those in ,eastern ,bengal4 ,as a rule they are private properties managed by the owners4 ,,hazareebaugh4 ,this district ,i have resided in since ,i wrote the first edition of this ,essay4 ,the climate is too dry1 and hot winds are felt there4 ,a great compensation1 though1 is labour2 it is more abundant and cheaper in this district than in any other4 ,the carriage is all by land1 and it is some distance to the rail4 ,but the ,tea gardens at ,hazareebaugh can never vie with those in ,eastern ,bengal1 inasmuch as the climate is very inferior4 ,the soil is very poor4 ,,neilgherries4 ,the climate is superior to the ,himalayan1 for the frost is very slight4 ,were1 however1 more heat there in summer1 it would be better4 ,some of the ,teas have sold very well in the ,london market1 for as regards delicacy of flavour they take a high place4 ,the soil is good1 but the temperate climate which holds on these 8blue mountains0 is not favourable to a large produce4 ,,western ,,dooars4 ,when the second edition of this work was printed1 this district was unknown as ,tea locality4 ,my attention was directed to it in #ahgd2 ,i was the second who planted ,tea in it1 and ,i have now completed a garden there4 ,as regards climate1 soil1 and lay of land1 it is perfect1 and ,i believe it will eventually prove the most paying district in ,india for ,tea4 ,the ,northern ,bengal ,railway1 just opened1 gives it great advantages for transport4 ,having now discussed each district1 all of which1 except the ,dehra ,dhoon1 ,i have seen1 ,i give1 in further elucidation1 ,meteorological ,tables4 ,for those not mentioned in the tables ,i have failed to acquire the necessary information4 ,my thanks are due to ,dr4 ,coates1 at ,hazareebaugh1 for his kindness in supplying me with much of the data from which the following tables are framed3-- ,,table ,,of ,,elevation ,,and ,,temperature ,,of ,,tea ,,localities4 ,n4,b4--,the exact temperature of other ,tea ,districts not being known1 ,i have confined myself to these2 but general remarks on the elevation and temperature of other ,tea localities will be found elsewhere4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ,districts ,place ,elevation ,details,january ,february ,march in feet ---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ,monthly #fag #fcj #gbf ,temp4 ,goalparah #chf ,do4 ,max4 #ggb #hgi #idj ,do4 ,min4 #dij #dhj #egb ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,assam ,gowhatty #acd ,monthly #fcf #fgf #gde ,temp4 ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,seebsaugor #cgj ,monthly #fjj #fda #fic ,temp4 ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,debrooghur #cif ,monthly #fbb #fcd #gac ,temp4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ,,cachar ,cachar #gf ,monthly #fbi #fff #gcd ,temp4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ,,chittagong,chittagong #aia ,monthly #fhe #gbc #hje ,temp4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ,monthly ,,dar- ,temp4 #db4b #dc4h #eb4j ,,jeeling ,darjeeling #fieb ,do4 ,max4 #fbj #ffj #gbj ,do4 ,min4 #cbj #bhj #cij ---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ,monthly ,,chota ,temp4 #fb4g #fg4a #gc4g ,,nagpore ,hazareebaugh #bjaj ,do4 ,max4 #hbj #iaj #idj ,do4 ,min4 #ddj #dfd #eej ---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ,,neil- ,monthly ,,gherries ,ootacamund #gdij ,temp4 #eae #ebh #egc ---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------------------------- -------------------- ,april ,may ,june ,july ,august ,september ,october ---------------------------------------- -------------------- #ggf #gfj #hjc #hba #haf #hje #gge #igj #iaj #iaj #ibj #iae #ibj #hij #fbf #fgj #gjj #gcg #gcj #gja #fbc ---------------------------------------- -------------------- #ggd #hjd #hah #hcj #hbi #hbb #gib ---------------------------------------- -------------------- #gch #ghe #hbd #hcf #hce #hca #ghc ---------------------------------------- -------------------- #gbg #gga #hjg #hcg #hah #haj #gef ---------------------------------------- -------------------- #gfh #hji #hbb #hcc #hag #hab #gif ---------------------------------------- --------------------- #hce #hde #hdj #hbb #hbc #hcj #haf ---------------------------------------- -------------------- #eh4g #fb4a #fc4g #fd4i #fd4d #fc4j #eg4c #ghj #gij #gij #gij #gej #hjj #ghj #dhj #dhj #egj #ehj #eij #egj #ddj ---------------------------------------- -------------------- #he4f #hh4f #hc4h #gg4h #gi4c #gg4e #gb4f #ajgj #ajjj #ajcj #hij #hhj #hgj #hdj #fgj #gbj #gaj #gaj #gcj #gjj #eij ---------------------------------------- -------------------- #fja #fjh #egi #eeh #efa #efd #eei ---------------------------------------- -------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ,november ,december ,d4,j4,f4,m4,a4,m4,j4,j4,a4,s4,o4,n4,yea r ---------------------------------------- ------- #fij #fdf #fca #ged #hac #gef #gch #hdc #ghc #ejh #ejj ---------------------------------------- ------- #gaa #fee #fef #ggd #hbf #gge #geh ---------------------------------------- ------- #fid #fbd #fbb #gcg #hcb #gfi #gdj ---------------------------------------- ------- #fgd #faj #fbb #gcg #hba #gdg #gcb ---------------------------------------- -------- #gjf #fed #fdi #ggj #hbd #gga #gec ---------------------------------------- -------- #gcg #fhi #fii #hbh #hbh #gid #ghg ---------------------------------------- ------- #di4d #dd4g #dc4e #eg4f #fd4c #eh4d #ee4i #fij #fjj #chj #ccj ---------------------------------------- ------- #fd4h #fa4d #fc4g #hb4f #hj4c #ga4f #gd4e #ghj #gfj #ebj #ddj ---------------------------------------- ------- #eci #eai #eba #eid #eff #eed #eei ---------------------------------------- ------- ,n4,b4--,the letters in the columns1 between ,december and the year1 refer to months2 thus1 ,d4 ,j4 ,f4 is ,december1 ,january1 ,february4 ,the figures show the average temperature during those months4 ,,table ,,of ,,latitude1 ,,longitude1 ,,and ,,rainfall ,,of ,,tea ,,localities4 ,n4,b4--,the exact rainfalls of other ,tea ,districts not being known1 ,i have confined myself to these2 but general remarks on the rainfall in other ,tea localities will be found elsewhere4 ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ,districts ,place ,latitude,longitude ,details ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ,average rain1 several ,goalparah #bfaa #ijcf years ,days rain fell in #ahfi ---------------------------------------- ------------ ,average rain1 several ,,assam ,gowhatty #bf #e #iadc years ,days rain fell in #ahfi ---------------------------------------- ------------ ,average rain1 several ,seebsaugor #bg #b #idci years ,days rain fell in #ahfi ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ,average rain1 several ,,cachar ,cachar #bddh #ibdc years ,days rain fell in #ahfi ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ,average rain1 several ,chittagong #bbbj #iadd ,,years ,days rain fell in #ahfi ,,chitta- ---------------------------------------- ------------ ,,gong ,rain in #ahfi ,hill ,tracts 8 8 ,days rain fell in #ahfi ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ,average rain1 several ,darjeeling #bg #c #hhah years ,days rain fell in #ahfi ,,dar- ---------------------------------------- ------------ ,,jeeling ,rain in #ahfi ,western 8 8 ,dooars#aa ,days rain fell in #ahfi ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ,average rain1 several ,,chota ,hazaree- #bd #j #hebj ,,years ,,nagpore baugh ,days rain fell in #ahfi ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------------------------- -------------------- ,january ,february ,march ,april ,may ,june ,july ---------------------------------------- -------------------- #jdb #jgf #ahd #dhe #aagb #bcgb #bacc #b #b #d #h #ai #bd #bb ---------------------------------------- -------------------- #jgj #adc #adh #gbg #ajib #acbi #acjh #b #b #d #h #af #af #i ---------------------------------------- -------------------- #aah #bdc #cgg #ajae #aajd #aeef #adhg #aa #i #aj #ac #bb #ac #ai ---------------------------------------- -------------------- #jej #cec #fji #abfi #afab #aiee #bdeh #b #i #aj #af #ah #bj #ah ---------------------------------------- -------------------- #jcg #afb #aca #edf #idb #bbib #bbed #a #g #c #d #ad #ae #ba ---------------------------------------- -------------------- ,nil #aij #aej #abee #ijj #abej #ahbj ,nil #d #d #g #ac #af #bb ---------------------------------------- -------------------- #jgf #afj #afe #cfb #gja #bgej #bidj #b #c #e #i #ag #bc #bf ---------------------------------------- -------------------- #jhj #bjj #aej #ffj #becj #bgcj #dfej #c #c #e #g #ae #ai #be ---------------------------------------- -------------------- #jdb #jeb #jge #jdb #acg #ajii #adfc #d ,nil #g ,nil #e #aa #bd ---------------------------------------- -------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------- ,august ,september ,october ,november ,december ,total ---------------------------------------- ---------- #abfi #ajic #efa #jci #jbj #iddd #ah #ae #e ,nil ,nil #aai ---------------------------------------- ---------- #aaih #fhb #cbj #jdg #jab #gjgf #aj #ad #b ,nil #a #hd ---------------------------------------- ---------- #achh #aaac #ddf #abi #jfi #ijde #bc #ag #h ,nil #b #adg ---------------------------------------- ---------- #afhd #acij #ggg #gjc #jgi #abcc #be #ai #h ,nil ,nil #ade ---------------------------------------- ---------- #bcjd #acja #eic #bcj #jee #ajhdg #be #ag #e ,nil #a #aac ---------------------------------------- ---------- #adcj #abgj #egj ,nil #jej #hhhe #ai #ai #d ,nil #a #aji ---------------------------------------- ---------- #biji #ahjf #fef #jbj #jad #abiej #bb #bd #g #a #b #adh ---------------------------------------- ---------- #hcej #dfej #ifj 8 #bdj #bebjj #bh #bb #e 8 8 8 ---------------------------------------- ---------- #aadd #fbf #cea #jai #jjb #ejeb #af #ba #i ,nil #a #ih ---------------------------------------- ---------- ,i will now endeavour to draw up a tabular statement of the respective advantages of the various ,tea districts as regards climate1 labour1 lay of land1 soil1 facilities of procuring manure and transport4 ,in importance ,i regard them in the order given4 ,i place labour before soil1 because the fact is1 in all the provinces suitable and good soil for ,tea can be found somewhere2 and therefore1 while soil is all important in selecting a site1 it is secondary to labour in deciding on a district4 ,lay of land comes after labour4 ,when my information on any point is not sure ,i place a note of interrogation4 ,where advantages are equal1 or nearly so1 ,i give the same number1 and the greater the advantage of a district on the point treated in the column the smaller the number4 ,thus1 under the head of ,climate1 ,assam is marked #a4 ,as the following table gives no information as to which of all the districts possesses the greatest advantages1 all things considered1 but only gives my opinion of each under each head1 and the subject closed in this way would be unsatisfactory1 ,i may state that1 in my opinion1 the choice should lie between the three first and the last on the list2 and my choice would be the last4 ,comparative advantages of the ,tea ,districts in ,india as regards climate1 labour1 lay of land1 soil1 manure1 and transport4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ,tea ,districts ,climate,labour,lay of ,land,soil,manure ,transport ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ,assam #a #d #a #a #d #c ,cachar #b #d #b #b #d #b ,water ,chittagong #c #b #b #b #a #a carriage ,chittagong ,hill ,tracts #c #c #c #a #b #a ,terai below ,darjeeling #b #d #a #a #c #e ,darjeeling #d #c #e #c #c #f ,hazareebaugh #f #a #a #d #b #d ,kangra #d #c #a #c #c #i ,land ,dehra ,dhoon #e #c #a #c #c #g carriage ,kumaon #e #c #d #b #c #h ,neilgherries #d #c #b #b #c #d ,western ,dooars #a #c #a #a #d #a ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ,,footnotes3 #g ,note to ,third ,edition4--,i give them1 as far as ,i know1 in the order they became ,tea districts4 ,though in the said order there is1 ,i believe1 no great error1 ,i may be open to correction in one or two instances4 #h ,these are virtually one1 and ,i shall allude to both as ,cachar4 #i ,when this was written the demand for ,green ,teas in ,europe was greater than it is now4 ,still ,kumaon has found a local market for ,green ,tea over the border1 that is1 among the ,asiatic tribes1 and ,darjeeling might do the same4 #aj ,is it possible that the continued deception 7it was nothing less7 was owing to the fact that ,government had gardens to sell there8 ,they were advertised for sale a long time at absurd prices4 #aa ,the rainfall given for the ,western ,dooars cannot be relied on4 ,perhaps more than the average fell in #ahfi1 but anyhow1 ,i should think #hc inches registered for ,august is an error4 ,i know the yearly fall there is not #beb inches4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,soil4 ,to pronounce as precisely on soil as to climate is not easy4 ,the ,tea plant will grow on almost any soil1 and will flourish on many4 ,still there are broad general rules to be laid down in the selection of soils for ,tea1 which no one can ignore with impunity4 ,when first ,i turned my attention to ,tea1 ,i collected soils from many gardens1 noting in each case how the plants flourished4 ,i then sat down to examine them1 never doubting to arrive at some broad practical conclusions4 ,i was sadly disappointed4 ,i found the most opposing soils nourished1 apparently1 equally good plants4 ,i knew not then much about ,tea1 and judged of the ,tea bushes mostly by the size 7a very fallacious test72 still1 after-experience has convinced me ,i was more or less right in the conclusion ,i then came to1 that several soils are good for ,tea4 ,nothing1 then1 but broad general rules can be laid down on this point1 for ,i defy anyone to select any one soil as the best for ,tea1 to the exclusion of others4 ,a light sandy loam is perhaps as good a soil as any out of the ,himalayas4 ,it ought to be deep1 and the more decayed vegetable matter there is lying on its surface the better4 ,if deep enough for the descent of the tap-root1 say #c feet1 it matters not much what the subsoil is1 otherwise a yellowish red subsoil is an advantage4 ,this subsoil is generally a mixture of clay and sand4 ,much of ,assam1 ,cachar1 and ,chittagong is as the above1 but1 as a rule1 it is richest in ,assam1 poorest in ,chittagong4 ,where the loam is of a greasy nature 7very different to clay71 with a mixture of sand in it1 it is superior to the above1 for it has more body4 ,all good ,tea soils must have a fair proportion of sand1 and if not otherwise apparent1 it may be detected by mixing a little of the soil with spittle and rubbing it on the hand4 ,if the hand be then held up towards the sun1 the particles of sand will be seen to glisten4 ,the soil so common in ,kumaon1 that is1 light rich loam with any amount of decayed vegetable matter on it1 and with a ferruginous reddish yellowish subsoil1 is1 ,i consider1 the finest soil in the world for ,tea4 ,the rich decayed vegetable matter is the produce for centuries of oak leaves in the ,himalayan forests1 and1 as all the world knows1 oak only grows in temperate climes4 ,it was long believed that ,tea would thrive best on poor soil4 ,the idea was due to the description of ,tea soils in ,china to be found in the first books that treated of ,tea4 ,but the fact that ,tea1 as a rule1 is only grown in ,china on soil which is useless for anything else quite alters the case4 ,if a soil is light and friable enough1 it cannot be too rich for ,tea4 ,ball's book 8,on the ,cultivation and ,manufacture of ,tea in ,china0 has much on ,tea soils1 but the opinions the author collected are sadly at variance1 and on the whole teach nothing4 ,in conclusion1 ,i will attempt to point out the qualities in soils in which the ,tea plant delights1 as also the qualities it abhors4 ,it loves soils friable1 that is1 easily divided into all their atoms4 ,this argues a fair proportion of sand1 but this should not be in excess1 or the soil will be poor4 ,the soil should be porous--imbibing and parting with water freely4 ,the more decayed vegetable matter on its surface the better4 ,to be avoided are stiff soils of every kind1 as also those which when they dry1 after rain1 cake together and split4 ,avoid also black-coloured1 or even dark-coloured earths4 ,all soils good for the ,tea plant are light coloured4 ,if1 however1 the dark colour arises from decayed vegetation1 that is not the colour of the soil1 and1 as observed1 vegetable matter is a great advantage4 ,judge of colour when soil is dry--for even light-coloured soil looks dark when wet4 ,soil which will make bricks will not grow ,tea2 and though ,i have sometimes seen young plants thrive on stiff soil1 ,i do not believe in any stiff soil as a permanence4 ,stones1 if not in excess1 are advantageous in all soils inclined to be stiff1 for they help to keep them open4 ,but then they must not be large1 as if so they act as badly as a rocky substratum preventing the descent of the tap-root4 ,the reason1 ,i take it1 why ,tea thrives best in light soils is that the spongioles or ends of the feeding roots are very tender1 and do not easily penetrate any other4 ,there is more nourishment in stiffer soils1 but for this reason the ,tea plant cannot take advantage of it4 ,if a chosen soil be too stiff1 it may be much improved for ,tea by mixing sand with it4 ,however1 even where sand is procurable near1 the expense of this is great4 ,when done1 the sand should be mixed with the soil taken out of the holes in which the plants are to be placed 7see ,transplanting71 and it may be done again later by placing sand round the plants and digging it in4 ,all this though is extra labour and very expensive1 so none but a good ,tea soil should ever be selected1 and it is very easily found1 for it exists in parts of all the districts discussed4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,nature ,,of ,,jungle4 ,i have not much to say under this head4 ,i have heard many opinions as to the kind of trees and jungle that should exist in contemplated clearances1 but ,i attach little or no weight to them1 at all events in ,bengal4 ,in the ,himalayas it is somewhat different4 ,there oak trees should be sought for2 their existence invariably makes rich soil4#ab ,fir1 on the contrary1 indicates poor soil4 ,at elevations1 however1 the desideratum of a warm aspect interferes1 for the best oak forests are on the colder side4 ,i speak of course of elevations practicable1 say three or four thousand feet2 above this it is a waste of money to try and cultivate ,tea4 ,in ,bengal ,i do not think the nature of the jungle on land contemplated signifies much4 ,as a rule1 the thicker the jungle the richer the soil2 but in seeking for a site large trees should not be a sine qu non4 ,much of the coarse grass land is very good1 and large trees add enormously to the expense of clearings4#ac ,it is not cutting them down which is so expensive1 it is cutting them up and getting rid of them by burning1 or otherwise1 after the former is done4 ,i have discussed soil fully already1 and need only add here that if the knowledge to do so exists1 it is better to judge of soil from the soil itself than from the vegetation on it1 though doubtless a fact that luxuriant vegetation indicates rich soil4 ,,footnotes3 #ab ,the oak tree leaves cause a rich deposit of vegetable matter4 #ac ,the ,western ,dooars are in many parts covered with this coarse grass1 and nowhere is there better soil4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,water ,,and ,,sanitation4 ,these may be discussed together and shortly4 ,of course adjacent water-carriage is a great advantage for a garden1 and it should be obtained1 if possible1 in selecting a site4 ,the expense of land-carriage1 where there is no rail1 is great1 and ,tea cultivation requires all advantages to make it pay well4 ,but it is water for a garden that particularly concerns us now4 ,it is not easy to find land that can be irrigated 7this is discussed elsewhere71 but no labour or expense in getting such land would be thrown away4 ,irrigation1 combined with high cultivation in other respects1 will give a yield per acre undreamt of4 ,in no case should a plantation be made except where a running stream is handy4 ,water is a necessity for seedlings1 and a plentiful adjacent supply of it is a great desideratum for the comfort and health of every soul on the garden4 ,we all know how dependent the natives are on water1 and it is evident facilities in this respect will conduce much 7whether the labour be local or imported7 both to get and keep coolies4 ,norton's tube wells--a cheap and most efficient mode of procuring water--will1 ,i doubt not1 be eventually much used on ,tea plantations4 ,it has been observed that1 as a rule1 a good ,tea climate is not a healthy one4 ,there is no getting over the fact1 and we can only make the best of it4 ,the house1 the factories1 and all the buildings should be placed as high as possible1 and not very close to each other1 both for the sake of health and in the event of fire4 ,the locality should be well drained1 and cleanliness be attained in every possible way4 ,give the coolies good houses1 with raised mechans to sleep on1 and sprinkle occasionally carbolic acid powder in your own house and those of others4 ,sanitation is1 however1 a large subject4 ,it can be studied elsewhere4 ,general ideas on it1 and on the properties of the commonest medicines1 are a great advantage to any intending ,tea planter4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,lay ,,of ,,land4 ,the first idea prevailing about ,tea was that it should be planted on slopes4 ,it was thought1 and truly1 that the plant was impatient of stagnant water1 and so it is1 but it is not necessary to plant it on slopes in consequence4 ,pictures of ,chinese1 suspended by chains 7inasmuch as the locality could not be otherwise reached71 picking ,tea off bushes growing in the crevices of rocks1 somewhat helped this notion2 and when stated1 as it was1 that the ,tea produced in such places was the finest1 and commanded the highest price--which was not true--intending planters in ,india went crazy in their search for impracticable steeps6 ,much of the failure in ,tea has arisen from this fact1 for a great part of many1 the whole of some1 gardens have been planted on land so steep that the ,tea can never last or thrive on it4 ,this is especially the case in parts of the ,darjeeling district4 ,sloping land is objectionable in the following respects4 ,it cannot be highly cultivated in any way 7,i hold ,tea will only pay with high cultivation71 for high cultivation consists in frequent digging1 to keep the soil open and get rid of weeds1 and liberal manuring4 ,if such soil is dug in the rainy season1 it is washed down to the foot of the hill1 and if manure is applied at any time of the year1 it experiences the same fate when the rain comes4 ,as it cannot be dug1 weeds necessarily thrive and diminish the yield by choking the plants4 ,the choice is therefore of two evils3 8low cultivation and weeds10 or 8high cultivation which bares the roots of the plants in a twelvemonth40 ,of the two1 the first must be chosen1 for if the latter were pursued1 the plants1 getting gradually more and more denuded of soil1 would simply topple over in two or three years4 ,but choosing the lesser evil1 the mischief is not confined to the bad effects of low cultivation4 ,dig the land as little as you will1 the great force of the rains washes down a good deal of soil4 ,the plants do not sink as the soil lowers1 and the consequence is that all ,tea plants on slopes have the lower side bare of earth and the roots exposed4 ,this is more and more the case the steeper the slope4 ,these exposed roots shrivel up as the sun acts on them1 the plant languishes and yields very little leaf4 ,attempts are made to remedy the mischief by carrying earth up from below yearly1 and placing it under the plant2 but the expense of doing this is great1 and the palliation is only temporary1 for the same thing occurs again and again as each rainy season returns4 ,the mischief is greater on stiff than on sandy soils1 for on the former the earth is detached in great pieces and carried down the hill4 ,i know one garden in ,chittagong1 a large one1 where the evil is so great1 that the sooner the cultivation is abandoned the better for the owners4 ,a great many gardens in ,india1 indeed the majority1 are on slopes2 a few in ,assam1 the greater number in ,cachar1 some in ,chittagong1 and almost all the ,himalayan plantations4 ,such of these as are on steep slopes will1 ,i believe1 never pay1 and instead of improving yearly 7as good gardens1 highly cultivated1 should do even after they have arrived at full bearing7 such1 ,i fear1 will deteriorate year by year4 ,plantations on moderate slopes need not fail because of the slopes4 ,the evils slight slopes entail are not great1 but the sooner the fact is accepted that sloping cannot vie against flat land for the cultivation of ,tea the better4 ,where only the lower parts of slopes are planted1 the plants do very well4 ,the upper part being jungle the wash is not great1 and the plants benefit much by the rich vegetable matter the rain brings down from above4 ,i have often seen very fine plants on the lower part of slopes1 where the upper has been left in jungle1 and ,i should not hesitate to plant such portions if the slope was moderate4 ,where teelah land1 in ,eastern ,bengal1 or sloping land in the ,himalayas1 ,chittagong1 or elsewhere1 has to be adopted1 aspect is all-important4 ,a good aspect in one climate is bad in another4 ,in ,assam1 ,cachar1 ,chittagong1 and all warm places1 choose the coolest2 at high elevations 7temperate climes71 the warmest4 ,in the ,himalayas1 moreover1 the warmer aspects are1 as a rule1 the most fertile2 vice vers in warm localities4 ,many a garden1 which would have done very well on the moderate slopes chosen had only the proper aspects been planted1 has been ruined by planting all sides of teelahs or hills indiscriminately4 ,the southern and western slopes of plantations in warm sites are generally very bare of plants4 ,not strange they should be so1 when the power of the reflected rays of the afternoon sun is considered4 ,again1 in cold climates plants cannot thrive on northern aspects1 for their great want in such climes is heat and sunshine4 ,let the above fault1 then1 be avoided in both cases1 for though doubtless a garden is more handy1 and looks better in one piece planted all over without any intervening jungle1 even patches of jungle look better1 and are decidedly cheaper1 than bare cultivated hills4 ,of flat land1 after what ,i have written1 ,i need not add much4 ,it is of two kinds1 table and valley land2 the former is very rare in ,tea districts1 at least of any extent1 which makes it worth while to plant it4 ,there are two gardens in ,chittagong on such flat table land1 and they are both doing very well4 ,table land cannot be too flat1 for the natural drainage is so great no stagnant water can lie4#ad ,valley land is not good if it is perfectly flat4 ,it will then be subject to inundation and stagnant water4 ,there is nothing that kills the plant so surely and quickly as the latter4 ,even quite flat valleys can be made sweet by artificial drainage1 but to do this a lower level1 not too far distant1 must exist1 and the danger is not quite removed then4 ,valleys in which no water-course exists1 and which slope towards the mouth alone1 are to be avoided1 for the plants near the mouth always get choked with sand4 ,the best valleys are those with a gentle slope both ways1 one towards the lowest line of the valley1 be it a running water-course1 or a dry nullah which carries off rain1 the other towards the mouth of the valley4 ,such valleys drain themselves1 or at least very little artificial drainage is necessary4 ,a valley of this kind1 with a running stream through it1 is most valuable for ,tea1 and if the other advantages of soil and climate are present it is simply a perfect site4 ,such however are not frequent4 ,if in such valleys1 as is generally the case1 the slope from the head to the mouth is enough1 the running stream can be 8bunded0 7shut up7 at a high level1 and brought along one side at a sufficient elevation to irrigate the whole4 ,i have never seen but one garden in a valley that fulfils all these conditions exactly4 ,it is in ,chittagong2 the soil is good1 labour plentiful1 and manure abundant4 ,it ought to do great things1 for the possibility of irrigating plants in the dry season 7which1 as observed1 is very trying in ,chittagong7 will give several extra flushes in the year4 ,of course in the wet season on such land the water must be allowed to resume its natural course4 ,narrow valleys are not worth planting4 ,no narrow tracts of land1 with jungle on both sides1 are worth the expense of cultivation1 for the continual encroachment of the jungle gives much extra work4 ,the plants1 moreover1 in very narrow valleys get half-buried with soil washed down from the adjacent slopes4 ,narrow valleys are therefore1 in any case1 better avoided4 ,to conclude shortly1 flat lands can be highly cultivated1 steep slopes cannot4 ,tea pays best 7perhaps not at all otherwise7 with high cultivation--ergo1 flat lands are preferable4 ,,footnote3 #ad ,i am now commencing a second garden in the ,western ,dooars on flat table land1 and the site is an exceptionally favourable one4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,laying ,,out ,a ,,garden4 ,by this ,i mean1 so dividing it when first made into parts1 that later the said parts shall be easily recognised1 and separately or differently treated1 as they may require it4 ,the usual custom is to begin at one end of a plantation1 and dig it right through to the other4 ,in the same way with the pruning and plucking1 and ,i believe the system is a very bad one4 ,different portions of gardens require different treatment1 inasmuch as they differ in soil1 and otherwise4 ,one part of a plantation is much more prolific of weeds than another--how absurd that it should be cleaned no oftener6 ,this is only one exemplification of difference of treatment1 but in many ways it is necessary1 most of all in plucking leaf4 ,all parts of a plantation1 owing in some places to the different ages of the plants1 in others to the variety in the soil and its productive powers1 in others to slopes or to aspect1 do not yield leaf equally1 that is1 flush does not follow flush with equal rapidity4 ,in some places 7supposing each part to be picked when the flush is ready7 seven days' interval will exist between the flushes1 in others nine1 ten1 or twelve2 but no attention1 as a rule1 is paid to this4 ,the pickers have finished the garden at the west end1 the east end is again ready1 and when done1 the middle part will be taken in hand1 be it ready or be it not6 ,it may be that the middle part flushes quicker than any other2 in this case the flush will be more than mature when it is taken1 in fact it will have begun to harden2 or it may be the middle part does not flush as quickly as the others2 in this case it will be picked before it is ready1 that is1 when the flush is too young1 and the yield will consequently be smaller4 ,i believe the yield of a plantation may be largely increased by attending to this4 ,every ,tea estate should be divided into gardens of1 say1 about five to ten acres each4#ae ,if no natural division exists1 small roads to act as such should be made4 ,more than this cannot be done when the plantation is first laid out1 but when later the plants yield1 any difference between the productive powers of different parts of the same garden should be noted1 and these divided off into sections4 ,to do this latter with roads would take up too much space1 and small masonry pillars1 whitewashed1 are the best4 ,four of these1 one at each corner of a section1 are enough1 and they need not be more than #c feet high and #a foot square4 ,thus each garden may1 where necessary1 be divided into two sections1 which1 in a #cjj-;acre estate1 partitioned off into thirty gardens1 would give about forty to sixty sections4 ,no matter where a section may be1 directly the flush on it is ready it should be picked4 ,where the soil on any one garden is much the same1 and observation shows the plants all over it flush equally1 it may be left all in one4 ,i only lay down the principle1 and ,i am very certain it works well1 the proof of which is that1 where ,i have practised it1 some sections during the season give three1 four1 and five flushes more than others4 ,had the usual plan of picking from one end to the other been adopted1 they would have been all forced to give the same number2 in other words1 the said extra flushes would have been lost1 and further loss occasioned by some flushes being taken before they were ready1 others after a portion of the tender leaf had hardened4 ,the best plan is simply to number the gardens from #a upwards1 and the sections in each garden the same way4 ,thus supposing ,no4 #e garden is divided into three sections1 they will be known respectively as #e-a1 #e-b1 and #e-c4 ,this is the best way for the natives1 and ,i find they soon learn to designate each section4 ,i have a man whose special duty 7though he has other work also7 it is to see each day which sections are ready to pick the following1 and those1 and those alone1 are picked4 ,practice soon teaches the number of pickers required for any given number of sections1 and that number only are put to the work4 ,if a portion is not completed that day1 it is the first taken in hand the next1 and if any day on no sections is the flush ready1 no leaf is picked the following4 ,apart from leaf-picking1 the garden and section plan detailed is useful in many ways4 ,each garden1 if not each section which most requires it1 is dug1 pruned1 or manured at the best time1 and any spot on the plantation is easily designated4 ,the plan facilitates the measurement of work1 and enables correct lists of the flushes gathered to be kept4 ,it is thus seen which gardens yield best1 and the worst can1 by extra manuring1 be brought to equal those4 ,in short1 the advantages are many1 too numerous to detail4 ,of course all this can be better done on a flat garden than on one planted on slopes1 and though it may not be possible to work it out as much in detail on the latter1 still a good deal in that way can be done1 and ,i strongly recommend it4 ,in laying out a plantation keep it all as much together as possible1 the more it is in one block the easier it is supervised1 the cheaper it is worked4 ,still do not1 with a view to this1 take in any bad land1 for bad land will never pay4 ,let your lines of ,tea plants1 as far as practicable1 run with geometrical regularity4 ,you will later find1 both in measuring work and picking leaf1 great advantages therefrom4 ,in gardens where the lines are not regular portions are continually being passed over in leaf-picking1 and thereby not only is the present flush from such parts lost1 but the following is also retarded4 ,if your different gardens are so situated that the roads through them1 that is from one garden to the other1 can be along the side of any garden without increasing the length of the road1 by all means adopt that route4 ,there is no such good boundary for a garden as a road that is being continually traversed4 ,it will save many rupees by preventing the encroachment of jungle into a garden1 and more space is thus also given for plants4 ,it is1 however1 of no use to do it if a road through the middle of a garden is shorter1 as coolies will always take the shortest route4 ,the lines of plants on sloping ground should neither run up and down1 nor directly across the slope4 ,if they run up and down1 gutters or water-courses will form between the lines1 and much additional earth will be washed away thereby4 ,if they run right across the hill the same thing will occur between the trees in each line1 and the lower side of each plant will have its roots laid very bare4 ,it is on all slopes a choice of evils1 but if the lines are laid diagonally across the hill1 so that the slope along the lines shall be a moderate one1 the evil is reduced as far as it can be by any arrangement of the plants4 ,no1 ,i forgot2 there is one other thing4 ,the closer the lines to each other1 and the closer the plants in the lines to each other1 in short1 the more thickly the ground on slopes is planted the less will be the wash1 for stems and roots retain the soil in its place1 and the more there are the greater the advantage4 ,where slopes are steep 7though1 remember1 steep slopes are to be avoided7 terracing may be resorted to with advantage1 as the washing down of the soil is much checked by it4 ,on flat land1 of course1 it does not really signify in which directions the lines run1 but such a garden looks best if1 when the roads are straight1 the lines run at right angles to them4 ,in laying out a garden1 choose a central spot with water handy for your factory1 bungalow1 and all your buildings2 let your ,tea-houses be as close to your dwelling-house as possible1 so that during the manufacturing time you can be in and out at all hours of the day and night4 ,much of your success will depend upon this4 ,let all your buildings be as near to each other as they can1 but still far enough apart1 that any one building may burn without endangering others4 ,you need not construct any ,tea-buildings until the third year4 ,,footnote3 #ae ,a garden ,i have just finished in the ,western ,dooars is #cjj acres in extent1 all on flat land without any breaks in the cultivation1 and all divided into sections of #e acres each4 ,being in one large block it is not divided into gardens at all1 only sections4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,varieties ,,of ,,the ,,tea ,,plant4 ,these are many1 but they all arise from two species3 the ,china plant1 the common ,tea-bush in ,china2 and the indigenous plant1 first discovered some forty years ago in ,assam4 ,these are quite different species of the same plant4 ,whether the difference was produced by climate1 by soil1 or in what way1 no one knows1 and here we have only to do with the facts that they do differ in every respect4 ,a purely indigenous plant or tree 7for in its wild state it may more properly be called the latter7 grows with one stem or trunk1 and runs up to #ae and #ah feet high4 ,it is always found in thick jungle1 and would thus appear to like shade4 ,i believe it does when young2 but ,i am quite sure1 if the jungle were cleared round an indigenous ,tea-tree found in the forest1 it would thrive better from that day4 ,the ,china bush 7for it is never more7 after the second year has numerous stems1 and #f or #g feet would seem to be its limit in height4 ,the lowest branches of a ,china plant are close to the ground1 but in a pure cultivated indigenous1 from #i inches to #a foot above the soil the single stem is clean4 ,the indigenous grows quicker after the second or third year than the ,china1 if it has not been over-pruned or over-plucked when young4 ,in other words1 it flushes quicker1 for flushing is growing4 ,the indigenous does not run so much to wood as the ,china4 ,indigenous seedlings require to be watered oftener than ,china1 for the latter do not suffer as quickly from drought4 ,the indigenous tree has a leaf of #i inches long and more4 ,the leaf of the ,china bush never exceeds #d inches4 ,the indigenous leaf is a bright pale green1 the ,china leaf a dull dark green colour4 ,the indigenous 8flushes10 that is1 produces new tender leaf1 much more copiously than the ,china1 and this in two ways3 first1 the leaves are larger1 and thus if only even in number exceed in bulk what the ,china has given2 and secondly1 it flushes oftener4 ,the infusion of ,tea made from the indigenous species is far more 8rasping0 and 8pungent0 than what the ,china plant can give1 and the ,tea commands a much higher price4 ,the young leaves1 from which alone ,tea is made1 are of a much finer and softer texture in the indigenous than in the ,china2 the former may be compared to satin1 the latter to leather4 ,the young leaves of the indigenous1 moreover1 do not harden so quickly as those of the ,china2 thus1 if there is any unavoidable delay in picking a flush1 the loss is less with the former4 ,in the fact that unpruned or unpicked plants 7for picking is a miniature pruning7 give fewer and less succulent young leaves which harden quicker than pruned ones1 the two varieties would seem to be alike4 ,the ,china variety is much more prolific of seed than the indigenous2 the former also gives it when younger1 and as seed checks leaf1 the ,china is inferior in this as in other respects4 ,the ,china is by far the hardier plant2 it is much easier to rear1 and it will grow in widely differing climates1 which the indigenous will not4 ,a patch of indigenous with a mature flush on it is a pretty sight4 ,the plants all appear as if crowned with gold 7they are truly so if other advantages exist71 and are a great contrast to the ,china variety if it can also be seen near4 ,i have now1 ,i think1 pointed out the leading characteristics of the two original varieties of the ,tea plant1 and it stands to reason no one would grow the ,china who could get indigenous4 ,but the truth is1 a pure specimen of either is rare4 ,the plants between indigenous and ,china are called 8hybrids40 ,they were in the first instance produced by the inoculation1 when close together1 of the pollen of one kind into the flower of the other1 and the result was a true hybrid1 partaking equally of the indigenous and ,china characteristics2 but the process was repeated again and again between the said hybrid and an indigenous or ,china1 and again later between hybrids of different degrees1 so that now there are very many varieties of the ,tea plant--#ajj or even more--and no garden is wholly indigenous or wholly ,china4 ,so close do the varieties run1 no one can draw the line and say where the ,china becomes a hybrid1 the hybrid an indigenous4 ,though as a rule the young leaves are light green or dark green1 as the plant approaches the indigenous or ,china in its character1 there are a certain class of bushes all hybrid1 whose young leaves have strong shades of crimson and purple4 ,some even are quite red1 others quite purple4 ,these colours do not last as the leaf hardens1 and the matured leaves of these plants do not differ from others4 ,plants with these coloured leaves are prolific4 ,the nearer each plant approaches the indigenous1 the higher its class and excellence1 ergo one plantation is composed of a much better class of plants than another4 ,had ,china seed never been introduced into ,india1 a very different state of things would have existed now4 ,the cultivation would not have been so large1 but far more valuable4 ,the propagation and rearing of the indigenous1 as observed1 is difficult2 the ,china is much hardier while young4 ,so difficult is it to rear successively the pure indigenous1 perhaps the best plan1 were it all to come over again1 would be to propagate a high-class hybrid and distribute it1 never allowing any ,china seed or plants to leave the nursery1 which should have been a ,government one4 ,but we must take things as they are4 ,the ,government nurseries in the ,himalayas and the ,dehra ,dhoon 7there have never been any elsewhere1 and worse sites could not have been chosen7 were planted entirely with ,china seeds1 the seedlings distributed all over the country1 and thus the mischief was done4 ,the ,indian ,tea is vastly superior to the ,chinese1 and commands a much higher price at home1 but it is still very inferior to what it would have been1 had not ,chinese seed been so recklessly imported and distributed over the country4 ,the home of the indigenous ,tea tree is in the deep luxurious jungles of ,assam and ,cachar4#af ,there it grows into a good-sized tree4 ,i have seen it #bj feet high4 ,these are of no use1 except for seed1 until they are cut down4 ,when this is done1 they throw out many new shoots1 covered with young tender leaves1 fit for ,tea4 ,they are1 of course1 far too big to transplant1 but on some sites where they were numerous1 that spot was chosen for the plantation1 and some of these are the best gardens in ,assam and ,cachar4 ,the indigenous plant and high-class hybrid require a hot moist climate1 and will not therefore flourish in any parts of ,india outside ,eastern ,bengal4 ,i have tried them in the ,himalayas1 there the cold kills them4 ,in ,dehra ,dhoon and ,kangra the climate is far too dry2 besides1 the hot winds in the former1 and the cold in the latter1 are prejudicial4 ,the ,terai under ,darjeeling suits them4 ,in ,assam1 ,cachar1 and ,chittagong1 the indigenous and the highest class hybrids will thrive1 for the climate of all three is suitable1 but perhaps ,northern ,assam possesses the best climate of all for such plants4 ,the ,himalayan gardens consist entirely of ,chinese plants mixed occasionally with a low class of hybrid4 ,they were all formed from the ,government ,nurseries where nothing but ,chinese was reared4 ,occasional importations of ,assam and ,cachar seed will account for the sprinkling of low class hybrids which may be found4 ,the same may be said of ,dehra ,dhoon and ,kangra4 ,in some gardens in the ,terai below ,darjeeling a high class of plant exists4 ,in ,assam1 ,cachar1 and ,chittagong the plantations vary much1 but all have some indigenous and high class hybrids1 while many gardens are composed of nothing else4 ,it is evident1 then1 that the value of a garden depends much on the class of its plants1 and that a wise man will only propagate the best4 ,only the seed from good varieties should be selected1 and gradually all inferior bushes should be rooted out and a good kind substituted4 ,when this shall have been systematically done for a few years on a good garden1 which has other advantages1 the yield per acre will far exceed anything yet realised or even thought of4 ,government action in the matter of ,tea has been prejudicial in many ways1 but in none more so than when they were doing their best to foster the cultivation by distributing ,chinese seed and seedlings gratis4 ,no one can blame here 7would the ,government were equally free from blame in all ,tea matters671 but the mischief is none the less4 ,it will never be possible to undo the harm then done4 ,the seed of indigenous1 hybrid1 and ,chinese is like in appearance1 and cannot be distinguished4 ,thus1 when seed formerly was got from a distance1 the purchaser was at the mercy of the vendor4 ,high cultivation improves the class of a ,tea plant4 ,thus1 a purely ,china bush1 if highly cultivated and well manured1 will in two or three years assume a hybrid character4 ,high cultivation will therefore improve the class of all the plants in a garden2 but the cheapest and best plan with low class ,chinese plants is to root them out and replace them with others1 as will be explained hereafter4 ,low class seedlings should also be rooted out of nurseries4 ,i cannot conclude this chapter better than by giving an extract from the 8,government ,records0 alluded to in a previous chapter1 and ,i add a few remarks at foot1 as otherwise the reader might be puzzled with some opinions expressed which are so much at variance with the generally received opinions on ,tea to-day4 ,sidenote3 ,several varieties4 ,kinds of ,tea ,plants cultivated4--8,when ,government resolved on trying the experiment of cultivating ,tea in ,india1 they deputed ,dr4 ,gordon to ,china to acquire information respecting the cultivation and manufacture of ,teas1 and to procure ,tea seeds4 ,aided by ,dr4 ,gutzlaff he procured a quantity of seeds from the mountains in the ,amoy districts4 ,these seeds were sent to the ,calcutta ,botanical ,garden1 where they were sown in boxes4 ,on germinating they were sent up the country in boats1 some to ,assam and some to ,gurhmuktesur1 and from thence to ,kumaon and ,gurhwal4 ,from these plants date the commencement of the ,tea plantations in the ,himalayas4#ag ,tea was first made in ,kumaon in #ahda1 and the samples sent to ,england1 and were pronounced to be of good quality1 fitted for the home markets1 and similar to the ,oolong ,souchong varieties4 ,thus ,messrs4 ,thompson1 of ,mincing ,lane1 report on a sample sent by us to ,dr4 ,royle in #ahdb3 #8,the samples of ,tea received belong to the ,oolong ,souchong kind1 fine-flavoured and strong4 ,this is equal to the superior black ,tea generally sent as presents1 and better for the most part than the ,chinese ,tea imported for mercantile purposes4'#ah ,by many it was supposed that there were different species of the ,tea plant1 and that the species cultivated in the south districts of ,china was different from that met with in the north4 ,to solve this mystery1 and at the same time procure the best varieties of the ,tea plant1 ,mr4 ,fortune was deputed to ,china4 ,by him large numbers of ,tea plants were sent from different districts of ,china celebrated for their ,teas1 and are now thriving luxuriantly in all the plantations throughout the ,kohistan of the ,north-west ,provinces and ,punjab4 ,both green and black ,tea plants were sent1 the former from ,whey ,chow1 ,mooyeen1 ,chusan1 ,silver ,island1 and ,tein ,tang1 near ,ningpo1 and the latter from ,woo-e ,san1 ,tein ,san1 and ,tsin ,gan1 in the ,woo-e district4 ,but so similar are the green and black ,tea plants to each other1 and the plants from the ,amoy districts1 that the most practised eye1 when they are mixed together1 cannot separate them1 showing that they are nothing more than mere varieties of one and the same plant1 the changes in the form of the leaf being brought about by cultivation4 ,moreover1 throughout the plantation fifty varieties might easily be pointed out2 but they run so into each other as to render it impossible to assign them any trivial character1 and the produce of the seed of different varieties does not produce the same varieties only1 but several varieties1 proving that the changes are entirely owing to cultivation2 nor do the plants1 cultivated at #f1jjj feet in the ,himalayas1 differ in the least in their varieties from those cultivated at #b1ejj feet of altitude in the ,dehra ,dhoon4 ,sidenote3 ,assam species4 8,that the ,assam plant is a marked species is true1 it being distinguished by its large membranous and lanceolate leaf1 small flower1 and upright growth4 8,it is a very inferior plant for making ,tea1 and its leaves are therefore not used4#ai ,though the plants received from the different districts of ,china do not differ from those first sent to the plantations1 it is highly important to know that the ,tea plants from well-known green and black ,tea districts of ,china now exist in the plantations1 as it is stated that local causes exert a great influence in the quality of the ,teas as much as the manufacture does4 ,the expense1 therefore1 incurred in stocking the ,government plantations with the finest kinds and varieties of ,tea plants procurable in ,china1 though great1 will be amply repaid4 ,from them superior kinds of ,tea are produced40 ,the above extract is a sample of the said 8,records40 ,they abound in errors and highly coloured statements1 which induced many to embark in ,tea on unfavourable sites1 and 8the red book0 7it is bound in a red cover7 is not exactly blessed by the majority of the ,himalayan planters6 ,,footnotes3 #af ,it is a singular fact that none exists in ,northern ,cachar1 that is1 on the northern side of the river4 #ag ,and also the introduction of a bad class of plants4--,e4 ,m4 #ah ,a single small sample of ,tea very carefully made1 and with an amount of labour which could never be bestowed on the mass1 is little or no criterion4 ,tea is better made in ,kumaon in #ahgh than it was in #ahdb1 but ,kumaon ,tea does not vie in price with ,eastern ,bengal produce4 ,all the ,himalayan ,tea is weak1 though of a delicate flavour2 all ,tea grown at high elevation must be so4--,e4 ,m4 #ai ,a little enquiry would have shown this was not true1 even when it was written4 ,all ,tea planters1 brokers1 and all interested in ,tea1 know now 7many knew it then7 that the 8,assam species10 viz41 the indigenous1 makes the most valuable ,tea produced4--,e4 ,m4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,tea ,,seed4 ,though there is a great difference in ,tea plants 7see last chapter7 the seed of all is the same1 and it is therefore impossible to say from what class of plants it has been gathered4 ,when ,tea seed was very valuable 7it has sold in the ,tea-fever days as high as ,rs4 #bjj and ,rs4 #cjj per maund7 it was the object of planters to grow as much as possible4 ,high class plants do not give much seed1 a plantation therefore with much on it should be avoided in purchasing seed4 ,the ,tea flower 7the germ of next year's seed7 appears in the autumn1 and the seed is ripe at the end of the following ,october or early ,november4 ,it takes thus one year to form4 ,seed is ripe when the capsule becomes brown1 and when breaking the latter the inner brown covering of the seed adheres to the seed and not to the capsule4 ,one capsule contains #a1 #b1 #c1 and sometimes even #d seeds4 ,though the mass ripens at the end of ,october1 some ripen earlier2 the capsule splits and the seed falls on the ground4 ,if1 therefore1 all the seed from a garden is required1 it is well to send round boys all ,october to pick up such seeds4 ,when the seed is picked at the end of ,october or early ,november the mass is still in capsules4 ,it should be laid in the sun for half an hour daily for two or three days until most of the capsules have split4 ,it is then shelled1 and the clean seed laid on the floor of any building where it will remain dry4 ,sunning it after shelling is objectionable4 ,the sooner it is sown after it is shelled the better4 ,if for any reason it is necessary to keep it1 say a fortnight or three weeks before sowing1 it is best kept towards germinating in layers covered with dry mould4 ,but if to be kept longer leave it on the dry floor as above1 taking care it is thinly spread 7not more than one seed thick if you have space7 and collected together1 and re-spread every day to turn it4 ,for transport to a distance it should be placed in coarse gunny bags only one-third filled4 ,if these are shaken and turned daily during transit a journey of a week will not very materially injure the seed4 ,for any long journey it is best placed in layers in boxes with thoroughly dry and fine charcoal between the layers1 and sheets of paper here and there to prevent the charcoal running to the bottom4 ,it is scarcely necessary to consider how ,tea seed can be utilized when not saleable1 for seed prevents leaf1 and therefore it should not be grown if there is no market for it4 ,it will1 however1 make oil1 but the price it would fetch for this purpose would not compensate for the diminished yield of leaf it had caused4 ,it is also valuable as manure mixed with cattle-dung1 but it would not pay to grow it for this purpose either4 ,my advice therefore is to allow no more seed on the garden than you require for your own use 7even the fullest gardens require some yearly7 or than you can sell at a remunerative price4 ,if the object is to produce a considerable quantity of seed1 set apart a piece of the plantation for it1 and do not prune it at all4 ,a large number will then be produced on that piece4 ,if the object is to grow as little seed as possible after the pruning in the cold weather1 which destroys the greater part1 send round boys to pick off such of the germs as remain4 ,if this is done ever so carefully1 some will escape1 enough say to give one maund seed from #aj acres of garden1 and this as a rule is enough to fill up vacancies in a good garden4 ,the following figures regarding seed will be found useful1 but remember the higher the class of plant the less durable the seed3-- ,seven maunds seed1 with capsules1 give #d mds4 clean seed4 ,one maund clean seed 7fresh7 #bf1jjj seeds4 7ten days old7 #cb1jjj 7one month old7 #ce1jjj ,say therefore1 in round numbers1 that one maund ,tea seed#cj1jjj seeds4 ,with good ,tea seed1 sown shortly after it is picked1 about #bj1jjj will germinate4 ,if you get #h1jjj to germinate with seed that has come a long distance1 you are lucky4 ,after a two months' journey #c1jjj is probably the outside which will be realised4 ,my experience1 with seed imported into another ,district from ,assam or ,cachar1 is that more than #d1ejj ,seedlings cannot be expected from each maund4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,comparison ,,between ,,sowing ,,in ,,nurseries ,,and ,,in ,,situ4 ,in the one case the seed is placed in nurseries at the close of the year1 and the young plants transplanted into the garden at beginning of the following rains4 ,in the other the seed is 7at the same time1 viz41 close of the year1 if you can get it so soon7 sown at once in the plantation where the plants are intended to grow4 ,each of these plans has its advocates1 who don't believe in the other plan at all6 ,the question is which is the better8 ,their respective advantages may be shortly summed up as follows3-- ,,nurseries4 ,advantages4--,the seed may be made to germinate early by watering4 ,after it germinates the plants can be watered from time to time as they require it4 ,artificial shade 7a great help to the germination of ,tea seed7 can be given4 ,the soil can be frequently opened1 and the plants in every way better tended in nurseries4 ,disadvantages4--,the plants lose at least three months' growth when transplanted1 and may die4 ,the transplanting necessitates labour at the time of the year it is much wanted for other work4 ,the expense is greater than the other plan1 for there are the nurseries to make and the labour of transplanting4 ,,in ,,situ4 ,advantages4--,the plants gain some three months in growth by not being moved4 ,it saves labour at the busy time1 viz41 early in the rains4 ,it saves all the labour of transplanting1 that is1 it saves labour absolutely1 and gives labour when1 as stated1 it is much required4 ,disadvantages4--,if the early rains 7that is1 rain in ,december1 ,january1 and ,february7 fail1 but few seeds germinate4 ,in the case of a new garden1 the soil must be kept clean six or seven months before it would be necessary by the nursery plan4 ,no artificial shade can be given4 ,it will thus be seen that the advocates of both plans have much to urge in their respective favours4 ,which is better8 ,the advocates of each plan are guided by the climate they have planted ,tea in1 and the truth is simply that the better plan for one place is not adapted to another4 ,planting in situ where it will succeed is by far the cheaper and better1 and it will do so wherever there are certainly cold weather and spring rains4 ,thus 7see rain table7 it will often succeed in ,assam1 ,cachar1 ,darjeeling1 the ,western ,dooars1 and perhaps the ,terai below ,darjeeling4 ,it will fail in ,chittagong1 ,dehra ,dhoon1 ,kumaon1 ,kangra1 and ,hazareebaugh4 ,in ,chittagong1 for instance1 a garden could never be made by planting in situ1 or1 as it is generally called1 at stake4#bj ,in this and other matters adapt your operations to the existing climate4 ,i will now describe the above two methods of sowing seed4 ,,footnote3 #bj ,in no climate is the success of it certain1 for early rains often fail1 and then it is all loss4 ,i would1 therefore1 in all cases advise nurseries in reserve4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,sowing ,,seed ,,in ,,situ1 ,,id ,,est1 ,,at ,,stake4 ,it is named 8at stake0 because stakes are put along in lines to show where the ,tea trees are to be1 and the seed is sown at those spots4 ,the modus operandi is very simple4 ,a month before the sowing time 7which should be as soon as you can get the seed71 at each stake dig a hole at least #i inches diameter and #ab inches deep1 put the soil taken out on the sides1 taking care1 however1 if it be on a slope1 to put none above the hole4 ,do not put the soil near enough to the pit to make it likely it will be washed back4 ,such soil as should be washed in ought to be the new rich surface soil4 ,for this reason the upper side of the hole should be left free on slopes4 ,the pits are made a month beforehand to admit of this1 and to allow the action of the air on the open sides to improve the mould4 ,if lucky enough to have one or two falls of rain during the month1 the holes will be more or less filled up with soil eminently calculated to instigate rapid growth4 ,just before sowing fill up the pit with surrounding surface soil4 ,whether to mix a little manure with it or not is a question4 ,if it is virgin soil1 and rich in decayed vegetation1 ,i say no2 if not virgin soil1 and rather poor1 yes2 but it must be strictly in moderation--not more1 say1 than a man can hold in both hands to each hole4 ,in filling up the hole1 press the soil down lightly two or three times1 or it will all sink later1 and your seeds be far too deep4 ,when the above is all done1 there is a perfect spot for the reception of the seed4 ,the tap-root can readily descend in search of moisture1 and the lateral rootlets can spread likewise4 ,they 7the latter7 will not reach the outer walls of the pit for six months1 and will then be strong enough to force their way through4 ,now sow the seed4 ,put in1 say1 two or three1 as the seed is good or bad1 six inches apart2 push them into the soft soil one inch1 and put up the stake in the centre to mark the spot4 ,keep the place clean till following rains1 but allow only hand-weeding near the young seedlings1 and occasionally open the soil with some light hand-instrument1 as a 8koorpee10 to the depth of half-an-inch4 ,if all the seeds germinate1 and the seedlings escape crickets1 and all live1 at commencement of the rains leave the best and transplant the others to any vacant spot4 ,you will succeed with some1 not with others2 but do not be too anxious to take up the spare ones with earth round the roots1 and thus endanger the one plant left4 ,that the seedling left be not injured is the great point1 the others must take their chance4 ,some people believe in two1 or even three seedlings together1 and would thus advise them to be all1 or perhaps two1 left4 ,i do not approve of the plan1 except1 perhaps1 with ,chinese plants4 ,plant as close as you will in the lines1 but give each plant its own home4 ,there is another mode of planting at stake1 which is1 ,i think1 better than the above4 ,lay the seed in alternate layers of seed and mould in beds4 ,the seeds may be laid close to each other1 but not above each other1 with mould1 say1 two inches thick1 above1 and then seed again4 ,when they begin to burst1 ready to shoot out their roots1 examine the seeds1 by taking off the soil from each layer1 every three or four days4 ,take out those that have burst1 and plant with the eye or root side of the seed downwards4 ,put all that have not burst back again4 ,repeat the operation again and again every second or third day4 ,be careful and take them up before the root projects--that is1 directly the coating has cracked4 ,by this means only one seed need be put at each stake1 for it is certain to germinate1 and seed may thus be made to go much further4 ,great care is1 however1 necessary in this operation4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,nurseries4 ,choose a level site1 with1 if possible1 the command of water at a higher level--anyhow with water handy4 ,either irrigating or hand-watering for seed beds is a necessity if vigorous and well-developed plants are to be looked for4 ,the soil should be of the light1 friable kind recommended for the ,tea-plant 7see 8,soil07 and of the same nature as the soil of the garden1 the ultimate home of the plants4 ,this latter is all-important1 for seedlings will never thrive 7probably not live7 transplanted into a new kind of mould1 particularly a poorer kind4 ,if possible1 the soil of the seed beds should be poorer than the soil of the garden--on no account richer4 ,taking care it is of the same nature as the garden soil1 choose the poorest you can find4 ,the principle is well known in ,england1 and it applies equally to ,india4 ,from poor to rich soil plants thrive1 but never the other way4 ,for the above reason1 if you manure seed beds1 do it very sparingly4 ,artificial shade for seed beds is a necessity2 at least very many more seeds will germinate when it is given4 ,natural shade over seed beds is very bad2 for1 firstly1 8the drippings0 are highly injurious2 and1 secondly1 shade is only required till the plants are two or three inches high2 after that any shade is bad1 for plants brought up to the time of transplanting in shade are never very hardy4 ,seed beds1 where water is handy1 should not be dug deep4 ,if so dug1 and the soil is consequently loose a long way down1 the tap-root will descend quickly1 and will be too long when transplanted4 ,as water can be given when it is necessary1 there is no need for the tap-root to go down low in search of moisture4#ba ,a long tap-root is generally broken in 8lifting0 the seedling from the bed4 ,seed beds raised1 as is the usual custom1 above the paths that run between them1 are objectionable4 ,they part with moisture too freely4 ,they should1 on the contrary1 be below the level of the paths1 and there is another advantage in this1 for the said paths can then be used partly as supports for the artificial shade1 and thus do away with the expense of long wooden stakes4 ,as the seed beds are only required until the beginning of the following rains1 there is no possibility of their suffering from excessive moisture4 ,when they are required to remain later1 of course this plan of making the beds lower than the paths will not do4 ,seed is best sown in drills1 six inches apart1 and each seed two1 or if space can be got1 even three inches from its neighbour4 ,this facilitates each seedling being taken up later1 with more or less of a ball of earth round the roots--an all-important point 7see ,transplanting1 page #gf74 ,the length of the beds does not signify1 but the breadth must not be more than five feet1 so that a man on the path on either side can reach to the middle while hand-weeding or opening the soil4 ,after what has been said no lengthy directions for making the beds are necessary4 ,cut down1 burn1 or carry off all jungle1 and then take out all roots1 whether grass or other4 ,now make the surface level4 ,after this mark off the beds and paths1 the latter one foot broad only1 with string and pegs4 ,then raise the path six inches above the spots marked off for the beds4 ,this latter must not be done by earth from the beds1 but by earth from outside the intended nursery4 ,next dig and pulverise the soil of the beds to a depth of six or seven inches1 no more1 and level the surface4 ,all is now ready for the seed4 ,a string1 five feet long1 with a small peg at either end1 is given to two men who stand on the path at either side of the bed4 ,each man has a six-inch measure4 ,the string is laid across the bed1 beginning at one end and pegged down on either side4 ,a drill is then made along the string about one inch deep1 and this done the string is1 by means of the six-inch measure on either side1 removed1 and pegged down again in the place for the next drill4 ,seeds are then sown or placed along the first drill made1 two or three inches apart1 and the earth filled in4 ,this is repeated again and again till the whole bed is sown4 ,if the character of the seed is doubtful it must be laid in thicker1 but with good seed two-and-a-half to three inches is the best distance4 ,the sowing finished the artificial shade has to be given4 ,along the paths1 at five feet apart1 put in forked stakes1 two feet long--viz41 six inches into the path1 and eighteen inches above it4 ,connect these with one another by poles laid in the forks2 now lay other 7but thinner7 poles attached to the first poles at either end across and above the bed2 and again across these latter1 that is along the length of the beds1 split bamboos1 and then bind the whole framework here and there4 ,the said framework made will then be two feet above the beds--viz41 eighteen inches of stake support1 and the six-inch raised paths4 ,the eighteen inches of opening all round1 under the frame1 that is1 between the frame and the path1 allows the necessary air to circulate2 while the expense1 danger from high winds1 and the objectionable entrance of the sun at the sides1 all of which high artificial shade is subject to1 are avoided by this low frame-work4 ,mats are the best to cover the frame-work4 ,in case of accidental or incendiary fire they are not so objectionable as grass1 for they burn less and slower1 but mats are expensive4 ,any coarse grass 7freed from seed7 will answer1 and it should be laid on as thin as will suffice to give shade4 ,the beds may be watered1 if there is no rain1 a fortnight after the seed is sown1 and from time to time during the dry season1 whenever the soil at a depth of three or four inches shows no moisture4 ,the soil should also be kept free of weeds1 and after the plants are three or four inches high1 the spaces between the drills should be slightly stirred every now and then4 ,after the seed has germinated1 and the seedlings have1 say1 four leaves on them1 the artificial shade should be taken away4 ,but it must be done gradually1 taking off portions of the grass first1 so that the young seedlings may by degrees be inured to the hot sun4 ,though cultivation1 as described1 by watering and opening the soil at times is well1 these should not be done much1 or the seedlings will be too large when the time comes to transplant them4 ,large seedlings do not1 as a rule1 thrive as well as moderate-sized ones1 after being transplanted4 ,among the many very absurd mistakes made in the cultivation of the ,tea plant1 none exceeds the ridiculous way ,tea seed used to be sown in the ,government plantations in the ,north-western ,himalayas4 ,the seed was sown in drills1 as ,i have advised1 but in six linear inches of the drills1 where it is right to put two1 or at most three1 seeds1 perhaps thirty were placed6 ,i do not exaggerate2 the drill1 six inches deep1 was filled with them4 ,many and many lacs of seed1 in those days worth many thousand rupees1 were thus sacrificed4 ,private planters in the ,himalayas1 taught by the ,government method1 once did the same4 ,i believe the absurd practice is exploded now4 ,seed cannot be sown too soon after being picked4 ,it is ripe early in ,november1 so the beds should be all ready by ,november1 and if the seed has not far to come it can thus be sown early that month4 ,to each maund there are in round numbers #cj1jjj seeds1 7see page #ef74 ,the number of plants it will take to fill an acre depends1 of course1 on the distances they are set apart 7see page #gb71 but having decided this point1 also the area to be planted1 and consequently the number of maunds of seeds to be sown 7see page #ef71 the following table will be found useful in calculating the size of nursery required3-- ,table showing the size of nursery required for one maund and ten maunds seed1 the drills being #f inches apart1 and each seed #c inches or #b inches from its neighbour4 ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------- ,distance each,area in sq4,area1 in sq4 feet1,area1 including,size of nursery1 seed is set inches eachof beds without paths required including the apart in the seed willpaths required forfor each md4 paths to take in drill4 occupy4 each md4 for #aj mds4 ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------- #c inches #ah #c1gfc #d1eac sq4 feet #ajj yards or by #eja sq4 yards4 #ej yards4 #b inches #ab #b1ejj #b1iie sq4 feet #ajj yards or by #ccb sq4 yards4 #cc yards4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- ,if nurseries for more than ten maunds are required1 then allow #ajj yards to be the breadth1 and for each extra ten maunds add respectively for #c or #b inches 7see #ast column7 #ej or #cc yards to the length4 ,thus fifty maunds will require nurseries #ajj yards by #bej yards1 or #ajj yards by #afe yards1 according as it is decided to plant the seed #c inches or #b inches apart in the lines4 ,,footnote3 #ba ,in planting 8at stake0 7see last ,chapter7 the conditions are different4 ,there the plant is in its permanent home1 and the more quickly and deeper the tap-root descends the better1 as the plant will then draw moisture from low down when the soil is dry4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,manure4 ,an idea existed formerly--got1 ,i believe1 from stray ,chinamen1 who ,i don't think knew much about ,tea in any way--that manure1 though it increased the yield1 spoilt the flavour of ,tea4 ,the idea is opposed to all agricultural knowledge1 for high cultivation1 which in no case can be carried out to perfection without manure1 much improves the strength and flavour of all edibles1 the product of mother-earth4 ,my first experience of manure to the ,tea plant was obtained in the ,chittagong district from a small garden close to the station1 which has been for some years highly manured4 ,i was struck with the frequency and abundance of the flushes and the strength and flavour of the ,tea4 ,my high opinion of the ,tea was later borne out by the ,calcutta brokers4 ,i allude to the 8,pioneer0 garden1 close to the ,chittagong station4 ,during the best ,tea months flush succeeded flush at intervals of less than a week1 while eight to ten maunds 7#fdj to #hjj lbs47 was the yearly yield per acre6 ,the soil was very sandy and poor4 ,after-experience showed me that manuring nearly doubles the yield of plants1 and that so far from injuring the flavour of ,tea it improves it1 while it adds greatly to the strength4 ,i shall therefore beg the question that manure is an advantage4 ,if any planter doubts1 let him try it1 and his doubts will soon be solved4 ,any manure is better than none1 but ,i believe one of the best manures for the ,tea plant 7always excepting night-soil and the excrements of birds1 which cannot be procured7 is cattle manure4 ,it is not heating1 like horse-dung1 and may be applied in large quantities without any risk4 ,the fresher it is applied1 in my opinion1 the better1 for it has then far more power4 ,if mixed with any vegetable refuse1 the bulk being increased1 it will go further1 but ,i do not think it is intrinsically any the better for it4 ,there are several chemical manures advertised for ,tea plants4 8,money and ,ponder's ,chemical ,manure10 lately patented by ,mr4 ,ponder and myself1 is said to have been very successful on several gardens4 ,it is manufactured by ,mr4 ,j4 ,thompson1 ,kooshtea1 ,bengal1 who will supply all details4 ,all garden refuse should be regarded as manure and buried between the plants4 ,i allude to the prunings of the bushes and the weeds at all times from the land4 ,to carry these off the ground1 as ,i have sometimes seen done1 is simply taking off so much strength from the soil4 ,the greener1 too1 all this is buried the better4 ,when it is considered how much is taken from the ,tea plant1 it is evident the soil will be exhausted1 sooner or later1 if no means are adopted to repair the waste4 ,where manure cannot be got the waste must be made up1 as far as possible1 by returning all other growth to the soil4 ,but manure should be got if possible1 for it will double the yield of a garden2 and highly concentrated chemical manures will1 ,i am sure1 be eventually much used on ,tea gardens4 ,the best way to apply it1 if enough manure is procurable1 is round each plant2 not close to the stem 7the rootlets by which the plant feeds are not there7 but about #a foot from it4 ,dig a round trench with a kodalee1 about #i inches wide and #f inches deep1 at the above distance from the stem1 lay in the manure1 and replace the soil at top4 ,if the plants are young the trench should be narrower1 shallower1 and #f inches1 instead of #a foot1 from the stems4 ,if enough manure is not procurable for this 7the best7 plan1 the most must be done with what can be got1 as follows3--,if the plants are full grown1 and there is say #d feet between the lines1 dig a trench down the centre and lay in the manure4 ,the plants will then be manured on two sides4 ,if the plants are young lay the manure near them on two sides1 if possible1 but failing that even on one side4 ,the principle is to lay the manure at the distance the feeding rootlets are1 and the older the plant the greater distance these are from its stem4 ,as to the quantity of cattle manure4 ,say for plants four years old and upwards 7if younger1 less will be an equivalent7 one maund to #bj trees is a moderate dose1 one maund to #ae trees a good dose1 and one maund to #aj trees highly liberal manuring1 and as much as the plants can take up4 ,say in round numbers each acre contains #b1ejj plants 7#d by #d--;a usual distance--gives #b1gbb plants1 as shown at page #gb71 and say the manure is procurable at three annas a maund4#bb ,the following table shows the expense of each degree of manuring1 viz41 #aj1 #ae1 and #bj trees per maund3-- ,table showing the possible cost and result of manuring with cattle manure4 ,key3 ,a3 ,maunds of manure per acre at #b1ejj plants per acre ,b3 ,cost of manure at #c annas per maund ,n4,b4--,ans4 omitted ,c3 ,probable extra yield of ,tea per acre ,d3 ,value of extra yield of ,tea at ,rs4 #ej per maund ,e3 ,profit by manuring per acre ,f3 ,deducting the probable cost of putting in the manure1 the following profit is shown per acre ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,rate of ,manuring ,a ,b ,c ,d ,e ,f ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,mds4 ,rs4 ,mds4 ,rs4 ,rs4 ,rs4 ,one md4 to #aj plants #bej #dg #b-a_/b #abe #gh #gj ,one md4 to #ae plants #aff #ca #b #ajj #fi #fb ,one md4 to #bj plants #abe #bc #a-a_/b #ge #eb #df ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,it is not too much to calculate that this will add respectively #a-a_/b1 #b1 and #b-a_/b maunds of ,tea per acre to the yield1 and ,i have carried this out in the table and shown the results4 ,i quite believe the results shown will be obtained by manuring1 and ,i base my opinion on practice not theory4 ,n4,b4--,i have deducted ,rs4 #h for the first1 ,rs4 #g for the second1 and ,rs4 #f for the third1 as the probable cost of putting in the manure1 as it may have to be carried from the factory to the garden4 ,if purchased after being placed between the lines 7and if manure is bought of adjacent villagers they will so place it71 the cost would be less4 ,the above table1 of course1 only applies to localities where cattle manure can be purchased at #c annas per maund1 including carriage to the factory4 ,the value of the extra yield of ,tea is estimated at only ,rs4 #ej per maund in the above table1 because the leaf which will give one maund of ,tea is worth no more1 as follows3-- ,rs4 ,a4 ,p4 ,probable price obtainable for one maund or #hj lbs4 ,tea in ,calcutta1 at #ad annas a lb4 all round 7a fair calculation1 one year with the other1 if it is well manufactured74 #gj #j #j ,deduct cost1 manufacture1 packing1 transport1 and broker's charges as set out in the chapter on 8cost manufacture10 page #afb #af #i #j -------------- ,value of leaf which will make one maund ,tea #ec #g #j ,but ,i prefer estimating it at ,rs4 #ej only1 to be on the safe side4 ,,footnote3 #bb ,it is brought and placed between the lines1 in one garden in the ,chittagong district1 for one to two annas a maund6 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,distances ,,apart ,,to ,,plant ,,tea ,,bushes4 ,when the idea existed1 which it did once1 that ploughs could be used to cultivate a garden between the lines1 these latter1 with this object1 were placed unnecessarily wide apart4 ,all distances may be seen in different gardens1 viz41 #f #f1 #f #c1 #f #d1 #e #d1 #e #e1 #d #c1 c41 c4 ,the plough idea has nowhere been found to answer1 and is exploded4#bc ,still1 even for hand labour to cultivate1 and for facilities in picking leaf1 it is necessary there should be room enough one way to pass along4 ,cultivation here means digging1 and space enough for this must be left between the lines4 ,giving so much1 what is then the principle that should guide us8 ,clearly1 with a view to the largest yield obtainable1 to place as many plants on the land as it will bear4 ,four or #d-a_/b feet are1 ,i think1 the best distances between the lines4 ,they give space enough for air to cultivate1 and to pass along1 even when the trees are full grown4 ,where manure is obtainable and the soil can be kept up to a rich state by yearly applications1 a garden can scarcely be planted too close4 ,i see no objection to trees touching each other in the lines4 ,on considerable slopes1 to prevent the wash of soil1 the plants should be placed as close as possible1 say #c-a_/b feet between and #b feet in the lines4 ,a closely planted garden will grow less weeds than a widely planted one1 and will consequently be cheaper to work4 ,as the expenditure on a garden is in direct proportion to the area1 and the yield in direct proportion to the number of plants 7always supposing there is power enough in the soil to support them71 it follows that a closely planted garden must be very much more profitable than the reverse4 ,hybrid plants grow to a larger size than ,chinese1 and should therefore have more room4 ,the following is a useful table3-- ,table showing the ,plants to an ,acre1 and the ,area one lakh of seedlings will cover1 at the distances named4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ,square ,the area in ,distances in ft4 ,plants in acres one lakh ,,remarks feet to each one acre of seedlings plant will cover ---------------------------------------- ------------------------- #f by #f #cf #a1baj #hb-a_/b #f #e #cj #a1deb #fi #f-a_/b #d #bf #a1fge #ei-c_/d ,too wide for any #e #e #be #a1gdb #eg-a_/b plants4 #f #d #bd #a1hae #ee #f #c-a_/b #ba #b1jgd #dh ,for ,hybrids1 but #e #d #bj #b1agh #de-a_/b still ,i think too wide4 #f #c #ah #b1dbj #da-a_/d ,good distances #d #d #af #b1gbb #cf-c_/d for ,hybrids4 #e #c #ae #b1ijd #cd-a_/b #d #c #ab #c1fcj #bg-a_/b ,chinese for early return4 #c-a_/b #c-a_/b #ab-a_/d #c1eee #bh #c-a_/b #c #aj-a_/b #d1adh #bd ,chinese4 #f #c-a_/d #ai-a_/b #b1bcc #dd-c_/d ,hybrid4 #e #c-a_/d #af-a_/d #b1gbf #cf-c_/d ,chinese4 #e #c-a_/b #ag-a_/b #b1dhi #dj #c-a_/b #b #g #f1bbc #af ,best distance for ,chinese on steep slopes4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ,on flat lands ,i advise-- ,hybrid1 if high-class #d #c-a_/b or #d-a_/b #d ,chinese #c #c ,all the following equal one acre3-- #d roods4 #d1hdj square yards4 #afj poles4 #dc1efj feet4 ,,footnote3 #bc ,land before it is planted can be cultivated with ploughs4 ,my manager is using them largely in the ,western ,dooars1 the land being there all flat4 ,he uses ,english ploughs1 bought of ,ransomes and ,sims1 ,ipswich1 with bullocks1 and often an elephant4 ,he finds the latter the best4 ,after ploughing he uses ,english harrows4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,making ,a ,,garden4 ,i have not very much to say on this head1 as most of the operations entailed are treated separately4 ,still a few directions on primary matters are required4 ,having selected a site and made arrangements for the ,tea seed required for the first year's planting1 you should commence operations early in ,october1 either by constructing the nursery1 or clearing land on the proposed site of the garden1 as you may decide which mode of planting1 viz41 8nurseries10 or 8sowing at stake10 to adopt4#bd ,if the latter1 you should begin to cut the jungle somewhat earlier1 but it is no use beginning to do this before the middle of ,september in any case1 for before that the jungle would spring up again so soon that it would be labour lost4 ,before you do anything decide how much you will cultivate the first year1 and make your arrangements for seed accordingly4 ,here let me advise you in no case to attempt more than #ajj acres4 ,if you do #ajj really well the first year you will have done very well4 ,remember you have also buildings 7though few7 to construct1 and trying to do too much you may simply fail in all4 ,previous to ,october you should have made yourself thoroughly acquainted with all your land1 so that you can then fix with knowledge on the best sites for your buildings1 nursery1 and ,tea plantation4 ,you will find much on these matters in other chapters which should be read carefully4 ,these respective sites having been fixed upon1 and supposing you are going to plant in both ways1 from nurseries and in situ1 construct the nurseries as advised under that head1 page #fb1 and also cut the jungle on the intended garden site4 ,there is not much to say about cutting jungle4 ,cut all the brushwood first near the ground1 and the big trees later1 so that when they fall they may lie on the underwood4 ,in the portion you intend to plant at stake you will not have time to cut down the big trees1 and had better simply 8ring0 them4 ,if this is properly done1 that is1 if the ring is broad enough and deep enough 7less than one foot broad and five inches deep for large trees is not safe71 they will certainly die in a twelvemonth1 and will not give objectionable shade more than half that time4 ,in the part to be planted 8at stake0 you must burn all the cut jungle by the end of ,october1 and it will be well1 if you have labour enough1 to send men up the big trees to cut off the branches beforehand1 so that they will more or less burn with the rest4 ,doing this1 and piling up the underwood to be burnt round the base of the big trees1 will cause earlier death1 and diminish the objectionable shade4 ,having burnt the jungle1 that is1 as much as will burn1 and carried off the rest from the parts to be planted at stake1 dig out all the small roots1 and that done1 dig the whole some #d or #e inches deep4 ,then stake it off with small bamboo stakes #ah inches long1 showing where the ,tea trees are to be 7see page #gb as to the best distances71 and then make your holes and plant your seed at each stake as directed at page #ei4 ,see the way it is recommended to stake land as regards its lay at pages #de and #df4 ,you will probably not have the ground ready before the end of ,november 7do not attempt more than you can do to that date71 and then take care and keep the seed1 as directed at page #ee1 until it is sown4 ,for the part to be planted from nurseries the following ,june you have plenty of time4 ,nowhere have ,i1 or anyone1 seen large vigorous ,tea plants under trees4 ,it is therefore evident trees are hurtful1 and no more should be left in a garden than are required for the labourers to sit under occasionally1 and to collect leaf under before it is taken to the ,tea-house4 ,the trees that are left should be those on the sides of roads4 ,one to every two or three acres is ample4 ,after therefore cutting down all the low jungle1 cut down all but the said few trees 7it is cheaper in the end than ringing them71 and then cut off and cut up all the branches into sizes that will burn readily4 ,cut up the large trunks also into lengths1 for all that will not burn must be carried off later4 ,leave all so lying until ,february1 then choose a day with a high wind and fire it from the windward side4 ,it may burn some days4 ,then collect all unburnt into heaps1 and fire again and again until nothing more will burn4 ,now take out all roots1 big and small1 and when well dry1 stack all these1 and what was left before1 and fire again and again4 ,the land should now be tolerably clear1 and can be dug at once4 ,the roads should be marked off before this1 for they are better not dug4 ,now stake the land at the distances determined on1 and a month before the rains1 or even more1 if you are so far advanced1 make holes for the young seedlings at each stake1 precisely like those recommended for 8planting at stake10 page #ei4 ,only1 if possible1 these should be a little larger each way than there advised1 say #aj inches diameter and #ae inches deep4 ,read carefully the direction as to those pits1 and follow them out here4 ,much of the success of your planting depends on these holes4 ,at the first commencement of the rains transplant1 as directed under that head in the next chapter4 ,any large heavy trunks1 which cannot be easily carried off the land1 may be placed longways between the lines1 but the less of dead timber you leave lying about the gardens the better4 ,,footnote3 #bd ,in no case trust to the latter alone4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,transplanting4 ,if the pits for the plants have been all prepared1 as directed at pages #ei and #ge1 this operation is simple enough4 ,a fortnight or so before it commences tip all the seedlings in the nursery4 ,take off only the closed leaf at the head of each young plant 7see a leaf diagram1 page #ajd71 so that the bud at the base of the next leaf be not injured4 ,doing this will make the seedlings hardier and enable them earlier to recover the transplanting4 ,on the day you intend to take up the seedlings from any bed1 if you have water enough at command1 flood the bed4 ,this1 as you take up each seedling1 will cause the soil1 being moist1 to adhere better to the roots4 ,the difference between young plants transplanted with a ball of earth round the roots1 and those moved with their roots bare1 is no less than three months' growth1 if even it does not make the difference between life and death4 ,proceed thus to ensure the former4 ,at one short end of the bed1 the lowest if it is on a slope1 dig close to the first row of seedlings a trench so deep that its base shall be lower than the lowest end of the tap-roots4 ,then with a five or six-pronged steel fork 7this is better than a spade1 for it does not cut the rootlets7 put in between the first and second row1 and pressed down with the foot to its head1 force carefully so much of the row down into the trench4 ,then with the hand take up each seedling separately1 helping the soil with a very light pressure 7so light that it shall not change the lateral direction of any of the rootlets7 to adhere1 and place it in a low basket sloping4 ,do this again and again1 till two baskets are full1 when they will be carried1 banghy fashion1 to the garden4 ,when the first row is finished clear away the loose soil1 so that a similar trench to the first shall be formed1 and then proceed as above with the second row1 and so on4 ,no further directions for lifting the seedlings out of the nurseries are required4 ,all is ready for their reception in the garden if the directions at pages #ei and #ge have been followed out4 ,the work now to be detailed must be done by careful men well superintended4 ,in the soft soil of the lately filled up pit1 described at page #ei1 a hole is made either with the hand or a narrow kodalee 7the former1 if the soil has not settled much1 will suffice71 large enough and deep enough to take in the seedling with all the earth attached to it4 ,the seedling is then put in and the soil filled in and round it1 which completes the operation4 ,the manner1 though1 in which this is done is of great consequence4 ,four things are all important3--7#a7 ,that the tap-root shall not be turned up at the end because the hole is too shallow4 7#b7 ,that any rootlets projecting outside the attached earth shall be laid in the hole1 and shall preserve1 when the soil is filled in1 their lateral direction4 7#c7 ,that the collar of the plant 7the spot where the stem entered the earth in the nursery7 shall be1 when the pit is filled up1 about #a-a_/b inch higher than the surface of the surrounding earth4 7#d7 ,that in filling in the hole the soil is pressed down enough to make it unlikely to sink later1 but not enough to 8cake0 the mould4 ,the following is the consequence of failure in these four points3-- #a4 ,probably death1 in any case very much retarded growth4 ,i have planted some seedlings so purposely1 the majority died2 those that lived recovered very slowly1 and digging them up later the tap-root was found to have gone down after all by assuming the shape of the letter ,s1 the growth downwards being from the head of the letter4 #b4 ,rootlets1 turned away from their lateral direction1 interfere with other rootlets1 and though they eventually grow right if the plant lives1 they retard it4 #c4 ,fill in as you may 7unless you 8cake0 the soil1 which induces worse evils7 the plant sinks a little2 thus1 if not placed a little high1 it will eventually be too deep4 ,if on the other hand placed too high1 the rootlets and collar will be exposed1 which is an evil4 #d4 ,unless this is attended to the plant will sink too much and the collar be buried2 likewise an evil1 which it takes the young seedling some time to recover4 ,only first teaching and then practice will enable either ,european or ,native to plant well4 ,this is how it should be done4 ,take the seedling in the left hand1 holding it by the stem just above the collar2 then take the very end of the tap-root between the second and third fingers of the right hand1 and thus put it down into the hole 7you thus insure the tap-root being straight74 ,now judge exactly the height of the collar that it be as directed4 ,rest the left arm then on the ground to keep the plant steady1 release the tap-root1 and fill up the hole about one-third1 pressing the soil lightly4 ,the plant will then be fixed1 and you can employ both hands to fill up the remainder1 and keep the rootlets in a lateral position4 ,press the soil lightly as you do so1 and when all is filled up press it down a little harder round the stem of the plant4 ,all the transplanting should be finished as early in the rains as possible4 ,a seedling1 planted in the first fifteen days of ,june1 is worth two planted in ,july1 and after the latter month it is generally a case of seedlings and labour lost4 ,days with heavy rain are not good to plant in4 ,those with showers or light drizzling rain are best4 ,when there is very heavy rain the soil 8cakes0 much4 ,fine days1 if the ground is wet1 and if more rain may soon be looked for1 are good1 better though if cloudy than sunny4 ,where much planting has to be done1 of necessity planting must be carried on daily1 for1 as observed1 it must all be finished by end of ,july at latest4 ,in case of a sunny break in the weather1 stop planting after the second day1 for early rain to young transplants is a necessity4 ,in making a garden too much care cannot be given to the way seedlings are placed in their homes4 ,just before sending the third edition to press1 ,i saw in the ,indian ,tea ,gazette some details of 8new transplanting and transporting tools10 patented by ,mr4 ,jeben4 ,i hope these will prove a success1 for such are much wanted1 and if they will do all it is said they can do1 a great boon will have been conferred by ,mr4 ,jeben on the ,tea industry4 ,mr4 ,j4 ,w4 ,mountjoy1 of ,pandawbrang1 ,arracan1 writes as follows regarding these tools3-- 8,the ,transplanter has1 in working1 proved to be a complete success4 ,almost all the remaining seedlings have been transplanted by the aid of your instrument1 without the slightest injury to their roots or check to their growth4 ,the fact is1 the young plants do not know that they have been transplanted1 and now that sunshine has succeeded the late very heavy rains1 new and vigorous growth is #8bursting out' from all the seedlings that were transplanted by means of your ,transplanter4 ,no manager of a ,tea or ,coffee plantation1 who had once seen this instrument at work1 would ever again be likely to recur to transplanting by hand1 and not a single seedling should die when removed from the nursery and carried to its place of ultimate growth by means of your ,transplanter4 ,your transplanting apparatus is better than baskets1 and has moreover the great recommendation of being very economical4 ,your ,transplanter will1 with moderate care1 last for many years1 and combines thorough economy with thorough efficiency40 ,i am glad to give the above extract1 for ,i look on the invention1 if successful1 as a most important one4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,cultivation ,,of ,,made ,,gardens4 ,as manuring1 which is part of this1 is treated separately1 we have here only to consider the best means of stirring the soil to give air to the roots of the plants1 and to keep down weeds1 which1 if allowed1 injure the yield vastly4 ,unless when plants are full blown and in full bearing 7and not even then unless they are planted close7 it is not only not necessary1 but a waste of labour and money1 to open the soil all over the garden with a view of stimulating or cultivating the plants4 ,much money has been wasted in this way3 for instance1 in a garden planted #f by #f or #f by #e1 and the plants but two years old1 ,i have seen the whole dug many times in the year4 ,the roots of the said plants did not protrude at that age more than #a foot or so1 what good could they possibly derive from the extra space dug8 ,the soil over the rootlets of ,tea plants cannot be stirred too often4 ,the oftener it is done the oftener the trees flush1 and when young the more vigorously will they grow4 ,what is the best way to do it8 ,i believe simply by digging round each plant4 ,i go to show why this is1 ,i believe1 the best4 ,putting aside the waste incurred in digging a whole garden when not necessary1 the way the soil is then dug near the plants is1 ,i think1 objectionable4 ,the ground is dug in a straight line up to the plant1 and in doing so1 if the digging is deep1 roots are very apt to be cut4 ,again1 when the work is task-work1 the men shirk as much as possible digging close up to the stems under the branches1 and thus the soil over much of the roots1 is not stirred at all4 ,this is not easy to detect1 for you must look under the branches of each tree to see how the work has been done4 ,in 8digging round plants0 the men should follow the kodalee round the tree1 and the position of the blade in the same line as the roots makes any injury very unlikely4 ,even if tasked1 as when the work is examined1 it is only round the plants1 it is more readily perceived if the ground has not been stirred close up to the stems4 ,i therefore prefer digging round plants1 with the view of cultivating them1 to digging the whole garden4 ,i believe the object is better attained4 ,that it is much cheaper is evident4 ,the annulus1 or space to be dug round1 beginning #i inches from the stem1 varies with the age of the plant4 ,up to two years one kodalee in width will do1 and after that say #b feet4 ,the draw-hoe of #h inches wide is a better tool for the above than the kodalee1 especially as it is work well suited to boys1 and the 8draw-hoe0 is a lighter tool4 ,till plants from seed at stake are a year old1 and till seedlings from nurseries are the same age1 calculating in the latter case from the transplanting1 no kodalee or even draw-hoe should come near them4 ,the soil round for #f inches should be slightly opened once a month or so1 but it should be done with the 8koorpee40 ,we have now discussed the cultivation of the plants4 ,the above often done1 say once a month1 if possible1 during the season1 with judicious pruning and liberal manuring1 constitutes high cultivation4 ,did weeds not grow there would be no need to do more1 but weeds do grow1 and must not be allowed4 ,the richer the soil the more weeds1 the more manure you apply the more weeds also4 ,weeds choke the plant and diminish the yield4 ,weeds take from the soil1 and from manure1 when given1 the strength you want for your constantly recurring flushes4 ,if1 therefore1 you have a large crop of weeds you have a small yield of ,tea4 ,how to stop this8 ,there is one golden rule1 8never let them get ahead of you40 ,this1 it is true1 argues ample labour2 but unless you have ample labour for the area you cultivate1 better let your money lie in the ,bank and not grow ,tea4 ,reduce your area until you can keep ahead of your weeds1 for keep ahead you must if you wish for success4 ,the secret of keeping ahead of weeds is to destroy them when young1 to do this again and again1 as often as they come up1 never allowing them to bear seed4 ,the kodalee1 an excellent digging tool1 is not good for this3 you want a lighter instrument1 which can go over more ground and will not open the soil in the dry season to any depth4 ,the ,dutch hoe1 the widest procurable in the blade1 with a long lithe handle of #f feet1 is perfect for this4 ,with weeds at the height fit for a ,dutch hoe1 viz41 #c or #d inches1 and not numerous 7which they will not be if you have 8kept ahead071 a man will easily do #de square nulls1 id est1 #gbj square yards4 ,he would not do more than #cj nulls with a kodalee4 ,the ,dutch hoe must be well known4 ,it is used for weeding drives and walks in ,england4 ,to conclude shortly1 for 8hoeing and weeding0 ,i recommend as follows3-- ,dig the whole garden thrice in the year1 viz41 spring1 rains1 and autumn4 ,bury all weeds as you dig in trenches between the lines4 ,in the intervals use the ,dutch hoe as often as weeds appear4 ,cultivate the plants by digging round them once a month if possible4 ,do all this and you will find your garden is kept clean and well cultivated1 at far less cost than you incurred for cultivation when it was choked with weeds for months together1 while your yield will be at the same time much increased4 ,if you keep your garden thus clean1 and do not allow the weeds to get ahead of you1 the following table shows about the cost of each cultivation operation each time you do it3-- ,key3 ,a3 ,digging the whole surface ,b3 ,digging round plants ,c3 ,dutch hoeing or weeding ---------------------------------------- ------------------------ ,headman ,men at ,women ,boys at ,total ,say in ,detail of work at #d-a_/b #c-a_/b at #b-a_/b cost ,rs4 annas annas #c annas annas ---------------- ---------------------------------------- ------ ,a #c_/d #ab #e 44 #bacf #c ,b #a_/b 44 #d #e #aaci #b ,c #a_/b #d 44 44 #aadc #b ---------------------------------------- ------------------------ ,if weeds get ahead the cost in each case will be nearly double the above4 ,the following table1 which is as near the mark as any such estimate can be1 will be found useful4 ,it will also be made use of when calculating the cost of making a garden in ,chapter ,,xxix41 pages #afd1 #afe1 and #aff4 ,table showing the cost per annum of keeping up at its best #ajj acres of ,tea from the year it is planted until the sixth year inclusive4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------- ,year ,rate per acre,per #ajj acres ,remarks per annum ---------------------------------------- -------------------------- ,rs4 ,rs4 ,first #ej #e1jjj ,the year the seed is sown at stake ,second #fj #f1jjj ,third #gj #g1jjj ,fourth #hj #h1jjj ,fifth #ij #i1jjj ,sixth #ajj #aj1jjj ,the plants should be large plants now1 but they will not be at full bearing until the eighth year4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------- ,the above rates in the case of a #cjj-;acre garden making will include everything but buildings4 ,the rates are progressive1 because the expenditure on the following increases1 or should increase1 yearly4 #a4 ,manager's pay 7say every second year74 #b4 ,assistant 7first entertained1 say third year74 #c4 ,cost and wear of tools4 #d4 ,cost of pruning4 #e4 ,cost of cultivation4 #f4 ,cost of manure4 #g4 ,general expenses4 ,no cost for ,tea manufacture is included in the above1 as this is estimated for separately4 ,see table at pages #afj1 #afa1 and #afb4 ,keeping up high cultivation in every way and manuring liberally1 a made garden in full bearing can be kept up to its highest producing powers 7including the pay of the manager1 establishment1 and everything else7 for ,rs4 #ajj per acre per annum4 ,an acre of ,tea may1 ,i am aware1 be kept up in a manner for ,rs4 #ej or so yearly1 but the profit on such a plantation must be nil4 ,on the contrary1 with the above expenditure per acre1 on a good and favourably located garden1 the profit will be very large4 ,see table at page #agb4 ,it is with ,tea as with all other cultivation4 ,it has been proved in ,england1 and in all other countries where really high cultivation is followed out1 that the higher the system followed the greater the profit4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,pruning4 ,it is stated elsewhere at length 7page #ajb7 why ,i conceive pruning to be necessary for the ,tea plant4 ,whether ,i am right or not1 the fact is certain that without pruning very little leaf is produced4 ,pruning must be done in the cold weather when the plant is hybernating1 that is to say1 when the sap is down4 ,the sooner after the sap goes down it is done the better1 for the sooner the tree will then flush in the spring4 ,there have been many theories about pruning ,tea bushes1 but none1 ,i think1 worth much practically1 for the simple reason that it is impossible to prune #bej1jjj plants 7the number in a #ajj-;acre garden1 at #b1ejj to the acre7#be with the care and system a gardener prunes a favourite fruit tree4 ,the operation must be a coarse one1 done by ignorant men1 in large numbers at one time1 who can in a measure be more or less taught1 and the nearer they do right the better3 still1 really careful and scientific pruning can never be carried out on a ,tea plantation4 ,the time to do it1 too1 is very limited4 ,it cannot be begun before the trees have done flushing1 say1 at the earliest1 middle of ,november1 or continued1 if early flushes and a large yield next season is looked for1 beyond end of ,january1 at the latest4 ,thus at the most two months and a half is all the time given4 ,i shall confine myself therefore to giving such directions as will be practically useful4 ,the best instrument is the common 8pruning knife40 ,it cuts far cleaner than the 8shears10 besides which the natives very seldom use the latter well4 ,what is called in ,england a 8hedge-bill0 is useful to trim the outsides of the trees4 ,if required it must be got from ,england1 as ,i do not think it is procurable in ,calcutta4 ,whatever instruments are used should be kept very sharp1 and for this purpose1 besides sharpening them every morning on the grinding stone1 each pruner should be provided with a small pocket 8hone40 ,the theory1 and it is correct1 is in pruning1 to cut near above a bud or branch1 but not near enough to injure them4 ,the cut should be quite clean and sloping upwards1 so that nothing can lodge on it4 ,this theory can be1 and must be1 strictly carried out in cutting the thick stems and branches1 but it is quite impossible to do it with the slender branches or twigs of the tree4 ,prune so as to cause lateral growth4 ,a ,tea plant should never be allowed to exceed1 say1 #d feet in height1 but the wider it is the better4 ,prune off all lower branches tending downwards1#bf for the plant should1 if possible1 be clean underneath to a height of1 say1 #f inches4 ,this clean stem high class plants have naturally1 not so the ,chinese1 or the ,chinese cast of hybrid4 ,plants should be more or less pruned out in the centre4 ,in the following spring young wood is then formed in the heart of the tree1 and it is only young wood and shoots that give leaf4 ,plants1 if above two years old 7see foot note next page71 exceeding #b-a_/b feet in height at the end of the season 7and all plants of any age will7 may be pruned down to #bj inches1 but the thick wood must be pruned down to varying heights several inches lower4 ,small plants must naturally be more lightly pruned4 ,the best plan is1 ,i think1 to have two gangs3 ,the first to go ahead and cut out the thick wood 7here judgment is necessary1 so let them be the best men7 to varying heights1 from about #aa to #ah inches4 ,the second gang to follow1 each with a rod #bj inches long1 to cut down all the light wood left to that level4 ,all plants1 how low or how young soever they may be1 must be pruned somewhat4#bg ,the lower their stature and the less their age the less pruning they require4 ,of the two extremes1 at least with the ,tea plant1 it is probably better to over than to under-prune4 ,the treatment of the plants1 with reference to the leaf to be taken in the spring1 must be a good deal regulated by the way1 or rather the extent1 to which they have been pruned4 ,on this point see page #ajc4 ,the cost of pruning depends on whether it is high or low1 and whether the plants are large1 middling1 or small4 ,the greatest cost is about ,rs4 #f1 the least about ,rs4 #c per acre4 ,let all prunings be buried between the lines of plants1 if possible1 before the leaves have even withered4 ,they make capital manure1 but much of the virtue escapes if they are allowed to lie on the ground any time before they are buried4 ,,footnotes3 #be ,in a #ejj-;acre garden the number is #a1bej1jjj1 which ought all to be pruned in two months6 #bf ,the best plan with the lowest branches is to pull them off1 with a sharp downward action1 as then they will not grow again4 #bg ,but not before the end of #ah months after transplanting1 as the object at first is to get a long tap-root to draw moisture from low down1 and this is best attained by allowing the plant to grow as it will4 ,i look on this as all-important4 ,i care not how high a plant may grow1 for #ah months ,i would in no way interfere with its growth4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,white ,,ants1 ,,crickets1 ,,and ,,blight4 ,these insects 7for blight1 too1 is said to be an insect7 are very destructive to the ,tea plants4 ,the cricket1 however1 only injures it when quite young1 so we will consider that little pest first4 ,when ,tea seed germinates1 and the young seedling is #b or #c inches high1 the cricket delights to cut the stem and carry1 or try to carry1 the two or three green leaves attached to the upper part into its hole4 ,even after seedlings are planted out1 if the stems are slender1 it cuts them4 ,to the young seedlings1 in nurseries or planted 8at stake10 they often do great harm1 killing in some places one-third or so4 ,it is much easier to prevent their ravages in nurseries than in this latter case1 simply because the spot in which they must be sought and destroyed is circumscribed in the one1 almost unlimited in the other4 ,only one thing can be done4 ,employ boys 7they soon get clever enough at the work7 to hunt for their holes and dig them out4 ,the holes are minute1 but run down a long way4 ,the only plan to follow them is to put in a thin pliable stick and remove the soil along it4 ,on getting to the bottom of the stick1 if it is not the bottom of the hole1 you repeat the operation till you do get to the bottom1 and there you will generally find the cricket4 ,early in the morning they can be often found and caught outside their holes4 ,the boys employed should be paid for them by the number they catch4 ,they can be placed alive and brought to the factory in a hollow bamboo1 and then killed in some merciful way4 ,when once a ,tea plant has got a stem as thick as a thick pencil no cricket can hurt it4 ,they are much worse in some places than others1 and in my experience ,i have found them worse on low lands4 ,the white ant is a much more formidable enemy than the cricket4 ,they do 7as all planters know7 attack and destroy living bushes4#bh ,whether they first attack some small dead portion or not is a question1 but practically it does not signify the least1 for if they do they manage to find such in about one-third of the trees in a garden4 ,beginning with the minute dead part they kill ahead of them as they go1 and will1 eventually1 in many cases1 if left alone1 kill the largest trees4 ,they have a formidable enemy in the small black ant which exists in myriads1 and kills the white ant whenever the latter is not protected by the earthen tunnels he constructs4 ,in many places so great is the pest that1 did this small black ant not exist1 ,i believe no ,tea ,garden could stand4 ,from the close of the rains to the cold weather is the worst time for white ants1 and the time the planter should guard particularly against their ravages4 ,at that time if he examines his trees closely he will very likely find white ants on a quarter of the whole4 ,digging round the plant where they are disturbs their runs and does much good4 ,at the same time they should be brushed off any part of the tree they have attacked1 and the tree should be well shaken4 ,all this1 however1 only does temporary good1 for they often are found as thick as ever on the plant a week later4 ,tobacco water is beneficial1 but in wet weather it is soon washed off4 ,kerosene oil is very efficient4 ,a little is put round the stem1 but it is expensive4 ,the next best thing ,i know is the earth oil 7petroleum7 from ,burmah1 and this is cheap enough4 ,it is thick1 but used from a bottle it gets heated by the sun and is then quite limpid4 ,when white ants are found on a tree1 a little with a small brush is put on the part they have attacked4 ,they are also well shaken off1 and a ring of oil is placed round the stem4 ,my experience is that they will not attack that tree again for a long time4 ,i was at first fearful that both it and the kerosene 7the one1 ,i believe1 is only a manufacture of the other7 would injure the trees1 but both are safe4 ,i strongly recommend others to try it1 if they doubt1 on a small spot only in the first instance4 ,whatever is used1 or whatever is done1 white ants must not be left to work their will in the autumn4 ,all the trees should then be examined once at least1 and once again1 if possible1 the following spring4 ,blight 7a serious matter1 ,i hear1 in ,cachar7 ,i know but little of4 ,i do not remember hearing anything about it when ,i was there1 now some fourteen years ago4 ,it is rare in the ,chittagong district1 but ,i have seen one or two trees attacked with it4 ,under its influence the young leaves get covered with brown spots and shrivel4 ,it is most destructive to the yield of a garden4 ,from one or two experiments made ,i believe pruning off all the diseased branches1 and scraping back the soil for a space of #b feet round the stem1 so as almost to lay the roots bare1 will be found beneficial1 but ,i do not speak with certainty4 ,all the ,himalayan gardens are free from these three pests detailed1 except that occasionally a few crickets have been seen4 ,,footnote3 #bh ,a long controversy on this point lately took place in the papers2 that is to say1 the point discussed was1 whether white ants do or do not attack living tea trees4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,filling ,,up ,,vacancies4 ,so difficult is this to do1 that ,i have heard several planters declare they would attempt it no further1 but1 on the contrary1 accept the vacancies in their gardens as an unavoidable evil4 ,that it is difficult ,i1 too1 can certify4 ,seedlings put into vacant spots year after year die1 either in the rains they are planted or in the following spring4 ,if1 however1 a few yards off a fresh piece of land is taken in and planted1 the plants live4 ,what is the reason8 ,it can be nothing connected with the soil1 for on adjacent spots they live and die4 ,it puzzled me a long time1 but ,i believe ,i can now explain it4 ,first1 seedlings planted in vacant spots in a garden are never safe4 ,when in the rains there are many weeds in the gardens1 and it is being dug1 the young seedlings are not observed1 are either dug up1 or injured so by the soil being dug close to them1 that they shortly after die4 ,this is1 ,i believe1 the principal cause of the failure1 and it may be in a great measure1 if not entirely1 obviated by putting1 first1 a high stake on either side of the seedling1 and taking care it remains there all through the rains4 ,secondly1 as an additional precaution1 and a very necessary one1 before any such land is dug1 send round boys with 8koorpies0 to clean away the jungle round the young plants1 and at the same time open the soil slightly over their roots4 ,doing this 8cultivates0 them1 and the plants being apparent1 with the newly-stirred vacant spaces round them1 are seen by the diggers1 and are not likely to be damaged4 ,the second cause of failure ,i attribute to the old plants on either side of the young seedling1 taking to themselves all the moisture there may be in the soil during any drought4 ,the young seedling1 whose tap-root at the time is not a long one 7for it is in the spring of the year following the year of planting that this occurs71 is dependent for life entirely on the small amount of moisture that exists in the soil1 at that insignificant depth 7say #h inches74 ,but on two sides of the said seedling's tap-root1 and in fact surrounding it1 if the neighbouring ,tea bushes are full grown1 are the feeding rootlets of the big plants1 sucking up all the moisture attainable 7the necessities of all plants being then great71 and leaving none for the poor young seedling1 which consequently dies in the unequal contest4 ,this last evil 7in climates where there is a deficiency of spring rains1 and1 in fact1 more or less in all ,tea localities1 for in none is there as much rain as the plants require in the spring7 there is no means of avoiding as long as seedlings1 after transplanting1 lose time1 the effect of the transplanting1 and thus fail to attain a good depth before the said dry season4 ,in fact1 unless something is devised1 ,i believe with many1 trying to fill up vacancies is a loss of time and money4 ,the pits to plant in1 advised at page #ei1 should of course be made in these vacant spots1 for they help much towards the early descent of the tap-root4 ,still they can scarcely avail sufficiently to avoid the evil1 if the plant is lying inert1 as is generally the case for two or three months after planting2 this delay being1 moreover1 in the rains1 the best growing time4 ,if we can devise any means to avoid this delayed growth in the young seedling after it is transplanted1 then the tap-root1 before the drought of next spring1 will have descended low enough to gather moisture for itself2 that is1 from lower depth than the greater number of the rootlets of the neighbouring big plants traverse4 ,could this be done1 and if the means above detailed are resorted to1 to prevent the young plants being injured when the gardens are dug1 ,i see no reason why vacancies should not be successfully filled up4 ,then might be seen1 what nowhere can be seen now1 a ,tea garden full of plants1 that is1 with no vacancies4 ,when it is considered that many gardens in all the districts have #cj or even #dj per cent4 vacancies1 none less than say #ab per cent41 we may strike a fair average and roughly compute the vacancies in ,tea gardens throughout the country at #bj per cent4 ,in other words1 the yield of ,tea from ,india1 with the same expenditure now incurred1 would be one-fifth more were plantations full6 ,i have shown how the first evil can be obviated4 ,i think the following will obviate the second4 ,get earthen pots made #g-a_/b inches diameter at the head and #g-a_/b inches deep1 like the commonest flower pots1 only these should be nearly as wide at the bottom as at the top4 ,a circular hole1 #b inches diameter1 must be left in the bottom4 ,fill these with mould of the same nature as the soil of the garden where the vacancies exist4 ,put two or three seeds in each1 all near the centre1 and not more than half an inch below the surface4 ,place these pots1 so filled1 near water1 and beneath artificial shade1 as described in ,chapter ,,xiii4 ,when the seeds have germinated1 and the seedlings have two or three leaves1 so that you can judge which is the best class of seedlings in each pot1#bi root out all but one1 the best one4 ,now remove the shade gradually1 water from time to time1 and let the seedlings grow in the pots till the rains4 ,having1 before the rains1 made the holes at the vacancies as before described1 after the first fall carry the pots to the garden and place each one near a hole4 ,then plant as follows4 ,stand the pot on the brink of the hole1 having previously with a hammer broken the bottom4 ,then crack the sides also gently1 and deposit pot and all in the hole at the proper depth4 ,if not enough broken1 the sides of the pot may now be further detached1 nay1 even partially removed4 ,now fill up with earth to the top4 ,pieces of the pot left in the hole will do no harm2 but it1 the pot1 must be sufficiently broken at the bottom to allow of the free descent of the tap-root1 as also enough broken at the sides to allow of the free spreading of the rootlets4 ,if all this has been carefully done1 so that the mould in the pot shall not have been shaken free of the rootlets1 the seedlings will not even know it has been transplanted4 ,its growth will not be delayed for a day1 instead of two or three months2 and by the time the dry season comes1 the tap-root will have descended far enough to imbibe moisture4 ,another plan to effect the same object4 ,instead of pots1 use coarse bamboo open wicker-work baskets4 ,the split bamboo forming the said wicker-work about half an inch wide1 the interstices about one quarter of an inch square4 ,let the diameter of the basket be the same at top and bottom1 viz41 #i inches2 the depth of the basket #aj inches4 ,when the seedlings in the nursery are large enough to enable you to select a good class of plant1 transplant one into each basket previously filled with soil4#cj ,this being done when the plants are very young1 and there being then no difficulty in taking them up with earth attached to their short tap-roots and rootlets1 they will scarcely be thrown back at all4 ,being near water they can also be well tended4 ,put basket and all into the vacant hole at the beginning of the rains1 and fill up as directed for the pots4 ,the interstices will allow the feeding rootlets to pass through1 besides the basket rots quickly under ground1 so quickly it cannot impede the plant4 ,seed is not sown at once in the baskets as in the pots1 because the baskets would not last so long4 ,even putting the seedling in it during 7say7 ,february1 the basket1 with the occasional watering necessary1 will1 more or less1 have rotted before it is put into the hole4 ,i have concluded a contract for ten thousand pots and five thousand baskets at half an anna each for both kinds4 ,two pice1 to ensure the filling up of a vacancy1 is not a large outlay4 ,since writing the above ,i have had experience of both the above plans4 ,the pot system is far the better1 and answers very well4#ca ,i am now trying to improve this still further by making the pots a little larger1 and placing a thin inner lining of tin inside each about half an inch from the sides4 ,this space is first filled with sand1 then the pot is filled with mould1 and the tin pulled out4 ,the same tin will therefore do for any number of pots4 ,the seed is then put in4 ,i think by this plan if1 when about to plant1 the mould in the pot is well wetted1 that it1 with the seedling1 can be turned out whole in one piece1 and then put in the hole without the pot4 ,the same pots would then answer year after year1 and the expense would be quite nominal4 ,if well done1 the seedling in this1 as in the former case1 would not even know it had been transplanted4#cb ,,footnotes3 #bi ,by 8best class0 ,i mean the most indigenous class4 #cj ,mind again this be of the same nature as the garden soil4 #ca ,the baskets are too frail2 being often wetted1 they fall to pieces before the planting time4 #cb ,it may be that the transplanting and transporting tools invented by ,mr4 ,jeben 7see page #gi7 will solve the difficulty of filling up vacancies4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,flushing ,,and ,,number ,,of ,,flushes4 ,the ,tea plant is said to flush when it throws out new shoots and leaves4 ,the young leaves thus produced are the only ones fit to make ,tea1 and the yield of a plantation depends therefore entirely on the frequency and abundance of the flushes4 ,the way a flush is formed is fully explained under the head of 8leaf picking0 7pages #ajc1 #ajd1 and #ajg74 ,the number of flushes in different plantations varies enormously1 owing1 first1 to climate2 secondly1 to soil2 thirdly1 to the pruning adopted2 fourthly1 to the degree of cultivation given2 and fifthly1 though not least1 to the presence or absence of manure4 ,how to secure all these advantages to their fullest extent is shown under those heads1 and we have here only to consider what is a low1 a medium1 and a high rate of flushing per season4 ,in doing this we must speak of elevated 7as ,himalayan7 gardens separately4 ,the cool climate of heights makes it impossible for ,tea to flush there as on the plains4 ,speaking generally of elevated gardens 7the higher they are the shorter the period1 and vice vers71 seven months may be considered as the average producing period1 viz41 from beginning of ,april to end of ,october1 and during that time twelve to fifteen flushes may be obtained1 which1 ,i believe1 with high cultivation and liberal manuring1 can be increased to eighteen4 ,in all localities1 with favourable ,tea climates1 the plants flush both for a longer period and oftener4 ,speaking generally also1 in this case1 of the five best localities1 viz41 ,assam1 ,cachar1 ,chittagong1 the ,terai below ,darjeeling1 and the ,western ,dooars 7for even in these districts many advantages exist in one garden which do not in another71 the following is an approximation to the flushing periods3-- ,upper ,assam4--,february #beth to ,november #aeth4 ,lower ,assam4--,february #bjth to ,november #bjth4 ,cachar4--,february #bjth to ,november #bjth4 ,chittagong4--,march #ajth to ,december #bjth4 ,terai below ,darjeeling and ,western ,dooars4--,march #ast to ,november #bjth4 ,the opening period is a little late in ,upper ,assam on account of the cold1 and closes a little earlier for the same reason4 ,lower ,assam and ,cachar are much alike4 ,the opening in ,chittagong is later than in the two just mentioned from want of early rains1 but the season continues longer on account of the low latitude and consequent deferred cold weather4 ,roughly1 then1 rather more than nine months may be assumed as the flushing period for these districts4 ,the next point is how often do gardens in these localities flush in that time4 ,not very many planters can say1 certainly1 how often their gardens have flushed in a season1 because they are picked so irregularly1 and no account of the different flushes kept4 ,enquiring on this point1 when ,i was in ,cachar some thirteen years ago1 #i to #bd were the minimum and maximum numbers given me at different gardens1 showing how little was really known about it4 ,such knowledge as ,i have on the subject is mostly derived from carefully kept records of my own garden in the ,chittagong district4 ,the plantation is all worked in sections1 in the way described previously1 and the dates given in the table below are the days each flush was finished 7that is1 the picking was finished7 during the seasons #ahfi and #ahgj2 #ahfi being carried up to the end of the season1 #ahgj up to the date ,i wrote the first edition of this ,essay4 ,in the table it will be observed there is a great difference between the two years4 ,the section for which the dates are given was planted from seed beds in the month of ,june1 #ahff4 ,in #ahfi it was therefore only three years old4 ,this will partly account for the first flush occurring a month earlier in #ahgj1 as it was then a year older2 but fortunate early rains in #ahgj had also much to do with it4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------- #ahfi ,interval #ahgj ,interval ,flushes ------------- in days ------------- in days ,dates ,dates ---------------------------------------- ----------------- #a ,march #bb 44 ,february #bb 44 #b ,may #f #dd ,march #cj #ce #c #bi #bc ,april #ac #aj #d ,june #aa #ab #be #ab #e #bc #ab ,may #e #i #f ,july #e #aa #ad #i #g #ag #ab #be #aa #h #ca #ad ,june #d #i #i ,august #aj #i #ab #h #aj #ba #aa #bb #aj #aa ,sept4 #b #aa ,july #a #h #ab #ab #aj #h #g #ac #be #ac #af #h #ad ,october #i #ac #be #i #ae #bb #ac ,august #b #g #af ,nov4 #b #aj #aa #i #ag #aa #i #ba #aj #ah #ai #h #bi #h #ai ,dec4 #d #ad ,sept #g #h #bj 44 44 #ah #aa #ba 44 44 #bg #i #bb 44 44 ,october #e #g ---------------------------------------- ----------------- ,average intervals ,nearly #ad ,very little between ,flushes4 days4 44 over #aj days4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------ ,in #ahfi there was no flush between ,march #bbnd and ,may #fth1 a period of #dd days2 and in #ahgj1 none between ,february #bbnd and ,march #cjth1 a period of #ce days1 a very long time in both cases1 which is entirely accounted for by the dry weather prevailing at ,chittagong in the spring 7see under head of ,climate71 for in ,cachar1 ,assam1 and the ,western ,dooars two or three flushes would have occurred in that time4 ,there were #ai flushes in all in #ahfi1 and #bb in #ahgj1 up to the time ,i wrote1 so there were probably in all #bg in the latter year4 ,in the table ,i give the intervals between each flush4 ,it shows an average of #ad days in #ahfi to #aj days in #ahgj2 the difference is due to the increased age of the plants1 and the liberal manuring given in the cold weather #ahfi-gj4 ,such a result as is shown for #ahgj1 and the probable result of #bg flushes to the end of that season1 could not be obtained without high cultivation and liberal manuring4 ,the land in question had been manured every year since it was planted1 but an extra dose was given in the cold weather of #ahfi-gj4 ,the ground was therefore very rich4 ,i think1 therefore1 #be flushes in the season may be looked for on gardens in good ,tea climates1 when high cultivation and liberal manuring are resorted to4 ,where manure cannot be obtained1 ,i think1 even if in other respects the land is highly cultivated1 more than #bb flushes will not be obtained4 ,where neither manure nor high cultivation is given1 above #ah flushes will not be got4 ,it seems to be a general idea with planters 7see diagram1 page #ajd7 that when a flush is picked the succeeding flush1 at an interval of say seven to ten days1 consists of shoots from the axis of the leaf down to which the previous flush was picked4 ,thus in the diagram1 supposing the shoot to be picked down to the black line above #b1 the idea is the next flush will be a shoot springing from the same place1 viz41 the axis of leaf d4 ,but it is not so4 ,in the above case it will take a whole month1 after the said shoot has been picked1 before the new shoot from the base of the leaf d is ready to take1 probably six weeks in ,himalayan gardens4 ',tis true the flushes in favourable ,tea climates follow at about seven to ten days from each other1 but these are other shoots4 ,the replacement of the actual shoot taken is a whole month in developing4 ,i have carefully watched this1 and am sure ,i am right4 ,with similar treatment1 gardens in ,cachar1 ,assam1 and the ,western ,dooars would probably give two or three more flushes in the season than ,chittagong1 because there the spring rains are much more abundant2 and ,i am very certain that1 if the day ever comes that manure in large quantities is procurable in those districts and is applied1 the yield on those gardens will be very large4#cc ,the difference between very small and very large profits is represented by #ah and #be flushes1 so ,i strongly advise all planters to cultivate highly1 and to get all the manure they possibly can4 ,if even procured at a high figure1 it 7the manure7 will pay hand over hand4 ,,footnote3 #cc ,where new gardens are made on rich virgin soil1 to manure them at all for the first few years is1 ,i think1 unnecessary4 ,but the richest soils on ,tea gardens get exhausted in time1 and manure should be applied before this point is arrived at4 ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,,leaf ,,picking4 ,the first consideration is how to get the largest quantity of leaf without injuring the trees4 ,to a certain extent1 it is true that the more a ,tea bush is pruned and picked the more it will yield4 ,it appears as if ,nature were always trying to repair the violence done to the tree by giving new mouths or leaves to breathe with in place of those taken away4 ,i may exemplify my meaning in another way4 ,a ,tea bush which has as many leaves on it as it requires will throw out tardily new shoots1 and their number will be small4 ,in other words1 a plant which is not pruned1 and from which the young leaves are not taken1 grows gradually large and bushy1 and then gives up flushing altogether4 ,it has all the leaves it requires1 and it has no necessity to throw out more4 ,if1 however1 ,nature is too much tried1 that is1 if too much violence is done to her1 she sulks and will exert herself no more4 ,up to this point1 therefore1 it is well to urge her4 ,how can we know when we have reached it8 ,only general rules can be laid down4 ,experience is the great desideratum on this and many other subjects connected with ,tea4#cd ,if the plant can always be kept in such a state that the foliage1 without being very much so1 is still less than ,nature requires1 ,i conceive the object will be attained4 ,the greatest violence is done to the plant when it is pruned1 and reason would seem to argue that when this violence is repairing1 that is1 when the first shoots in the spring show themselves1 and until new mouths 7or leaves7 in sufficient quantities exist1 until then but little leaf should be picked4 ,fortunately1 moreover1 while in the interests of the plant this is the best plan1 it also is the mode by which the largest yield of leaf will be secured in the season4 ,i go to show this4 ,the ordinary size of a good full-grown ,tea plant1 at the end of the season1 is1 say1 #c-a_/b or #d feet high1 and #e feet diameter4 ,it is pruned down1 say1 to a height of #b feet1 with a diameter of #c feet4 ,it is then little more than wooden stems and branches1 and to anyone ignorant of the modus operandi in ,tea gardens1 it would appear as if a plantation so pruned has been ruined4 ,the tree remains so during all its hybernating period1 that is1 during the time it is resting and the sap is down 7this period is longer or shorter1 as the climate is a warm or cold one1 and it is always during the coldest season71 but on the return of spring new shoots start out from the woody stems and branches in the following way3--,at the axis or base of each leaf is a bud1 the germ of future branches1 these develop little by little1 until a new shoot is formed of1 say1 five or six leaves1 with a closed bud at top4 ,then if it be not picked the said bud at top hardens4 ,at the axis or base of each of the said five or six leaves are other buds1 and the next step is for one1 two1 or three of these to develop in the same way and form new shoots4 ,the original shoot grows thicker and higher until it becomes a wooden branch or stem4 ,the same process1 in their turn1 is repeated with the new shoots4 ,a diagram 7see next page7 will make my meaning clear4 ,we here have a shoot fully developed1 of six leaves1 counting the close leaf a at top as one1 viz41 the leaves a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f4 ,the shoot has started and developed from what was originally a bud at ,k1 at the axis or base of the leaf ,h4 ,in the same way as formerly at ,k a bud existed1 which has now formed the complete shoot or flush ,k a1 so at the base of the leaves c1 d1 e1 f1 exist buds #a1 #b1 #c1 #d1 from which later new shoots would spring4 ,these again would all have buds at the base of the leaves1 destined to form further shoots1 which again would be the parents of others1 and so on to the end of the season1 or until the tree is pruned4 ,illustration ,it will readily be seen the increase is tremendous4 ,it is only limited by the power of the soil to fling out new shoots1 and the necessities of the plant1 for1 as ,i have explained1 when as much foliage exists as the plant requires1 but few new shoots are produced4 ,now supposing the shoot in the diagram to be 7with perhaps another not shown at ,l7 the first on the branch ,i ,i in the spring 7the said branch having been cut off or pruned at the upper ,i74 ,it is then evident the said shoot is destined to be the parent and producer of all the very numerous branches and innumerable shoots into which the plant will extend in that direction4 ,it is1 in other words1 the goose which will lay all the future eggs4 ,if1 eager to begin ,tea making early1 the planter nips it off1 the extension on that part of the tree is thrown back many weeks4 ,it may be taken off at #a1 #b1 or #c 7the back lines drawn show the proper way to pick leaf72 the least damage will be done if it is taken off at #a1 the most at #c4 ,the said shoot ,k a is the first effort of ,nature to repair the violence done to the tree by pruning4 ,it is the germ of many other branches and shoots1 and it ought never to be taken4 ,i have1 ,i hope1 made so much plain4 ,there is1 however1 another consideration4 ,any shoot1 left to fully develop and harden1 does not throw out new shoots from the existing buds #a1 #b1 #c1 #d so quickly as one checked in its upward growth by nipping off its head4 ,for instance1 supposing the shoot under consideration not to be the first of the season1 but on the contrary to be a shoot when the plant has developed sufficiently to make picking safe1 if taken off at #b1 then the new growth from #b1 #c1 #d will be much quicker than it would be had the whole shoot been left intact4 ,our object then with first shoots should be to secure this advantage without destroying any buds1 and this we can do by taking off simply the closed leaf at the top a4 ,this must be done so as not to injure the bud at the base of the second leaf b 7,i have not numbered it1 for there is no room in the diagram to do so71 and we shall thus leave all the buds on the shoot intact4 ,again here the interests of the plant1 and profit to the planter1 go hand in hand4 ,the closed bud a in this case will be found very valuable4 ,i go to show this4 ,the value of ,tea is increased when it shows 8,pekoe tips40 ,only the leaves a b make these4 ,they are covered with a fine silky whitish down1 and1 if manufactured in a particular way1 make literally white or very pale yellow ,tea1#ce which1 mixed with ordinary black ,tea1 show as 8,pekoe tips40 ,in ordinary leaf-picking these two leaves are taken with all the others1 but unfortunately1 when manufactured with them1 they lose this white or pale yellow colour1 and come out as black as all the other ,tea4 ,as the season goes on1 this is less and less the case1 till towards the end nearly all the a b leaves show orange-coloured in the manufactured ,tea4 ,still they are not white 7the best colour7 as they can be made when treated separately4 ,no means have yet been devised to separate them before manufacture from the other leaf1 and though sometimes picked separate1 the plan has serious objections 7see next page74 ,in the case1 however1 of the first two or three flushes the welfare of the plants demands that no more should be taken1 and though the quantity obtained will be small1 it will1 if carefully manufactured so as to make 8white ,pekoe tips10 add one or two annas a lb4 to the value1 when mixed with it1 of one hundred times its own weight of black ,tea6 ,more will be found under this head in the ,tea manufacturing part4 ,i now beg the question that the said downy leaves taken alone are very valuable4 ,in detailing the mode of picking ,i advocate1 it would be tedious to go minutely into the reasons for each and everything4 ,i have said enough to explain a good deal1 but will add anything of importance4 ,of the latter are the following4 ,tea can be made of the young succulent leaves only4 ,the younger and more succulent the leaf the better ,tea it makes4 ,thus a will make more valuable ,tea than b1 b than c1 and so on2 e is the lowest leaf to make ,tea from1 for though a very coarse kind can be made from f1 it does not pay to take it4 ,the stalk also makes good ,tea1 as far as it is really succulent1 that is1 down to the black line just above #b4 ,the leaves are named as follows from the ,teas it is supposed they would make3-- a4--,flowery ,pekoe4 b4--,orange ,pekoe4 c4--,pekoe4 d4--,souchong1 #ast4 e4-- #bnd4 f4--,congou4 a1 b1 c--,pekoe4 ,mixed together a1 b1 c1 d1 e--,pekoe ,souchong4 ,if there be another leaf below f1 and it be taken1 it is named1 and would make ,bohea4 ,each of these leaves was at first a flowery ,pekoe leaf 7a71 it then became b1 then c1 and so on4 ,that is to say1 as the shoot developed1 and a new flowery ,pekoe leaf was born1 each of the leaves below assumed the next lowest grade4 ,could the leaves fit to make each kind of ,tea it is proposed to make be picked and kept separate1 and each be manufactured in the way most suitable to its age1 and the ,tea to be produced1 the very best of every kind could easily be manufactured4 ,but this cannot be2 the price of ,tea will not allow it1 and the labour to do it would moreover fail4 ,it has been attempted again and again to do it1 partly to the extent of taking the ,pekoe leaves a1 b1 c separate from the others 7for the manufacture best suited to these upper leaves is not suited to the lower71 but it has been as often abandoned1 and ,i doubt if it is now practised anywhere4 ,i am sure it will never pay to do it4 ,picking leaf is a coarse operation4 ,it is performed by #hj or #ajj women and children together1 and it is impossible to follow each1 and see it is done the best way4 ,they must be taught1 checked1 and punished if they do wrong1 and then it will be done more or less right2 but perfection is not attainable4 ,i advise the following plan in picking4 ,please refer to the diagram3-- ,if the garden has been severely pruned 7as it ought to be7 take only the bud a for two flushes2 then for two more nip the stalk above #a1 taking the upper part of leaf c1 as shown 7done with one motion of the fingers74 ,but from the fifth flush take off the shoot at the line above #b1 and by a separate motion of the fingers take off the part of leaf e where the black line is drawn4 ,by this plan1 when the rains begin1 the trees will show a large picking surface1 for plenty of buds will have been preserved for new growth4 ,after the month of ,august you may pick lower if you like1 as you cannot hurt the trees4 ,for instance1 you may nip the stalk and upper part of leaf e together1 and separately the upper part of f4 ,the principle of picking is to leave the bud at the axis of the leaf down to which you pick intact4 ,some planters pick all through the season at the line above #a1 and take the d and perhaps the e leaf separately4 ,i do not like the plan1 for though it will make strong ,teas1 the yield will be small4 ,moreover1 the plants will form so much foliage2 they will not flush well2 and again1 they will grow so high that boys who pick will not readily reach the top4 ,shortly1 the principle ,i advocate is to prune severely1 so that the plant in self-defence must throw out many new shoots2 to be sparing and tender with these until the violence done to the tree is in a measure1 but not quite1 repaired2 then1 till ,september1 to pick so much that the wants of the plant in foliage are never quite attained2 and after ,september to take all you can get4 ,i believe this principle 7for the detailed directions given may be varied1 as for instance when trees have not been heavily pruned7 will give the largest yield of leaf1 and will certainly not injure the plants4 ,,footnotes3 #cd ,see foot-note1 page #hf1 which shows that for #ah months after transplanting1 young bushes should not be pruned or picked at all4 #ce ,i mean manufactured ,tea4 ,the infusion is called liquor4 ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,,manufacture4 ,,mechanical ,,contrivances4 ,to manufacture your leaf into good ,tea is certainly one of the first conditions for success4 ,it will avail little to have a good productive garden if you make inferior ,tea4 ,the difference of price between well and ill-manufactured ,tea is great1 say #d as4 or #f;d4 a lb41 and this alone will1 during a season1 represent a large profit or none4 ,fortunately for ,tea enterprise1 the more manufacture is studied the more does it appear that to make good ,tea is a very simple process4 ,the many operations or processes formerly considered necessary are now much reduced on all gardens4 ,as there was then1 that is formerly1 so there is now1 no one routine recognized by all1 or even by the majority2 still simplicity in manufacture is more and more making its way everywhere2 and as the real fact is that to make the best ,tea1 but very few1 and very simple1 processes are necessary1 it is only a question of time ere the fact shall be universally recognised and followed out4 ,for instance1 panning the 8roll0#cf was formerly universally practised4 ,some panned once1 some twice1 some even three times6 ,but1 to-day1 pans are not used in most gardens at all66 ,other processes1 or rather in most cases the repetition of them1 have been also either discarded or abridged4 ,but a short statement of manufacture in old days1 and the simplest mode of manufacture1 will best illustrate my meaning3-- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------- ,one and a common old plan ,one plan to-day by which the best ,tea can be made ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ,number ,number ,days of ,detail ,days of ,detail operations operations ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------- #ast #a ,withering4 #ast #a ,withering4 #b #ast ,rolling4 #b ,rolling4 #c #bnd #bnd #c ,fermenting4 #d ,fermenting4 #d ,sunning 7if sun74 #e #ast ,panning4 #e ,firing 7,dholing74 #bnd #f #crd ,rolling4 #g #bnd ,panning4 #h #dth ,rolling #i ,sunning4 #aj #ast ,firing 7,dholing74 #aa ,cooling and crisping4 #crd #ab #bnd ,firing 7,dholing74 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------- #c #ab ,total days and #b #e ,total days and operations4 operations4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ,so much for simplicity1 and ,i affirm that no more than the five operations detailed are necessary4 ,i shall try to show this further on4 ,in studying ,tea manufacture ,i first tried1 in order to get reliable data to go on1 to ascertain the effect of each and every operation1 and not only that1 but the effect on the made ,tea of each operation exaggerated and diminished4 ,it would be tedious1 and of no use1 to set out in detail all the experiments ,i conducted1 the results only ,i will try to give4 ,i began at the beginning4 ,why wither at all8 ,i made ,tea 7following out in each case all the other processes detailed in the old plan7 of #ast1 totally unwithered leaves2 #bnd1 of leaves but little withered2 #crd1 of leaves medium-withered2 and #dth1 of leaves over-withered4 ,i arrived at the following results3--,unwithered or under-withered leaves break in the rolling and give out large quantities of a light green coloured juice during the same process4 ,the ,tea is much broken and of a reddish grey colour4 ,the liquor is very pale in colour1 cloudy1 weak1 soft1 and tasteless4 ,over-withered leaf on the other hand takes a good twist in the rolling1 gives out but little juice1 which is of a thick kind1 and of reddish yellow colour4 ,the tea is well twisted1 8chubby0 in appearance1 and blacker than ordinary4 ,the liquor of an ordinary depth of colour1 clear1 with a mawkish taste4 ,the medium-withered leaves make good ,tea1 but ,i found the withering should be rather in excess of what is generally done to ensure strength4 ,i will show later to what extent ,i think leaf should be withered4 ,the next point was rolling4 ,i knew some planters rolled the leaf hard1 others lightly4 ,that is1 some rolled with force till much juice was expressed1 others with a light hand1 allowing little or no juice to be pressed out4 ,which was the better8 ,after many experiments ,i arrived at the following3--,hard rolling gives darker coloured and stronger liquor than light rolling4 ,hard rolling destroys ,pekoe tips1#cg inasmuch as the juice expressed stains them black4 ,light rolled ,tea has therefore many more ,pekoe tips than hard rolled4 ,hard rolled ,tea is somewhat blacker than light rolled4 ,in all1 therefore1 but the point of ,pekoe tips hard rolling is better4 ,the next question was1 what is the advantage of repeated rolling8 ,i rolled twice1 panning once between1 vide old plan1 and found the ,tea as well made and as strong as that rolled three or four times4 ,i then decided to roll no more than twice4 ,the second time was1 ,i then thought1 necessary1 as ,i found the leaf of the roll opened in the pan1 and a second rolling was requisite to twist it again4 ,but what did panning do8 ,i heard pans had been discontinued in some gardens4 ,in what way was panning an advantage8 ,i made ,tea1 fermenting it between the two rollings1 but not panning it1 and it was equally good4 ,i tried again and again1 but never could detect that panning caused any difference to either the ,tea1 the liquor1 or the out-turn4#ch ,in short1 though ,i never found panning did any harm1 ,i equally found it never did any good4 ,its use is1 in fact1 simply barren of all results4 ,i therefore dispensed with it4 ,having done so1 why roll the second time at all8 ,i experimented1 and found the second rolling as barren of results as the panning4 ,i had now got rid of operations #c1 #e1 #f1 #g1 and #h in the old plan4 ,the next was ,no4 #i--8sunning40 ,i made ,tea with and without it1 and found as follows3-- ,sunning between the fermenting and firing processes has no effect whatever on the liquor or the out-turn1 but it makes the ,tea rather blacker1 and as it drives off much of the moisture in the roll1 the firing process after it is shorter and does not consume so much charcoal4 ,what little effect therefore it has is good 7for if not continued too long1 it does not make the ,tea too black7 and it is economical4 ,i therefore decided on retaining it4#ci ,next came the operations #aj1 #aa1 and #ab1 viz41 8first firing1 cooling and crisping1 and second firing40 ,where these are done 7and they are done in some gardens now7 the usual thing is to half-fire the roll the same afternoon and evening it is made1 then allow it to 8cool and crisp0 all night1 and finish the firing next day4 ,i tried this plan1 and also the plan ,i have now adopted1 of doing the whole firing at one time the same evening4 ,i tried the experiment again and again1 and always found the ,tea1 the liquor1 and the out-turn were the same in both cases4 ,in short1 that the three operations did no more and no less than the one4 ,as the three entail extra labour and extra expense in charcoal ,i abandoned them4 ,i thus reduced the twelve operations detailed to five1 and naturally by so doing much decreased the cost of manufacturing ,tea4 ,i in no way lay claim to having devised this simplicity myself4 ,part had been done by others before ,i even turned my attention to it1 and ,i have done no more than help with many to make the manufacture of ,tea a simple process4 ,i was now convinced that 7though ,i had still much to learn regarding the said five processes7 success was comprised therein1 and that to multiply them could not avail4 ,the next consideration is--,what are the qualities desired in ,tea to enable it to command a good price at the public auctions either in ,calcutta or ,london8 ,the brokers in these cases judge of the ,tea first1 value it1 and give their report and valuation to intending purchasers and sellers4 ,from what appearances and qualities do they judge8 ,they judge from three things1 first1 the ,tea2 secondly1 the liquor2 thirdly1 the out-turn4 ,the ,tea4--,the colour should be black1 but not a dead black1 rather a greyish black with a gloss on it4 ,no red leaf should be mixed with it1 it should be all one colour4 ,the ,tea should be regular3 that is1 each leaf should be about the same length1 and should have a uniform close twist1 in all but 8broken ,teas40 7,these latter are called 8broken0 because the leaf is more or less open and broken47 ,the ,tea should also be regular of its kind1 that is1 if ,pekoe all ,pekoe1 if ,congou all ,congou2 for any stray leaves in a ,tea of another kind1 if even of a better kind or class1 will reduce its value4 ,in the higher class of ,teas1 viz41 ,pekoes and broken ,pekoes1 the more ,pekoe tips that are present the higher1 in consequence1 will its price be4 ,the ,liquor4--,in taste this should be strong1 rasping1 and pungent1 with1 in the case of ,pekoes1 a 8,pekoe flavour40 ,there are other words used in the trade to particularise certain tastes1 but the words themselves would teach nothing4 ,tea tasting cannot be learnt from books4 ,if the liquor is well flavoured1 as a rule1 the darker it is in the cup the better4 ,but to judge of ,teas by the colour of the liquor alone is impossible1 for some high-class ,teas have naturally a very pale liquor4 ,the ,out-turn4--,a good out-turn is generally indicative of a good ,tea4 ,it should be all1 or nearly all1 one colour4 ,no black 7burnt7 leaves should appear in it4 ,a greenish tinge in some of the leaves is not objectionable1 and is generally indicative of pungent liquor1 but the prevailing colour should be that of a bright new penny4 ,every planter should be more or less of a ,tea-taster1 and should taste his ,teas daily4 ,after a time 7particularly if he gets other ,teas to taste against his own7 he will learn to recognise1 at all events1 a good as against a bad ,tea1 a strong as against a weak ,tea1 c4 ,no ,tea should be put away with the rest until it has been tasted4 ,it may be burnt or have other defects1 not apparent till infused1 and one day's bad ,tea will bring down considerably the value of a whole bin of good ,tea4 ,the fancy1 amongst brokers and dealers1 for 8,pekoe tips10 in all ,pekoe ,teas1 constitutes the one great difficulty in ,tea manufacture4 ,if the leaves which give 8,pekoe tips0 7see page #ajf7 are separated from the other leaves1 and manufactured separately and differently1 that is rolled very little and very lightly1 not allowed to ferment at all1 but sunned at once after rolling1 and1 if there is sun enough1 finished in the sun1 otherwise by a very light and gradual heat--best placed above the drawers in the ,dhole-house2 if this is done1 ,i say1 these will come out perfect 8,pekoe tips0 of a white colour1 which is the best4 ,if not separated from the other leaf1 but manufactured with it1 the sap from the other leaves1 expressed in the rolling1 stains these said leaves1 which are covered with a fine white silk down1 and makes them black like all the rest of the ,tea2 the whole of which is then valued lower because there are no 8,pekoe tips40 ,now1 in the latter case the 8,pekoe tips0 are there all the same1 only they don't show4 ,the ,tea is really just as good1 in fact a shade better1 with black than with white or orange tips1#dj but it does not sell so well1 and as we cannot argue the brokers or dealers into a rational view of the case1 we must humour their fancy 7they are virtually our masters7 and give them the ,pekoe tips--if we can4 ,how are we to do it8 ,the plan of picking these small leaves separately1 in order to manufacture them separately1 does not answer2 it is too expensive2 it diminishes the yield of a garden1 and labour for it fails4 ,all this is shown at pages #ajg and #acj4 ,is there any other way8 ,it may be done during some periods of the season when there is not leaf enough on the garden to employ all the leaf-pickers1 by setting a number of them to separate the said two leaves from the others after the whole leaf is brought to the factory4 ,this is expensive1 but it pays when there is labour to do it1 for then the ,teas can be made very showy and rich with white ,pekoe tips4 ,an ingenious planter1 a ,mr4 ,mc,meekin1 in ,cachar1 invented a rolling table with the object of separating the said leaves4 ,it is constructed of battens1 and while rolling the leaf on it1 many of the small leaves fall through4 ,the said table is now well known in ,cachar1 and is in use in several gardens4 ,i have tried it and find that it in a great measure answers its object1 but the objection to it is that the leaf must be rolled lightly1 and lightly-rolled leaf1 as observed1 does not make strong ,tea4 ,the ,pekoe tips may be1 in a great measure1 preserved by rolling all the leaf lightly on a common table4 ,but then again the ,tea is weak1 and the plan will not give so many ,pekoe tips as ,mc,meekin's table4 ,in short1 in the present state of our knowledge1 except by the hand process 7a tedious and expensive one for separating the leaf71 strong ,teas and ,pekoe tips are incompatible4 ,the difficulty is just where it was1 and will so remain until dealers give up asking for ,pekoe tips 7not a likely thing71 or till a machine is invented to separate quickly and cheaply the two said small leaves from the others after they have been all picked together4 ,that such a machine is possible ,i am certain1 and the inventor would confer a boon on the ,tea interest far beyond the inventor of any other machine1 for all the other processes can be done by hand without much expense1 this cannot4 ,i may here notice such machines and contrivances as exist for cheapening the manufacture of ,tea1 or rather such as ,i know of4 ,rolling-machines have for their object the doing away with hand labour entirely for rolling the leaf4 ,kinmond's rolling-machine is first on the list1 for it is the best yet invented4#da ,kinmond's consists of two circular wooden discs1 the upper one moving on the lower1 which is stationary1 with an eccentric motion4 ,the adjacent faces of the said discs are made rough by steps in the wood1 cut in lines diverging from the centre to the circumference1 and over these rough faces is nailed coarse canvas4 ,the leaf is placed between the discs and rolled by the motion described4 ,the lower disc is arranged by means of weights running over pulleys1 so that it shall press against the upper with any force desired4 ,the motive power1 as designed by the inventor1 is either manual1 animal1 or steam4 ,mr4 ,kinmond showed me this machine1 just after he had invented it1 at the ,assam ,company's ,plantations in ,assam1 and ,i have since seen it working by manual and steam power4 ,with the former it is quite useless1 for by no arrangement can sufficient or regular force enough be applied4 ,with the latter it does very well1 and on a large garden which will render the outlay for the machine and engine justifiable 7the former is1 for such a simple machine1 very expensive71 it may probably eventually prove an economy4 ,not having seen it under animal power1 ,i can give no positive opinion as to how it would answer1 but ,i see no reason why it should not do well4 ,i believe wind or water power might1 on suitable sites1 be easily applied to it1 and they would certainly be the cheapest of any4 ,another rolling-machine was invented by a ,mr4 ,gibbon1 and a good deal used in ,cachar4 ,i have never seen it4 ,kinmond's is1 ,i believe1 the best rolling-machine yet invented 7though it is fair to state ,i know no other except by report71 but ,i do not believe in any ,tea rolling-machine superseding entirely the necessity of hand-rolling4#db ,a rolling-machine may be1 and is1 very useful to roll the leaves partly1 that is1 to break the cells1 and bring the leaf into that soft mashy state that very little hand labour will finish it4 ,no rolling-machine yet invented can1 ,i think1 do more than this1 and it is1 ,i think1 doubtful if any will ever be invented that will do more4 ,machines do not give the nice final twist which is obtained by the hand4 ,i was told lately that most of the gardens in ,cachar that had machines had dropped them and gone back to hand-rolling4 ,i cannot help thinking this is a mistake4 ,they should use both1 the hand-rolling for the final part alone4 ,very few rolling-men would then suffice1 with the aid of the machine1 to manufacture a large quantity of leaf4 ,i only know of one other ,tea rolling-machine1 which is ,nelson's4 ,it does not profess to do more than prepare the green leaf for rolling1 which1 as stated above1 is1 ,i think1 all that any machine will ever do4 ,i have never seen it working1 but it appears simple1 being nothing more than a mangle4 ,the leaf is placed in bags1 and then compressed under rollers attached to a box1 weighted with stones4 ,the prospectus states1 it will prepare #hj lbs4 green leaf in fifteen minutes1 and that one man can then finish as much of such prepared leaf in three minutes as would occupy him twelve minutes if the same had not been prepared4 ,i see nothing unlikely in this4 ,the machine1 though inferior to ,kinmond's in its arrangement1 ought to be cheap enough to bring it within the reach of all4#dc ,i have already spoken of one of ,mc,meekin's inventions4 ,his chest-of-drawers for firing ,tea is1 ,i think1 superior to his batten table4 ,it is now so well known1 and in such general use1 that ,i shall describe it very shortly4 ,it is nothing more than a low chest-of-drawers1 or trays fitted in a frame one above the other1 the bottom of each tray being fine iron wire1 so that the heat of the charcoal1 in the masonry receptacle over which it is placed1 ascends through all the drawers and thus dries or fires a large quantity of 8roll0 at the same time4 ,by the old plan1 a single wicker sieve was inserted inside a bamboo frame called a 8dhole10 which was placed over a charcoal fire made in a hole in the ground4 ,on the sieve the roll was placed1 and all the heat1 after passing through this one sieve1 was wasted4 ,mr4 ,mc,meekin's idea was to economise this heat by passing it through several drawers4 ,most planters use these drawers1 and there is no doubt in the space saved1 and the economy of heat3 it is a great step in advance over the old barbarous method1 where not only was the heat wasted after passing through one sieve1 but a great deal was lost through the basket work of the 8dhole0 itself4 ,still ,i do not advocate four1 still less five drawers one above the other4 ,i think the steam ascending from the lower drawers must1 more or less1 injure the roll in the upper ones4 ,i confine myself to two1 and even then in the top tray leave a small circular space vacant by which the steam from the lower drawer can escape4 ,i utilize the heat that escapes1 partially1 by placing 8dhallas0 in tiers above1 with roll in them4 ,these are supported by iron rods let into the wall1 and are useful not only for partly drying the roll1 but also for withering leaf when there is no sun4 ,some planters have proposed to do away with charcoal altogether under ,mc,meekin's drawers1 supplying its place by hot air4 ,the first point in considering this invention is the question whether the fumes of charcoal1 as some assert1 are necessary to make good ,tea4 ,if they are not necessary 7that is1 if they produce no chemical effect on the ,tea1 and therefore heat from wood devoid of smoke would do as well7 there can be no doubt such heat would be cheaper1 and more under command1 by this or some other plan4 ,are then the fumes of charcoal necessary8 ,i do not know that anyone can answer the query4 ,i certainly cannot1 for ,i have never made ,tea with any other agent than charcoal1 and ,i have never met with more than one planter who had4 ,he said the ,tea was not good4 ,still it would1 ,i think1 require very careful and prolonged experiments to establish the fact either way4 ,speaking theoretically1 as it appears1 the only effect of charcoal is to drive all the moisture out of the roll and thus make it ,tea1 ,i cannot but believe other heat would do as well4 ,it is1 however1 a question that only experience can solve4#dd ,i have now 7four years since the above was written1 and at the time ,i am preparing the second edition of this essay7 been for some time employed on experiments with a view to settle the above question4 ,whether ,i shall be able to devise a simple apparatus to effect the manufacture of ,tea without charcoal is doubtful1 but ,i can1 ,i think1 now safely affirm that the fumes of charcoal are not necessary to make ,tea4 ,on this point ,i am myself quite satisfied4 ,the advantages of making ,tea with any fuel 7wood1 coal1 or anything else7 would be numerous3-- #a4--;,economy4 #b4--;,absence of charcoal fumes4 #c4--,less chance of fire in ,tea ,houses4 #d4--,probably reduced temperature in ,factories4 #e4--;,great saving of labour4 #f4--,saving of fuel--for it takes much wood to make a given weight of charcoal4 ,in addition to all the above1 the wholesale destruction of forests that now takes place in all ,tea ,districts1 in order to supply the charcoal for ,tea1 would be much lessened4#de ,i have seen a machine advertised for packing ,tea1 that is to say1 for so pressing it down that a large quantity shall go into a chest4 ,i have never seen the machine1 and so cannot say how it works1 but ,i do not think such a machine at all necessary4 ,by the mode of packing1 described at page #aej1 as much ,tea as a chest will hold with safety can be put into it4 ,if more were forced in1 the chest would probably come to pieces in transit4 ,i see a sifting machine is now being advertised--8,jackson's sifting machine40 ,i have seen drawings of it1 but not the machine itself4 ,in the one respect1 that it is much larger than anything used hitherto1 it is more likely to succeed4 ,there is a machine for sifting and fanning ,tea at one and the same time4 ,i know not who invented it4 ,it is a simple winnowing machine with sieves placed in front of the fan4 ,by means of a rod and crank attached to the axle of the revolving fan the sieves are made to shake from side to side when the fanners are turned4 ,the ,tea is put into the upper sieve1 a coarse one1 and passing successively through finer ones1 is thus sorted into different ,teas4 ,the open leaf at the same time is blown out by the fan4 ,i purchased one1 but ,i do not find it does the work well4 ,sifting ,tea is a nice process1 and ,i did not find it sorted the ,teas with any nicety4 ,i have taken out the sieves1 and use it now only for fanning1 which it does very well1 though no better than an apparatus which could be constructed at one-third the cost4 ,i do not believe in any present or future machine for sifting ,tea1 inasmuch as it is an operation which1 to be well done1 has to be continually varied4 ,more will be said on this head further on4 ,i have now detailed shortly all the ,tea machines or contrivances ,i know1 or have heard of1 and ,i think there is plenty of room yet for inventors4#df ,the machine1 as before observed1 most to be desired is one to separate the small ,pekoe leaves from the others1 ere the rolling of the leaf is commenced4 ,if such a machine existed1 it would much increase the value of all ,indian ,teas1 and if the ,agricultural and ,horticultural ,society are inclined to offer a prize for any machine1 it should be this4 ,at the point where the separation should take place1 the stalk is much tenderer than elsewhere1 and this led me to think a blow or concussion on the mass of green leaf might effect the object4 ,i attached a bow by the centre to an immovable board1 placed at right angles to the plane of a table 7like the back of a dressing table71 and then1 causing leaf to drop from above1 subjected it to sharp strokes from the string of the bow4 ,it effected the object partially1 for many ,pekoe ends were detached1 but it bruised and cut the other leaf too much also4 ,i believe a revolving barrel1 with blunt but thin narrow iron plates inside1 which would strike the leaf placed within1 as the barrel was turned1 would perhaps answer4 ,i give the above idea for what it is worth1 for any inventive genius to improve on4 ,as it is impossible1 as far as ,i can see1 to construct any machine which should cut the stalk only in the right place1 ergo1 ,i believe some arrangement which would take advantage of the fact1 that the stalk is tenderer there than elsewhere1 is the only one that could answer4 ,now to return to the manufacture of ,tea4 ,i will consider each of the five operations detailed1 which ,i believe are all that are necessary to make good ,tea1 separately4 ,withering4--,there are several tests to show when leaf is withered4 ,fresh leaf squeezed in the hand1 held near the ear1 crackles1 but no sound should be heard from withered leaf4 ,again1 fresh leaf1 pressed together in the palm of the hand1 when released1 springs back to nearly its original bulk1 but withered leaf1 in like circumstances1 retains the shape into which it has been pressed4 ,the stalk of withered leaf will bend double without breaking1 but fresh leaf stalks1 if bent very little1 break4 ,practice1 though1 soon gives a test superior to all these1 viz41 the feel of the leaf4 ,properly withered leaves are like old rags to lay hold of1 and no further test1 after a time1 than the feel of the leaf is necessary4 ,the agents for withering leaf are sun1 light1 heat1 and air4 ,of these the most powerful is sun1 for it combines all the others with it4 ,light is a powerful agent1 for if some leaf be placed in a partially dark room1 and some in a well-lighted verandah1 the latter will wither in half the time the former will take4 ,if light and moderate ventilation be present1 heat is a rapid accessory to rapid withering4 ,there is often great difficulty in withering leaf in the rain4 ,it can be withered in ,tea pans1 but 8the out-turn0 is then more or less injured1 for after infusion the out-turn comes out green instead of the proper 8new penny0 colour4 ,withering in dholes is also objectionable for the same reason1 though if the heat is moderate the green effect is less4 ,it is further a long and tedious operation4 ,space and light are the great wants for withering leaf in wet weather4 ,bamboo mechans1 tier above tier1 should be constructed in every available space4 ,large frames1 covered with wire mesh1 may also be made 7by means of weights running over pulleys7 to run up to the roof of any ,tea building4 ,the leaf withers well in such frames1 for heat ascends1 and much heat is given out by dholes4 ,it signifies not though where leaf is spread as long as there is space and light4 ,houses made of iron and glass would be far the best for withering leaf1 for1 if well ventilated1 all the necessary agents for withering1 detailed in the last page1 would be present4 ,i do not doubt the day will come when these will be used1 for properly withered leaf is a necessity for good ,tea4#dg ,in dry weather1 when leaf comes in from the garden1 spread it thinly anywhere and turn it once early in the night4 ,it will generally be withered and ready to roll next morning4 ,if not quite ready1 then put it outside in the sun4 ,half an hour's sunning will probably finish it4 ,in wet weather1 if there is any sun when it comes in1 or any time that day1 take advantage of the sun to wither the leaf partly1 so much that1 with the after withering all night under cover1 it will be ready next morning4 ,if not ready next morning1 put it out in the sun1 if there is any1 till it is ready4 ,in very wet and cloudy weather1 when there is no sun and continual rain1 so that the leaf cannot be put outside 7for remember that outside1 when there is no sun1 the light alone will wither it71 artificial withering of some kind must be resorted to4 ,i have mentioned the only means ,i know of for doing this4 ,as properly withered leaf is an important point in making good ,tea1 it is well worth while to keep one or two men1 according to the quantity of leaf1 for that work alone4 ,they soon learn the best way to do it1 and if made answerable the leaf is properly ready for the rollers1 the object is generally attained4 ,in this and every thing else in ,tea manufacture1 give different men different departments1 and make them answerable4 ,much trouble to the manager1 who should supervise all1 and much loss to the proprietor from bad ,tea1 will then be avoided4 ,rolling4--,this is a simple operation enough when the men have got the knack of it4 ,some planters advocate a circular motion of the hands when rolling1 under the impression it gives the leaf a better twist4 ,some like rolling it forward1 but bringing it back without letting it turn during the backward motion4 ,i believe in neither way1 for it appears to me to be rolled no better1 or no worse1 by these plans than by the ordinary and quicker mode of simply rolling it any way4 ,the forward and backward motion is the simplest and quickest1 and the way all rollers adopt1 who are given a certain quantity of leaf 7say #cj lbs4 a fair amount7 to roll for their day's work4 ,in this ordinary rolling the ball in the hand1 'tis true1 does not turn much in the backward motion1 for 'tis more or less pulled back1 but whether it turns or not does not1 ,i believe1 signify the least4 ,rolling in hot pans was formerly extensively practised4 ,it is not much done now4 ,i have tried the plan1 but found no advantage in it4 ,rolling on coarse mats1 placed on the floor1 might be seen also4 ,when ,i visited the ,assam ,company's gardens near ,nazerah1 in ,assam1 ,i saw it done there4 ,it is a great mistake4 ,the coarse bamboo mat breaks the leaf sadly1 and much of the sap or juice from the leaf1 which adds much to the strength of the ,tea1 runs through the coarse mat1 and is lost4 ,one and the principal reason why ,indian ,tea is stronger than ,chinese is that in ,india the sap or juice is generally retained1 while in ,china it is1 strange to say1 purposely wasted6 ,a strong immovable smooth table1 with the planks of which it is formed well joined together1 so that no apertures exist for the juice of the leaf to run through1 is the best thing to roll on4 ,if covered with a fine seetul pattie mat1 nailed down over the edges of the table1 a still greater security is given against the loss of any sap1 and ,i believe the slightly rough surface of the mat enables the leaf to roll better4 ,an edging of wood one inch above the surface of the table should be screwed on to the edges over the mat1 if there is one1 to prevent leaf falling off4 ,the leaf is rolled by a line of men on each side of such a table 7#d-a_/b feet is a good width for it7 passing up from man to man1 from the bottom of the table to the top4 ,the passage of each handful of roll from man to man is regulated by the man at the end1 who1 when the roll in his hand is ready 7that is1 rolled enough71 forms it into a tight compressed ball 7a truncated shape is the most convenient7 and puts it away on an adjacent stand4 ,when he does this1 the roll each man has passes up one step4 ,the roll is ready to make up into a ball1 when it is in a soft mashy state1 and when in the act of rolling it gives out juice freely4 ,none of this juice must be lost1 it must be mopped up into the roll1 again and again in its passage up the table1 and finally into the ball1 when made up4 ,there will be some coarse leaves in the roll which cannot be twisted4 ,these1 if left1 would give much red leaf in the ,tea4 ,they should be picked out by1 say1 the third or fourth man from the head of the table1 for it is only when the leaf has been partly rolled that they show4 ,the man who picks out the coarse leaf should not roll at all4 ,he should spread the roll1 and pick out as much as he can1 between the time of receiving and passing it on4 ,in no case allow roll to accumulate by him1 for if so kept it hardens and dries1 and gives extra work to the last rollers to bring it into the mashy state again4 ,besides which ,i rather think1 any such lengthened stoppage in the rolling helps to destroy ,pekoe ends1 and is certainly injurious to the perfect after-fermentation1 inasmuch as it 7the fermentation7 partly takes place then4 ,this finishes the rolling process4 ,each man as stated can do #cj lbs41 but there is further work for him to be now described4 ,fermenting4--,the balls accumulated are allowed to stand until fermented4 ,i look on this being done to the right extent and no more1 as perhaps the most important point in the whole manufacture4 ,some planters collect the roll after rolling in a basket1 and there let it ferment1 instead of making it up into balls for that purpose as described4 ,i much prefer the ball system for the following reasons3--,when a quantity is put into a basket together and allowed to ferment a certain time1 what was put in first is naturally more fermented than what was put in last1 the former probably over1 the latter under-done4 ,the balls1 on the contrary1 can be each taken in succession in the order they were laid on the table1 and thus each receive the same amount of fermentation4 ,i think further the twist in the leaf is better preserved by the ball plan1 and also that a large quantity in a basket is apt to ferment too much in the centre4 ,it is impossible to describe1 so that practical use shall be made of it1 when the balls are sufficiently fermented4 ,the outside of the ball is no good criterion4 ,it varies much in colour1 affected by the extent the leaf was withered4#dh ,you must judge by the inside4 ,perhaps as good a rule as any is that half the twisted leaves inside shall be a rusty red1 half of them green4 ,practice alone1 however1 will enable you to pronounce when the balls are properly fermented4 ,there is no time to be fixed for it4 ,the process is quicker in warm than cool weather4 ,the fermentation should be stopped in each ball just at the right time4 ,great exactitude in this is all-important1 and therefore1 as ,i say1 the balls should be taken in rotation as they were laid down4 ,the fermentation is stopped by breaking up the ball4 ,the roll is spread out very thin1 and at the same time any remaining coarse leaves are picked out4 ,this concludes the fermenting process4 ,sunning4--,the roll is then without any delay put out in the sun1 spread very thin on dhallas or mats4 ,when it has become blackish in colour it is collected and re-spread1 so that the whole of it shall be affected by the sun4 ,with bright sunshine1 an hour or even less suns it sufficiently4 ,it is then at once placed in the dholes1 which must be all ready to receive it4 ,if the weather is wet1 it must1 directly the balls are broken up1 and the coarse leaf is picked out1 be sent to the dholes4 ,this is the only plan in wet weather1 but the best ,tea is made in fine weather4 ,firing or ,dholing4--,in the case of wet weather1 unless you have very many dholes1 fresh roll will come in long before the first is finished4 ,the only plan in this case is to half do it4 ,half-fired the roll does not injure with any delay1 but even half an hour's delay1 between breaking up the balls and commencing to drive off the moisture1 is hurtful4 ,in any but wet weather necessitating it the roll can be fired at one time1 that is1 not removed from the drawer until it has become ,tea4 ,the roll in each drawer must be shaken up and re-spread two or three times1 in the process of firing4 ,the drawer must be taken off the fire to do this1 or some of the roll would fall through into the fire1 and the smoke thus engendered would be hurtful4 ,if the lowest drawer is made to slide in and out a framework covered with zinc should be made to run into a groove below it1 and this zinc protector should be always run in before the lower drawer is moved4 ,this is part of ,mr4 ,mc,meekin's invention1 and is very necessary to prevent roll from the lowest drawer falling into the fire when it 7the lower drawer7 is moved4 ,the roll remains in the drawers1 subject to the heat of the charcoal below1 until it is quite dry and crisp4 ,any piece then taken between the fingers should break with the slightest attempt to bend it4 ,the manufacture is now completed4 ,the roll has become ,tea4 ,all the above operations should be carefully conducted1 but ,i believe the secret of good ,tea consists simply in1 first1 stopping the fermentation at the right moment2 and1 secondly1 in commencing to drive off the moisture immediately after4 ,i do not say that the manufacture here detailed may not be improved upon later1 but ,i do say that in the results of economy1 strong liquor1 and well twisted leaf1 its results are very satisfactory1 and not surpassed by any other mode at present in vogue4 ,i do not pretend that it will give ,teas rich in ,pekoe tips4 ,to attain this1 light rolling as shown must be resorted to1 but just as far as ,pekoe tips are procured so far must strength be sacrificed4 ,until the small ,pekoe leaves can be detached and manufactured separately1 this must always be the case4 ,from the ,tea made as described by sifting and sorting1 all the ordinary black ,teas of commerce1 as detailed at page #acg1 can be produced1 excepting 8,flowery ,pekoe40 ,to make ,flowery ,pekoe the closed bud and the one open leaf of the shoot are alone taken1 and these are manufactured alone4 ,it does not1 as a rule1 pay to make this ,tea at all1 though it fetches a long price4 ,it does not pay for the following reasons3-- #a4 ,after the head of the flush is taken the pickers that follow do not readily recognise the remainder of the shoot1 and consequently omit to pick many of them4 ,a heavy loss in the yield is thus entailed4 #b4 ,the after ,teas1 made without these small leaves1 are very inferior1 as they are much weaker1 and totally devoid of ,pekoe tips4 #c4 ,the labour1 and ergo the expense of picking the flush1 is double4 ,the manufacture of ,flowery ,pekoe is simple enough4 ,when the two leaves from each shoot of which it is made are collected they are exposed to the sun1 spread out very thin1 until they have well shrivelled4 ,they are then placed over small and slow charcoal fires1 and so roasted very slowly4 ,if the above is well done1 the ,pekoe tips 7and there is little else7 come out a whitish orange colour4 ,the whiter they are the better4 ,if the leaf is rolled very lightly by the hand before sunning1 the liquor will be darker and stronger1 but the colour of the tips will not be so good4 ,flowery ,pekoe is quite a fancy ,tea1 and for the reasons given above it can never pay to make it4 ,green ,tea4 ,the pans for this should be #b;ft4 #i;in4 diameter and #aa;in4 in depth4 ,they should be thick pans1 which will not1 therefore1 cool quickly4 ,many are required for this manufacture1 four or five for every maund of ,tea to be made daily4 ,they should be set up in a sloping position1 and the arrangement of the fireplaces such that the wood to burn under them can be put in through apertures leading into the verandah4 ,one chimney will do for every two pans1 and it should be built high so as to give a good draught1 for hot fires are necessary4 ,flat-bladed sticks are used to stir both the leaf and the ,tea in the pans1 for the hand cannot bear the heat4 ,the men when working the ,tea in the pans should have high stools to sit on1 for it is a nine hours' job4 ,the bags in which 8the roll0 is placed at night should be made of ,no4 #c canvas1 #b feet long and #a foot broad4 ,i will now detail the manufacture4 ,to make ,green ,tea the leaf must be brought in twice in the day4 ,what comes in at one o'clock is partly made the same day4 ,the evening leaf is left till the following morning1 laying it thick 7say #f inches71 so that it will not wither4 ,but if the one o'clock or the evening leaf comes in wet1 they must both be dried1 the former before being put into the pans1 the latter before being laid out for the night4 ,the manufacture thus begins twice daily1 viz41 morning and one o'clock1 but 8the roll0 of both these is treated together up to the time 8the roll0 is ready to place in the bags4 ,the leaf having no moisture in it is placed first in hot pans1 at a temperature of say #afj1 and stirred with sticks for about seven minutes1 until it becomes moist and sticky4 ,it is then too hot to hold in the hand4 ,it is then rolled for two or three minutes on a table until it gets a little twisted4 ,then lay it out on dhallas in the sun 7say #b inches thick7 for about three hours1 and roll it thrice during that time1 always in the sun4 ,it is ready to roll each time when 8the roll0 has become blackish on the surface4 ,it is not rolled more than three minutes each time1 and then spread out as before4 ,if you put on a proper number of men to do this they do each dhalla in succession1 and when they have done the last1 8the roll0 in the first dhalla will be blackish on the surface again1 and ready to roll again4 ,when three rollings are done1 the roll should have a good twist on it4 ,it is then placed in the pans1 at the same heat as before1 and worked with sticks as before for two or three minutes1 until it becomes too hot to hold4 ,it is then stuffed1 as tight as it can be stuffed1 into the bags described above1 putting as much into each bag as you can possibly get it to hold4 ,the mouth is then tied up and the bag beaten with a flat heavy stick to consolidate the mass inside1 and so it is left for the night4 ,next morning it is taken out of the bags1 and worked with the flat sticks as before in the pans for nine hours without intermission4 ,the temperature #afj at first down to #abj at the last4 ,during and owing to this last process the green colour is produced4#di ,it is worked quicker and quicker as the hours pass4 ,the following are the kinds of ,tea into which it is best sorted3-- #a4 ,ends #b4 ,young ,hyson #c4 ,hyson ,the relative value is in the order #d4 ,gunpowder in which they are numbered4 #e4 ,dust #f4 ,imperial ,the sorting of ,green ,tea is a nicer operation1 and takes twice as long as sorting ,black ,tea4 ,if there are pans enough1 and the work is well arranged1 there should be no night-work with ,green ,tea1 for all should be over by #e ,p4,m42 whereas with ,black ,tea night-work is generally a necessity4 ,the price obtained for ,green ,tea is more dependent on its appearance than in the case of ,black4 ,it is not easy to make ,black and ,green ,tea in the same factory4 ,green ,tea1 if well made1 pays much better than ,black ,tea2 and1 as before observed1 ,i think all gardens with ,chinese plants should adopt the manufacture4#ej ,when once the building is fitted for it1 and the routine established1 the ,green ,tea manufacture is always preferred by those who have tried both4 ,the ,hybrid plant makes the best ,black1 the ,chinese the best ,green ,tea4 ,,footnotes3 #cf ,in describing manufacture ,i shall call the leaf brought in 8,leaf10 until it enters on the rolling process2 from that time until the drying over charcoal is concluded1 8,roll20 and after that1 8,tea40 #cg ,pekoe tips are the whitish or orange-coloured ends that may be seen in ,pekoe ,tea4 ,see pages #aje1 #ajf1 and #aaf4 #ch ,the out-turn consists of the ,tea leaves after infusion4 #ci ,at the end of the season1 however1 sunning has more than the above effect4 ,it then makes the ,tea 8,chubby0 in form1 of a reddish colour1 and improves the strength of the liquor4 #dj ,it is better1 because the 8tips0 having been hard-rolled give stronger liquor4 #da ,it was the best1 but is superseded by a new rolling-machine 7,jackson's7 ,i have seen quite lately4 ,note to ,third ,edition4--,jackson's rolling-machine1 by a late ,calcutta legal decision1 is declared to be simply ,kinmond's1 with alterations4 ,as ,jackson is now prohibited from selling his machines1 ,i presume the two inventors will come to some understanding as to the alterations1 which are most certainly improvements4 #db ,i had not seen ,jackson's machine when ,i thought as above4 #dc ,unfortunately it is not4 ,it is advertised at ,rs4 #cjj1 with a yearly royalty of ,rs4 #ej the first year and #bj after4 ,the royalty should be dropped1 and the machine sold for ,rs4 #aej1 which would give the inventor a good profit4 #dd ,note to #crd edition4--,it is a question no longer4 ,many besides myself have now proved that charcoal fumes are in no way necessary4 #de ,see this subject further discussed in the ,addenda4 #df ,i now believe ,jackson's rolling-machine1 previously alluded to1 will finish the rolling entirely4 #dg ,note to #crd 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 ,dooars4 #dh ,the more the leaf is withered the thicker in consistency and the smaller in quantity the juice that exudes1 as also the yellower in colour4 ,further1 the more the leaf is withered the darker the outside of the balls4 ,bright rusty red is the colour produced with moderately withered leaf2 very dark greenish red with much withered leaf4 #di ,much ,green ,tea is coloured1 but none from ,india has been so treated4 #ej ,note to ,third ,edition4--,since this was written ,green ,teas have gone down considerably in value4 ,they are still much used in ,america1 but in ,great ,britain there is but little demand for them4 ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,,sifting ,,and ,,sorting4 ,sifting is a very important item in the manufacture of ,tea4 ,careful and judicious sifting1 as contrasted with the reverse1 may make a difference of two or three annas a lb4 in the sale of ,teas4 ,i was shown some ,tea quite lately which1 as regards 8liquor10 was valued by the brokers at ,re4 #a-c per lb41 but the 8,tea0 at only #ad annas6 ,this was entirely owing to faulty sifting and sorting4 ,i don't believe in any machine for ,tea sifting1 simply because it is not a regular process4#ea ,for example1 you cannot say that1 to make ,pekoe1 you must first use one sieve1 then another1 and so on4 ,the sizes of sieves to be used1 and the order in which they are to be used1 will vary continually1 as both are decided by varying causes1 viz41 the comparative fineness or coarseness of the ,tea made daily1 the greater or less presence of red leaf in it1 and 7because ,tea varies much during the season1 and gets coarse towards the end7 by the time of the year4 ,these points all necessitate changes in the sizes1 and the order of the sieves4 ',tis true sieves might be changed in a machine as required1 but the only machine that could even pretend to save labour would be one in which all the sieves were arranged one below the other1 and thus the ,tea would fall through each alternately1 the motion being common to all4 ,but this won't do for ,tea sifting4 ,judgment must be used to decide the length of time each sieve is to be shaken2 further1 with how much motion it shall be shaken1 c41 c4 ,but this is simply impossible with any machine1 though all necessary to sift ,tea well4 ,the cost of ,tea sifting by hand 7see page #afa7 is not eight annas per maund1 including picking out red leaf1 which must be hand-work4 ,good and bad sifting will affect the value three annas per lb4 or ,rs4 #ae per maund6 ,with all parts of ,tea manufacture it is well to employ the same men continually in each department1 but above all1 perhaps1 should this be done in ,tea sifting4 ,a good sifter is a valuable man4 ,he knows each kind of ,tea by name2 he knows what sieves to use1 and the order in which to use them for each ,tea2 what the effect a larger or smaller mesh will have on each kind1 c41 c4 ,in fact1 he knows much more of the practical part of sifting than his master can1 though the latter is1 probably1 a better judge how far the ,teas are perfect when made4 ,tea sieves are of two kinds1 both round4 ,one made of brass wire1 with wooden sides1 #c-a_/b inches high1 the other cane1 with bamboo sides1 #a-a_/d inches high only4 ,the latter are called 8,chinese sieves10 and though the brass ones are used in many places1 there is no possible comparison between them1 for the labour required in the use of the brass ones is much greater1 and the results1 as regards well sorted ,tea1 much better with the ,chinese4 ,both kinds are numbered according to the number of orifices in one linear inch4 ,thus a ,no4 #f sieve has six orifices to the inch in both2 but in the brass kind1 a ,no4 #f has six orifices including the wire2 in the ,chinese kind1 the cane between each aperture is not included in the measure4 ,thus the orifice in a ,no4 #f ,chinese sieve is exactly #a_/fth of an inch square1 but somewhat less in a brass sieve4 ,as ,i well know brass sieves cannot remain in favour after the others have been only once tried1 ,i shall confine my directions to the ,chinese kind4#eb ,i practise1 and ,i advise1 ,tea to be sifted daily4 ,the ,tea made one day1 sifted the day after1 and in fact stored away in the bins ready sifted4 ,i find it is more carefully done this way1 for by the other plan a larger quantity being done at once by several men1 they cannot1 from want of practice1 be expert4 ,but by the daily plan one1 two1 or three men1 as necessary1 can always be kept on the work1 and consequently they learn and do it well4 ,to sift the following1 ,chinese sieves are required2 and if daily sifting is resorted to1 they will be found ample for any ordinary-sized garden3-- #d of ,no4 #d #f of ,no4 #f #f of ,no4 #g #i of ,no4 #i #i of ,no4 #aj #f of ,no4 #ab #d of ,no4 #af4 ,previous to sifting all red leaf should be picked out of the ,tea4 ,this1 as stated under the head of 8,manufacture10 should be done twice before the 8roll0 is fired2 but towards the end of the season especially1 some will still remain in the made ,tea1 and this must be carefully separated4 ,from what ,i have said it is evident that no rules can be laid down as to what sieves to employ to get out certain ,teas4 ,only practice can teach this4 ,further1 practice can only enable you to judge in a ,tea broker's point of view of different classes of ,tea4 ,this essay would1 however1 be incomplete did it not contain a description of these4 ,such a description has been ably given by ,mr4 ,j4 ,h4 ,haworth in his 8,information and ,advice for the ,tea ,planter from the ,english ,market0 7,journal1 ,a4 ,h4 ,society of ,india1 ,vol4 ,,xiv471 and1 as his knowledge on the subject is far in advance of mine1 and consequently more to the point than any description ,i could give1 ,i will close this chapter with the following extract from his valuable pamphlet1 and trust he will excuse my doing so3-- ,of the ,different ,classes of ,tea4 ,teas are arranged in various classes according to the size1 make1 and colour of the leaf4 ,i treat first and principally of the ,black descriptions1 as ,green ,teas are manufactured in only a few of the ,tea-growing districts of ,india4 ,the following classes come under the name of ,black ,tea3-- ,flowery ,pekoe4 ,broken ,pekoe4 ,orange ,pekoe4 ,pekoe ,dust4 ,pekoe4 ,the various broken ,broken ,mixed ,tea4 ,pekoe ,souchong4 kinds1 viz43-- ,broken ,souchong4 ,souchong4 ,broken ,leaf4 ,congou4 ,fannings4 ,bohea4 ,dust4 ,we occasionally meet with other names1 but they are generally original1 and ought not to be encouraged1 as a few simple terms like the above are sufficiently comprehensive to describe all classes manufactured4 ,perhaps before entering into a detailed description of the various classes it will be well to explain the term 8,pekoe0 7pronounced ,pek-oh71 which as we see occurs in so many of the names above quoted4 ,it is said to be derived from the ,chinese words 8,pak ,ho10 which are said to signify white down4 ,the raw material constituting ,pekoe when manufactured is the young bud just shooting forth1 or the young leaf just expanded1 which on minute examination will be found to be covered with a whitish velvety down4 ,on firing these young leaves1 the down simply undergoes a slight change in colour to grey or greyish yellow1 sometimes as far as a yellowish orange tint4 ,when the prepared ,tea consists entirely of greyish or greenish greyish ,pekoe1 with no or very little dark leaf mixed1 it is called ,flowery ,pekoe4 ,flowery ,pekoe is picked from the shrub entirely separate from the other descriptions of ,tea1 only the buds and young leaves being taken4 ,in the preparation it is not subjected so severely to the action of heat as the other classes of ,tea1 and generally preserves a uniform greenish grey or silvery grey tint4 ,its strength in liquor is very great1 flavour more approaching that of ,green ,teas1 but infinitely superior1 having the strength and astringency1 without the bitterness1 of the green descriptions4 ,the liquor is pale1 similar to that of ,green ,tea1 and the infused leaf is of a uniform green hue4 ,in many instances1 where too much heat has been employed1 we find dark leaves intermixed1 and the prevailing colour1 green1 is sprinkled with leaves of a salmony brown tinge1 which is the proper colour for the out-turn of any other ordinary black leaf ,tea4 ,a very common mistake is to call an ordinary ,pekoe1 that may contain an extra amount of ,pekoe ends1 ,flowery ,pekoe4 ,when this class of ,tea is strong and of ,flowery ,pekoe flavour1 it is called by the trade a ,pekoe of ,flowery ,pekoe kind4 ,in ,england ,flowery ,pekoe sells1 as a rule1 from #ds4 #f;d4 to #fs4 #f;d4 per lb4 ,one parcel has sold as high as #gs4 #f;d4 ,by many people the expediency of making ,flowery ,pekoe is much doubted4 ,the true ,flowery ,pekoe leaf is the one undeveloped bud at the end of each twig4 ,to pick this alone1 without any ordinary ,pekoe leaves1 involves a great deal of trouble and expense1 and ,i think though the ,flowery ,pekoe be very valuable1 that the account would hardly balance when we consider the deterioration of the ,pekoe by the abstraction of the young leaves4 ,the ordinary ,pekoe is a ,tea of blackish or greyish blackish aspect1 but dotted over with greyish or yellowish leaves which1 on close inspection1 will be found to possess the downy appearance which gives the name to ,pekoe4 ,in general we do not find the whole leaf covered with down1 but only part of it1 which in its growth has been developed later than the other parts4 ,these are called by the trade 8,pekoe ends0 when very small ,pekoe tips4 ,a ,pekoe is generally of good to fine flavour1 and very strong1 and its liquor dark4 ,its value is from #bs4 #i;d4 to #cs4 #h;d4 per lb4 ,when the ,pekoe ends are of yellowish or orange hue1 and the leaf is very small and even1 the ,tea is called ,orange ,pekoe4 ,in flavour it is much the same as an ordinary ,pekoe1 and many growers do not separate the two varieties1 but send them away in the finished state mixed together4 ,its value is from #b;d4 to #d;d4 per lb4 more than ,pekoe4 ,the term ,pekoe ,souchong is generally applied to a ,pekoe that is deficient in ,pekoe ends1 or to a bold1 ,souchong class leaf with a few ends mixed4 ,we often meet with it applied to an unassorted ,tea1 including perhaps ,souchong1 ,congou1 a few ,pekoe ends1 and some broken leaves4 ,prices range from #bs4 #c;d4 to #bs4 #aj;d4 ,the name of ,broken ,pekoe indicates at once what class of ,tea it is1 namely1 ,pekoe which has been broken in the manipulation or otherwise4 ,it possesses the strength and fine flavour of a full leaf of ,pekoe1 being therefore only inferior to it in point of leaf4 ,in value it is very little inferior to ,pekoe1 sometimes as valuable1 or even more so1 as owing to the frangibility of the tender ,pekoe ends1 they are sometimes broken off in very large quantity1 thus adding to the value of the broken ,tea1 though at the same time deteriorating the ,pekoe4 ,prices from #bs4 #f;d4 to #cs4 #d;d4 ,pekoe dust is still smaller broken1 so small in fact as actually to resemble dust4 ,it is of great strength1 though often not pure in flavour1 as frequently any dust or sweepings from other ,tea is mixed with it to make the lot larger4 ,the price of ,pekoe dust may range from #as4 #f;d4 to #bs4 #h;d4 ,a ,tea only slightly broken is often called by the planter ,pekoe ,dust2 again an ,orange ,pekoe is often called ,broken ,pekoe1 and the converse4 ,a knowledge of the signification of these and other terms would teach the grower to be very careful in marking his ,teas1 as the nomenclature influences to a great extent the sale in the home market4 ,having described the finer ,teas1 we now come to the consideration of the classes of ,tea which form the bulk of the manufacture of a garden4 ,souchong may be taken as the medium quality1 and when experience and skilled labour are employed in the manufacture as the bulk of the produce of an estate4 ,the qualifications for being comprehended under this term are just simply an even1 straight1 or slightly curved leaf1 in length varying say from #a_/b inch to #a-a_/b inch4 ,it has not the deep strength of ,pekoe1 but is generally of good flavour and of fair strength4 ,the prices of ,souchong are from #as4 #aj;d4 to #bs4 #h;d4 ,congou comes next4 ,it may be either a leaf of ,souchong kind1 but too large to come under that class1 or though of smallish-sized leaf1 too unevenly made1 or too much curled 7so as to resemble little balls7 to be so classified4 ,the flavour is much the same as that of ,souchong1 but the ,tea has not so much strength4 ,some of the lower and large leaf kinds may be only worth perhaps from #as4 #c;d4 to #as4 #f;d41 whereas the finer qualities sell as high as #bs4 to #bs4 #c;d4 per lb4 ,bohea is again lower than a ,congou4 ,it may be either of too large a leaf to be called ,congou1 or1 as is generally the case1 it may consist principally of old leaf1 which on being fired does not attain the greyish blackish colour which is so desirable for all the black leaf kinds except ,flowery ,pekoe1 but remains of a brownish or even pale yellowish hue4 ,it has scarcely any strength1 and is generally of coarse flavour1 sometimes not1 but is never of much value unless of ,namuna kind 7a term which will be described hereafter74 ,we may quote prices at from #c;d4 to #as4 #b;d4 per lb4 ,we now come to the broken descriptions of these middle and lower classes of ,tea4 ,broken ,mixed ,tea is1 as its name imports1 a mixture of the various kinds of ,tea broken4 ,it may have a very wide range1 include some of the lower classes or approach ,broken ,pekoe in character and value1 but the kind usually thus named is a ,tea worth from #as4 #h;d4 to #bs4 #f;d41 generally of a blackish aspect1 and containing a few ,pekoe ends4 ,the term ,broken ,souchong is commonly and appropriately applied to a ,tea which1 though broken1 has some approach to a full leaf1 and that of the even ,souchong character4 ,its value may vary1 say from #as4 #f;d4 to #bs4 #b;d4 ,broken leaf is a term of great comprehensiveness1 but generally is used to signify a ,tea worth from #h;d4 to #as4 #a;d4 per lb4 ,it may be of a brownish1 brownish blackish1 or blackish colour4 ,its strength is seldom great1 but its flavour may be fair or good1 but in the lower qualities it is generally poor1 thin1 or coarse4 ,it would be better to employ this term only as a general name of ,broken ,tea1 and not to use it to signify any particular class1 as it is very indefinite4 ,fannings is similar in colour and class of leaf to broken leaf as described above2 in value also much the same1 perhaps on the average a little lower4 ,i suppose1 in most cases1 the mode of its separation from the other classes of ,tea is1 as its name implies1 by fanning4 ,dust is a very small broken ,tea1 so small1 in fact1 as to approach the minuteness of actual dust4 ,it is often very coarse1 or 8earthy0 in flavour1 owing perhaps to sweepings and dust having become mixed with it4 ,its value is from #f;d4 to #as4 #f;d4 ,in any ,tea of this class worth more than these quotations1 a few ,pekoe ends or tips will generally be found1 which bring it under the name of ,pekoe ,dust4 ,we will now look at ,black ,teas in a body1 and point out what is desirable and what is objectionable in them4 ,we have seen that all ,teas which contain ,pekoe fetch higher prices than others1 consequently we infer that ,pekoe is a desideratum4 ,if we glance at the descriptions of the various classes of ,tea which have been given above1 we shall find that it is an element of strength and good flavour4 ,i do not mean to say that any ,pekoe is stronger or of better flavour than any ,tea which does not contain ,pekoe1 as the soil1 the climate1 the cultivation1 the manufacture1 and various other causes1 may influence the strength and flavour of different ,teas2 but1 as a rule1 in ,teas that are produced under the same circumstances1 the classes containing ,pekoe are stronger and of better flavour than those without it4 ,there is another class of ,tea which ,i have not yet described that possesses very great strength and very fine flavour4 ,this is the class known as the 8,namuna0 kind4 ,all readers of these pages who have been connected with ,india any time will recognise the word1#ec though they may not quite see how it comes to occupy the position in which we consider it4 ,it is said that its first application in this manner arose from a planter having sent to ,england some sample boxes of ,tea with the ticket 8namuna0 on them4 ,these ,teas happened to be of the peculiar description which now goes by that name1 and which ,i proceed to describe4 ,the ,london brokers have always since then applied the name 8namuna0 to this class of ,tea4 ,the leaf may have1 perhaps1 the ordinary greyish blackish aspect1 with generally a greenish tinge4 ,in the pot it produces a very pale liquor1 but on tasting it its quality belies the poor thin appearance of the infusion4 ,it is very strong1 stronger by far than ordinary ,pekoe2 in flavour1 say1 about half-way between a ,flowery ,pekoe and a ,green ,tea1 quite distinct from the ,flowery ,pekoe flavour1 possessing somewhat of the rasping bitterness of the ,green ,tea class with the flavour a little refined4 ,the out-turn is generally green1 sometimes has some brownish leaves mixed4 ,any of the black leaf ,teas may be of this ,class1 from the ,pekoe to the lowest dust1 and all throughout the scale1 if the flavour be distinct and pure1 may have their value enhanced from #d;d4 to #aj;d4 per lb4 ,similar in every respect1 except one1 is the ,oolong kind4 ,the one wanting quality is the strength1 sometimes1 by-the-bye1 the flavour is a little different4 ,it may have the greenish1 greyish blackish leaf 7though generally the green leaves are distinct from black ones1 the ,tea thus being composed of greyish blackish leaves with a few green ones intermixed71 always has the pale liquor1 generally the greenish infused leaf2 but sometimes it is sadly intermingled with black leaves1 as it is a ,tea whose flavour is frequently burnt out1 though its weakness and green appearance are no doubt often caused by deficient firing4 ,teas of this kind on the average sell below the ordinarily-flavoured ,teas of the same class of leaf4 ,in ,teas of ordinary flavour the following rules hold good3--,the darker the liquor the stronger the ,tea1 and the nearer the approach of the colour of the infused leaf to a uniform salmony brown1 the purer the flavour4 ,whenever we see any black leaves mixed with it 7the out-turn7 the ,tea has been over-fired1 and we may either expect to find the strength burnt out of it1 or else to find it marred by having a burnt or smoky flavour incorporated with it4 ,when you come across an altogether black or dirty brown out-turn1 you may be certain of pale liquor containing little or no strength and no flavour to speak of1 unless sometimes it be sour4 ,this is a quality which ,i shall now touch upon1 and regret that ,i cannot with any certainty give any reliable information whereby the planter may guard against this greatest of faults4 ,it may have various grades1--slightly sourish1 sourish1 and sour1 depreciating the value of the ,tea1 say1 from #c;d4 to #as4 #f;d4 per lb4 ,the flavour of a sour ,tea is hardly capable of description4 ,it is not so acid as sour milk1 in fact1 not acid at all1 rather a sweet flavour than otherwise being blended with the sourness4 ,it is extremely unpleasant in its more developed grades1 and cannot be easily understood except by actual tasting4 ,to the uninitiated this fault is only perceptible in the more strongly marked instances1 but to one of the trade the least tendency to it not only condemns the parcel at once1 but also causes him to suspect any other lots made at the same or any other time by the same grower1 and it is a curious but unaccountable fact that some two or three gardens 7or growers87 almost always produce ,teas having this fault4 ,i will not cite all the different explanations that have been offered on this subject2 ,i will simply quote the one which seems to have gained most ground1 and leave those more competent than myself to express any opinion on the subject4 ,the cause assigned to which ,i refer is that the ,tea leaf after being picked is allowed to remain too long in the raw state before being fired1 during which time it undergoes a process of fermentation2 some then say that this causes sourness1 while others maintain that the fermentation is absolutely necessary for the production of a ,black ,tea4 ,the fact that we never meet with sourness in a ,green ,tea1 one feature in the preparation of which being that it is fired almost immediately on being gathered1 goes to corroborate this view4 ,burntness ,i have already referred to4 ,as ,i said before1 it may either destroy the strength and flavour altogether1 or sometimes1 without destroying the strength1 add an unpleasant burnt flavour to it4 ,when the ,tea has the flavour of smoke about it1 it is called smoky or smoky burnt4 ,by being burnt1 a ,tea may be deteriorated in value1 say from #b;d4 to #as4 per lb4 ,the symptoms of burntness are a dead black leaf 7as opposed to the greatly-desired greyish1 blackish colour7 having a burnt smell which often entirely neutralises the natural aroma of the ,tea4 ,in looking over a broker's character of a parcel of ,teas1 you may occasionally meet with the terms 8fresh burnt10 8brisk burnt10 or 8malty burnt40 ,these phrases do not carry a condemnatory meaning with them4 ,the meaning of the word burnt1 as used here1 would be better expressed by the term 8fired40 ,the term 8malty0 means of full rich flavour1 perhaps from the aroma of this class of ,tea resembling somewhat that of malt4 ,teas of the three above descriptions1 you may have noticed1 often fetch very good prices4 ,the meaning of the word 8full10 applied to a liquor1 is hardly appreciable except by tasting4 ,it does not signify strength or flavour1 but is opposed to thinness4 ,a ,green ,tea may be strong or of good flavour1 but its liquor is never full4 ,fulness is generally characterised by a dark liquor4 ,the quality known as 8body0 in a wine is somewhat akin to fulness in a ,tea4 ,we speak of a 8full0 leaf ,tea in contradistinction to a broken leaf4 8,chaffy0 is generally used in connection with ,bohea and other brown leaf classes of ,tea4 ,a light 7in weight7 brown1 open or flat leaf1 in fact1 one resembling chaff1 would be called chaffy4 ,the lower classes of ,tea1 especially the dusts1 are often described as 8earthy0 in flavour4 ,by this a coarse low flavour is understood1 perhaps often caused by the admixture of real dust4 ,when the make of a ,tea is spoken of as a 8well made10 8fairly made10 c41 leaf1 the effect of the manipulation or rolling is referred to4 ,we may have a 8well made even10 or a 8well made mixed large and small10 leaf4 ,we may have a 8straight0 or 8curled10 or1 as the latter is generally expressed when applied to a large leaf ,tea1 8twisted0 leaf4 ,it may be 8flattish made10 indicating that though the leaf is not open it wears a flattish aspect1 or it may be open1 which betrays a want of sufficient or skilful manipulation4 ,a 8wiry0 leaf is small1 perfectly rolled1 and very thin 7in diameter71 generally rather curled1 so as in fact to resemble small pieces of bent wire4 ,it will be seen at once that only the finer ,teas can have a wiry leaf1 principally the ,orange ,pekoes and ,pekoes4 ,sometimes we meet with a fine ,souchong that may be thus described4 ,green ,teas4 ,as in the ,north-west ,provinces ,green ,teas form the bulk of the produce1 it will be well to give a short description of them1 though the tenor of my remarks below will show the general opinion as to the desirability of making them4#ed ,gunpowder is the most valuable description1 its price ranging from #bs4 #h;d4 to #cs4 #h;d4 per lb4 ,instead of possessing the long and thin finished leaf1 which is the desideratum of ,black ,teas1 it is rolled into little balls more or less round1 varying from one-eighth to one-quarter of an inch in diameter4 ,sometimes it is not altogether composed of round leaf1 but has some long leaf mixed4 ,when the ,tea is of the shape of ,gunpowder1 but is larger than the size above quoted1 it is called ,imperial4 ,prices of ,imperial are from #aj;d4 to #bs4 #f;d4 ,amongst ,green ,teas ,hyson may be taken as the parallel of ,souchong of the black leaf descriptions4 ,undoubtedly there is often much young ,pekoe leaf in it1 but all chance of discriminating it in the finished leaf is done away with by the change in colour4 ,hysons sell from #as4 #b;d4 to #cs4 #f;d4 ,young ,hyson is smaller than ,hyson1 occasionally slightly broken4 ,it fetches from #g;d4 to #bs4 #f;d4 ,hyson skin consists of the bold broken leaf of ,hyson and ,young ,hyson4 ,a small broken ,green ,tea is seldom sent on the home market4 ,the reason of this is obvious4 ,when we consider that ,hyson skin only fetches from #g;d4 to #as41 it is apparent that anything approaching a dust would give very little chance of a profit4 ,i have seen one or two parcels1 too much broken to come under the title of ,hyson skin1 sell at #c;d4 to #f;d4 per lb4 in ,london4 ,it would be well if some of the ,indian planters would take a lesson from the ,chinese1 and not send home their very low ,teas1 black or green1 as they are very difficult of sale in ,london1 and in many cases cannot pay the cost of packing and shipping4 ,the ,chinese make a great quantity of their broken ,teas into ,brick ,tea1 and send it into the ,central ,provinces of ,asia1 where it meets with a ready sale4 ,i do not see why this should not be done by the ,indian growers4 ,there is a large consumption of ,tea on the other side of the ,himalayas1 not very far from ,darjeeling and ,assam4 ,i hear also that in the neighbourhood of the growing districts1 especially in the ,north-west ,provinces1 the natives are beginning to consume largely1 and will pay #h as4 to #a rupee for a ,tea that could not possibly fetch more than #as4 to #as4 #f;d4 per lb4 in ,england4 ,whether the natives of ,india1 as a whole1 do or do not take to drinking ,tea will have a material effect on the future prospects of the article4 ,before dropping the subject of ,green ,teas1 ,i will say a word or two as to the expediency of making ,green ,tea4 ,i have questioned several experienced people on the subject1 but none can tell me their especial object in manufacturing their leaf into ,green ,tea4 ,one gentleman told me that he thought it was because their ,tea-makers 7,chinamen7 knew better how to make greens than blacks4 ,i have carefully examined the leaf of several of the ,north-west ,green ,teas1 and1 noticing their ,english sale prices1 consider that they would have sold on the average at least #c;d4 per lb4 higher had they been made into ,black ,tea4 ,the best way to test this would be to have a ,green and a ,black ,tea made from the same leaf1 and then to value the one against the other4 ,i regret that ,i have never had the opportunity of doing this4 ,we notice that the largest and most experienced producers never make ,green ,tea4#ee ,i must not pass over ,caper without a short description4 ,it is a ,tea which is made in large quantity in ,china1 though ,i have only seen one parcel of ,indian growth4 ,it forms a link between the black and green descriptions4 ,the colour of the leaf is a very dark green2 in form it is similar to a gunpowder1 ,imperial1 or round leaf ,congou4 ,the liquor is pale1 and the out-turn green2 flavour perhaps nearer to that of a green than of a ,black ,tea4 ,,footnotes3 #ea ,we have yet to see what ,jackson's machine can do4 #eb ,even to break ,tea on them it is a mistake to use brass sieves4 ,tea is best broken by a wooden roller1 heavily weighed with lead1 run in4 ,the glaze or gloss on ,tea is thus preserved4 #ec ,i need hardly remark that the ,hindustani word ,namuna 7pronounced ,nemoona7 means sample4 #ed ,i think ,i need hardly pause to correct the popular error that the ,green and ,black ,teas are made from two different species of plant4 ,most of my readers will know that they are both made from the same leaf1 the difference lying only in the manufacture4 #ee ,note to ,third ,edition4--,as previously stated in foot-note page #acc1 ,green ,teas are now but little used in ,great ,britain4 ,,chapter ,,xxvi4 ,,boxes4 ,,packing4 ,by far the best ,tea boxes are the teak ones made at ,rangoon4 ,the wood is impervious to insects of all kinds1 even white ants4 ,sawn by machinery the pieces sent to compose each box are very regular4 ,the plank is half inch1 and each chest made up measures inside #bc by #ah by #ah-a_/b inches1 and necessarily outside #bd by #ai by #ai-a_/b inches4 ,the inner cubical contents are #g1fei cubic inches1 and this suffices for above one maund of fine1 and under a maund of coarse ,tea4 ,each box is composed of fourteen pieces--viz41 for the two long sides three each1 for the two short sides two each1 two for the bottom1 and two for the lid4 ,by the arrangement of three pieces in the long sides1 and two only in the short sides1 the centre piece of each long side is attached to both the short end pieces1 and thus great strength in the box is ensured1 there being no place where it can possibly separate at the joints4 ,these boxes are not made to 8dovetail40 ,each piece 7and they are sawn with mathematical regularity as to length1 breadth1 and thickness7 must be nailed to its neighbour4 ,the best nails for this are the kind called 8,french ,pins10 #a-c_/d inches long4 ,the wood is sold at ,rangoon in bundles1 and could be landed in ,calcutta for about ,re4 #a-h or #a-ab per box4 ,the boxes need not be made up till shortly before they are wanted1 and in this form1 of compact bundles of short pieces1 are very convenient for transport and stowage4 ,of course in many districts these boxes are not procurable1 and local ones must be made4 ,if so1 use hard wood1 and make your boxes about the size given above1 for small boxes add much to the cost of freight4 ,let the planks be #e_/h inch thick1 for #a_/b inch1 that is1 #d_/h inch boards are not strong enough1 except they are of teak or any other very good wood4 ,take care the joints of the several pieces composing the sides and ends do not coincide at the corners1 for if they do the box is very apt to come asunder4 ,the best way to arrange the pieces is as described above in the ,rangoon boxes4 8,a form0 must be made on which the inner leaden case shall be constructed1 that is1 a well-made smooth box1 to fit exactly into the box you pack in4 ,it must be some #c inches higher than the interior of the original box1 and have bars running across inside1 for handles to lift it up1 and let the lead case slip off it1 after it 7the lead case7 is finished4 ,solder your lead case1 over your form1 in the way to waste least lead4 ,in the ,rangoon boxes described1 two large1 two small sheets1#ef and one piece1 #bb by #i inches 7let in between the two large sheets7 suffices1 and there is little or no waste4 ,the lead case ready1 hold up the form by the inner rods1 and let the case slide off4 ,put it at once into the packing-box1 taking care no nails protrude inside1 or anything else which will hurt it1 and thus prepare all the boxes for the break of ,tea you are about to pack4 ,one great advantage the ,rangoon boxes1 and in fact all machine-sawn boxes1 have is their equal1 or nearly equal1 weight4 ,purchasers of ,teas1 at the public auctions1 require 8the tare0 of boxes to be as near the same weight as possible4 ,if the tares differ1 say more than half-a-pound1 the ,tea will be depreciated in value4#eg ,it is well there should be about the same weight of ,tea in all the boxes that contain any one kind1 but this is not essential1 which equality in tares is4 ,your boxes all ready and lined with lead1 choose a fine day for packing4 ,do this whether you finally dry the ,tea in the sun or over the dholes2 for even in the latter case it is well to avoid a damp day4 ,but before you pack you must bulk4 ,that is1 you must mix all the ,tea1 of any one kind1 so intimately together that samples taken out of any number of chests shall agree exactly4 ,this can be done by turning out all the ,tea on a large cloth placed on the floor1 and turning it over and over4 ,no two days' ,teas are exactly alike1 and you have perhaps a month's ,teas to pack2 it is therefore necessary to mix them well4 ,though ,i know many planters think the fumes of charcoal necessary and beneficial for the last drying1 ,i do not4 ,i have tried both sun and charcoal1 and no difference was perceptible4 ,the former costs nothing1 is more commodious1 and ,i always apply it when possible4 ,the sun cannot burn the ,teas2 the charcoal1 if the heat is too great1 may4 ,whether you use sun or charcoal1 put the ,tea hot into the boxes4 ,the only object of the final drying is to drive off the moisture1 which the ,tea will certainly1 in a more or less degree1 have imbibed since its manufacture4 ,even the large zinc-lined bins which should be fitted up in all ,tea stores1 and in which the ,tea is placed after manufacture1 will not entirely prevent damp1 so in all cases a final drying is necessary4 ,keep it in the sun1 or over the charcoal1 until it is hot throughout1 hot enough to ensure all the moisture having been driven off4 ,then put into the box enough to about one-quarter fill it4 ,now let two men rock the box1 over a half-inch round iron bar1 placed on the ground1 until the ,tea has well settled4 ,then place a piece of carpet over the ,tea1 the exact size of the box1 and let a man stand inside and press it down a minute or two with his feet4 ,now fill up nearly another quarter1 and press it again over the carpet as before4 ,repeat this1 putting less and less into the box each time1 as you near the top1 until it is quite full1 but do not rock it at all the last two or three times1 only press it with the feet as described4 ,no patent screw press1 or anything else1 will pack the ,tea better or more closely than this plan1 and when the men are practised at it1 you will find there will not be a difference of more than two or three lbs4 in the ,teas of any one kind put into the boxes4#eh ,the box full1 just even with the top1 and well pressed down to the last1 lay over the ,tea a piece of the silver paper1 which is found inserted between each sheet in the lead boxes4 ,this prevents any solder or resin getting on the ,tea when soldering the top4 ,now fit on the lead sheet top1 solder1 and nail on the wooden lid4 ,weight of ,tea in each box4--,the boxes ready lined1 with a lead cover loose1 must be all weighed before the ,tea is packed1 and again after they are filled and soldered down1 but before the wooden lid is put on4 ,the difference of these weights1 minus the weight of the little solder used in fastening down the top lead 7for which allow say one pound to give a margin also71 will be the net weight of ,tea in each box4 ,thin iron hooping1 put round both ends of the boxes1 much increases their strength1 and is not expensive4#ei ,stamp each box on its lid and on one end4#fj ,use for this zinc plates1 with the necessary marks cut out in them4 ,a brush run over these with the colouring matter does the work well and quickly4 ,let the stamp comprise the kind of ,tea1 the plantation or owner's mark1 the number of the box1 and the year2 for instance-- ,illustration3 ,pekoe4 ,a _/ _/ ,d ,x ,c _/ _/ ,b ,no4 #hj #ahga ,the invoice you send with the break must give for each box the number1 the gross weight1 the tare1 the net ,tea1 and the kind of ,tea1 with a declaration at foot that the ,teas of each kind have been respectively well bulked and mixed together before packing4 ,remember the larger the quantity of ,tea1 of any one kind1 to be sold at one auction1 the higher the price it will probably fetch4 ,sell1 if possible1 twenty or thirty chests of one kind of ,tea at the same time1 for small quantities as a rule sell below large1 both in ,calcutta and ,london4 ,equality of tares is the most important point to attend to in packing ,teas4 ,it may be difficult1 but with machine-sawn boxes1 nearly the same weight1 any difference must be made up with extra hooping1 lead1 solder1 or nails4 ,anyhow it must be done1 so that no tares shall differ more than half-a-pound 7see foot-note page #adi74 ,,footnotes3 #ef ,large lead is #cg by #bb inches2 small lead1 #be by #ai inches4 #eg ,note to ,third ,edition4--,this matter of equal tares is very important4 ,if they differ more than half-a-pound all the ,tea is turned out and re-weighed in ,london1 which is a great loss in many ways4 #eh ,it is not essential that the same quantity of ,tea shall be in each box4 #ei ,this should1 except the lid part1 be put on the boxes before the ,tea is packed4 #fj ,the object of stamping the end1 as well as the lid1 is that when the boxes are piled one above the other the mark can be read4 ,,chapter ,,xxvii4 ,,management4 ,,accounts4 ,,forms4 ,system and order1 a good memory1 a good temper1 firmness1 attention to details1 agricultural knowledge1 industry1 all these1 combined with a thorough knowledge of ,tea cultivation and ,tea manufacture1 are the requisites for the successful management of a ,tea plantation4 ,to find men with all these qualities is1 ,i allow1 not very easy1 still they do exist1 and such a one must be had if success in ,tea is looked for4 ,before the work is given out each day1 the manager should decide exactly what is most required1 and apply it to that4 ,he should write down1 when distributing the men1 the works1 and the number employed on each4 ,this paper he should carry in his pocket1 and he can then verify the men at work at each or any place when he visits it during the day4 ,the writer1 the moonshee1 and the jemadar 7if there is one71 should write similar papers when the coolies are mustered in the morning1 and the manager should detail to each of these men which work they are particularly responsible for4 ,this should also be shown in the 8,morning ,paper40 ,each of the above men then measures out the work to the coolies2 visits it once or oftener in the day1 and measures all that remains undone at night4 ,a daily report of the work is kept1 written by the writer in the evening4 ,the two forms given below are those ,i have adopted4 ,the latter is suited to local labour paid daily1 but it can easily be altered to suit either local labour paid monthly or imported coolies4 ,this is the ,morning ,paper4 ,work to be done on #ahh 4 ---------------------------------------- --------------------------- ,detail,no4 of ,garden,in whose charge,headman on ,probable ,actual the ,work number number ---------------------------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------- ,total ,coolies ---------------------------------------- --------------------------- ,the column of 8,probable numbers0 is given so that before it is known exactly how many men will be present for work they can be divided in the most likely way4 ,each headman 7called 8,mate10 8,mangee10 c41 in different districts7 is best designated by a letter or number4 ,in neither form would there be room to put in names at length4 ,the form below written in the evening is made into a book for each month4 ,the advantages of it for after reference are great1 and it can of course be altered to suit the kind of labour employed on any garden4 ,work on for #ahh 4 ,detail of ,work,no4 of ,mangees ,chupp ,coolies,measurement and ,garden ,remarks ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------- ,as4 ,total at ,work #c ,command #b-a_/b ,sick #b ,absent #a-a_/b ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ,total #a ---------------------------------------- -------------- ,picking ,leaf ,making ,tea ,tea ,sorting --------------- ,cut --------------- ,total ,the following is the plan ,i recommend for the leaf-picking and the ,tea accounts4 ,the leaf of each picker is best measured in the field1 and1 as loads are collected1 brought to the factory by one or two men throughout the day4 ,it entails a loss of time1 and further a depreciation in the leaf1 if it is kept long in a close mass in one basket1 which is the case when each picker brings his or her leaf to the factory twice a day4 ,the pickers are paid so much per basket1 holding in any case #b-a_/b lbs4 ,i find the most convenient plan is to give the mangee in charge of the pickers tickets of any kind for this1 which tickets are changed for money in the evening4 ,as each load of leaf comes in through the day it is weighed1 and this gives a check on the tickets given by the mangee or mate4 ,this is the meaning of the two columns in the form below1 8tickets by leaf0 and 8tickets paid40 ,in the form the first column of 8leaf results0 shows the condition of the leaf when picked1 whether wet 7,w7 or dry 7,d74 ,unless this were noted the proper amount of ,teas the leaf ought to make could not be known1 and there would be no check against theft1 which is carried on to a great extent in many gardens4 ,as explained previously1 only the sections ready in each garden are picked4 ,the sections are not entered in the form1 only the number of the garden4 ,the flushes now noted are the #bjth1 in some the #bast1 or #bbnd in others4 ,the ,tea is calculated from the leaf4 ,it should be #be per cent4 if the leaf is picked dry1 and #bb per cent4 if picked wet4 ,as each load comes in a memorandum is made as to whether it is dry or wet1 and the figures in the column 8,tea should be0 are thus found4 ,the ,tea is weighed the morning after it is made and entered in the column 8,tea made40 ,the percentage it bears to the leaf is then calculated and entered in the account column4 ,after sifting the whole is weighed again1 and the result entered in the column 8,tea after sifting40 ,doing this is very important1 for it checks theft4 ,directly after it is weighed this second time it is put in the bins in the store4 ,daily ,leaf and ,tea ,account4 ---------------------------------------- ----------- ,,tea ,,results4 ---------------------------------------- ------- ,tea ,tea after ,date should it is be ,tea made ,per cent4sifted ---------------------------------------- ------- ,october ,sunday1 #ast ,monday1 #bnd #aih #bjj #bd #aii ,tuesday1 #crd #bca #bcj #be #bcc ,wednesday1 #dth ,thursday1 #eth ,friday1 #fth ,saturday1 #gth ,total for ,mds4 lbs4 the week #afcb ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------------ ,,leaf ,,results4 ---------------------------------------- -------- ,state ,tickets ,number ,flushes of ------------- of ---------------,total leaf ,by leaf,paid ,garden #bj #ba #bb leaf ---------------------------------------- ----- #bbj,w #c #agj #fjj;,d #daj #cfj #e #caj #g #aab #h #bbh #hbj ,d #dfb #ddj #c #eae #i #daj #ibe #a #dcj ,w #bjj #ahj #b #afj #c #baj #hjj ---------------------------------------- ----- ,if this system is carried out1 no ,tea 7exceeding a pound or so7 can be stolen without its being at once missed1 and the importance of this cannot be exaggerated4 ,tea proprietors do not guess how much is lost in this way4 ,maunds upon maunds might be stolen in many gardens1 and unless the theft were accidentally discovered there is nothing in the ,tea accounts to show it to the manager4 ,i have suppositiously filled up the three first days of the form4 ,the #hbj lbs4 leaf picked on ,sunday is made into ,tea on ,monday4 ,the #aih is written down ,sunday evening4 ,on ,tuesday morning1 when the ,tea is weighed and found to be #bjj lbs41 that is entered in the ,monday line1 as also the percentage4 ,on ,tuesday evening1 after it is sifted and made into different ,teas1 it is weighed again and found to be #aii lbs41 and so entered4 ,in dry weather after sifting1 owing to dust flying off1 it is always a little less4 ,in wet weather1 on the contrary1 it increases in weight4 ,in the ,tuesday line where 8,w0 shows it was a wet day and the ,tea #bcj lbs4 before sifting it1 is #bcc afterwards4 ,this is owing to moisture imbibed1 and it is the only objection to sifting daily1 whatever the weather4 ,the advantages of the plan1 though1 are so great1 as explained1 that ,i put up with this1 and practically ,i do not find it detrimental4 ,of course1 as previously explained1 all moisture is driven off before the ,tea is packed4 ,however1 to make all quite safe1 after a very wet damp day1 the ,teas might be re-dried for a few minutes over charcoal before being put into their respective bins4 ,i do not do this myself though1 and do not think it necessary4 ,i hope now ,i have made the above form plain4 ,it is in a book1 and each page will hold one week4 ,the total of the ,tea made in the week is added up and shown at foot1 and that amount is then transferred to the credit side of the ,tea store account4 ,thus 7see both forms7 #af maunds #cb lbs4 is credited4 ,the form given on the next page is also kept in a book1 and the total of right-hand side subtracted from the left gives at any time the quantity of ,tea in store4 ,tea ,store ,account4 ------------------------------------ ,,receipts ---------------------------------- ,tea made ,week ending in week ,total on ,saturday -------------------- ,mds4 lbs4 ,mds4 lbs4 -------------------------------- ,brought over 44 44 44 #dje #h ,october #gth #af #cb #adth #ae #j #bast #ag #aj #bhth #ad #dj ---------- #fc #b -------------------------------- ,carried over ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------- ,,expenditure ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,tea in each ,date ,no4 of ,invoice,to whom ,invoice ,total --------------------- ,mds4 lbs4 ,mds4 lbs4 ---------------------------------------- ------------ ,brought over 44 44 #cea #ad ,october #c #ae ------- #dj #ae #bj #af ------- #cc #aj ---------- #gc #be ---------------------------------------- ------------ ,carried over ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,regarding accounts between the manager and his employers1 ,i think they should be of the simplest kind4 ,if a man can be trusted he should be trusted2 if he cannot1 no system of accounts will restrain him1 and he should be kicked out4 ,a simple account current1 furnished monthly1 showing under few heads the receipts and expenditure1 is all that can be required4 ,it is not by any papers received from a manager that an opinion can be expressed as to how he does his work1 and how the plantation progresses4 ,a competent person visiting the garden can easily ascertain1 and in default of this1 and combined with this1 the only true test is the balance sheet at the end of each season4 ,shortly1 it is not by the form1 the nicety1 the detail of accounts between manager and employer1 that success is ensured or even forwarded4 ,it is1 as far as accounts are concerned1 by the forms and system the manager adopts as between him and his subordinates1 and these he should be able to show are good to the employer1 or anyone deputed by him to visit the garden4 ,the profit shown yearly1 whether it is large or small1 all things considered1 is1 however1 the only true ultimate test4 ,,chapter ,,xxviii4 ,,cost ,,of ,,manufacture1 ,,packing1 ,,transport1 ,,etc4 ,these are as follow3--,they will vary more or less according to the district1 rate of wages1 c41 but in the form the tables are given1 if not suitable to any case1 they can easily be made so4 ,i have added sorting1 packing1 freight to ,calcutta1 and broker's charges in ,calcutta1 to the cost1 so that all is included from the moment the green leaf is picked off the trees till the hammer falls at the public auction4 ,table cost of ,manufacture1 ,sorting1 ,packing1 ,transport to ,calcutta1 and ,broker's ,charges for each maund of ,tea4 ,manufacture4 ,,rs4 ,,as4 ,p4 ,,rs4 ,,as4 ,p4 #a head man with the pickers1 say #j #d #j #cbj lbs4 green leaf picked1 at #a pice per lb4#fa #e #j #j #a man withering above leaf1 at say #d annas #j #d #j #a_/d share head man in rolling house #j #b #j #aj-b_/c men rolling above1 at #cj lbs4 leaf per man1 and say #d annas per man #b #aj #h #a_/d boy clearing out ashes of ,dhole house1 at say #b annas #j #j #f #a_/d share head man in ,dhole house #j #b #j #a man firing 8,dhole work0 say #j #d #j #c_/d maund charcoal for ,dhole work1 at #h annas #j #f #j ,lights for night work1 viz41 turning green leaf and dholing1 say #j #d #j ,wear and tear of dhallas1 baskets1 picking baskets1 fuel for artificial withering1 c4 #j #a #aj ---------- #i #g #j ,sifting and ,sorting4 #a-a_/b boys to pick out red leaf1 at say #b annas #j #c #j #a sifting man1 at say #d annas #j #d #j ,wear and tear of sieves1 say #j #j #c ---------- #j #g #c ,packing4 #a box #a #ac #j #d sheets lead1 viz41 #b large and #b small4 #a #f #f ,labour of lining box with lead1 solder1 closing lead1 closing wooden box1 stamping1 and cost of nails #j #j #i ,labour of drying previous to packing1 whether in sun1 or over dholes1 including charcoal1 if the latter are used #j #j #i ,labour of filling the box1 shaking it well1 and pressing down the ,tea 7#b men7 #j #j #f ---------- #c #e #f ,transport4 ,freight to ,calcutta for one maund ,tea1 say #a #ab #j ---------- #a #ab #j ,broker's ,charges in ,calcutta4 ,landing1 lotting1 and advertising per chest #j #ad #j ,brokerage at #a per cent4 on the amount sale1 say ,rs4 #gj for the maund #j #aa #c ---------- #a #i #c ----------- ,total for one maund of ,tea#fb #af #i #j ----------- ,n4,b4--,if more than two maunds ,tea are made per day1 some of the items under head of 8,manufacture0 would be a little less4 ,see page #gj1 where it will be seen that each maund of ,tea is worth to the manufacturer 7after deducting all costs7 ,rs4 #ej4 ,,footnotes3 #fa ,in practice the basket in which the leaf is measured being made to hold #b-a_/b lbs41 for which a ticket is given1 representing #b pice1 the leaf to make a maund of ,tea does not really cost so much4 #fb ,after experience has shown me this amount1 when any quantity of ,tea is made1 is too high--,rs4 #ab to #ac would be nearer the mark4 ,,chapter ,,xxix4 ,,cost ,,of ,,making ,a #cjj-;,,acre ,,tea ,,garden4 ,in the following estimate #ajj acres are supposed to be planted the first year1 #ajj acres the second1 and #ajj acres the third4 ,to elucidate a table ,i shall draw up in the next chapter showing the probable receipts and expenditure on such a garden for a series of years1 ,i shall suppose this plantation to be begun in #ahge1 and number the years accordingly4 ,the expenditure would truly1 in the supposed case1 begin in the latter part of #ahgd1 but it is more convenient to regard it as commencing #ast ,january1 #ahge4 ,i estimate all new cultivation as planted 8at stake10 that is1 the seed sown in situ4 ,nurseries are only to fill up vacancies4 ,i shall not pretend in this to go into minute details1 such as are given at page #hd1 for it is simply impossible to do so4 ,the cost of making a plantation must vary greatly1 being determined by climate1 available labour and its rates1 lay of land1 nature of jungle to clear1 c41 c4 ,in this estimate only round numbers can be dealt with4 ,the prices ,i assume are average ones1 neither suited to very heavy jungle1 and very expensive labour1 or the reverse3-- #ast year 7#ahge74 ,,rs4 ,,rs4 ,purchase #gjj acres land1 at ,rs4 #h per acre #e1fjj #dj maunds seed1 at ,rs4 #gjfc #b1hjj ,nurseries for vacancies and labour transplanting#fd #bjj ,first temporary buildings #a1jjj ,all expenditure to plant #ajj acres1 at ,rs4 #hj per acre#fe #h1jjj ,cultivating the said #ajj acres first year1 at ,rs4 #ej per acre#ff #e1jjj ----- #bb1fjj #bnd year 7#ahgf74 #fj maunds seed1 at ,rs4 #gjfd #d1bjj ,nurseries and labour transplanting#fd #cjj ,repairs1 buildings and some new ones still of a temporary nature #ejj ,all expenditure to plant the second #ajj acres1 at ,rs4 #gj per acre#fe #g1jjj ,cultivating first #ajj acres1 at ,rs4 #fj1 second #ajj acres1 at ,rs4 #ej per acre#ff #aa1jjj ------ #bc1jjj #crd year 7#ahgg74 #gj maunds seeds1 at ,rs4 #gjfd #d1ijj ,nurseries and labour transplanting#fd #djj ,buildings for ,tea manufacture 7temporary7 and repairs to buildings #c1jjj ------ #h1cjj ,all expenditure to plant the third #ajj acres1 at ,rs4 #fj per acre#fg #f1jjj ,cultivating first #ajj acres1 at ,rs4 #gj1 second at ,rs4 #fj1 third at ,rs4 #ej per acre#fh #ah1jjj ------ #bd1jjj ,interest on first year's outlay1 two and a half years1 second year's outlay1 one and a half years1 third year's outlay half year1 at ,rs4 #e per cent4 per annum4 #e1ceg ------ ,total expense to make the #cjj-;acre garden #hc1beg ,the garden is now made at a cost1 including interest on all outlay of ,rs4 #hc1beg1 and ,i am very confident that a good #cjj-;acre garden can1 as set out1 be made for that sum4 ,the rates assumed are so liberal that a fair margin is allowed for bad seed or any other misfortune4 #dth year 7#ahgh74 #bj maunds seed1 at ,rs4 #gjfi #a1djj ,nurseries and labour transplanting#fi #ejj ,repairs1 buildings#gj #ejj ,cultivating first #ajj acres1 at ,rs4 #hj1 second at ,rs4 #gj1 third at ,rs4 #fj per acre#ga #ba1jjj ------ #bc1djj #eth year 7#ahgi74 #aj maunds seeds1 at ,rs4 #gjgb #gjj ,nurseries and labour transplanting#gb #ejj ,repairs1 buildings#gc #ejj ,cultivating first #ajj acres1 at ,rs4 #ij1 second at ,rs4 #hj1 third at ,rs4 #gj per acre#gd #bd1jjj ------ #be1gjj #fth year 7#ahhj74 ,nurseries and labour transplanting#gb #ejj ,repairs buildings#gc #ejj ,cultivating first #ajj acres1 at ,rs4 #ajj1 second at ,rs4 #ij1 third at ,rs4 #hj per acre#gd #bg1jjj ------ #bh1jjj #gth year 7#ahha74 ,nurseries and labour transplanting#gb #ejj ,building a permanent ,tea ,factory and ,tea ,store and repairs to building#gc #ab1ejj ,cultivating first #ajj acres1 at ,rs4 #ajj1 second at ,rs4 #ajj1 third at ,rs4 #ij per acre#gd #bi1jjj ------ #db1jjj #hth year 7#ahhb74 ,nurseries and labour transplanting#gb #ejj ,new permanent houses for ,manager and ,assistant1 and repairs to buildings#gc #h1ejj ,cultivating first1 second1 and third #ajj acres1 at ,rs4 #ajj per acre#gd #cj1jjj ------ #ci1jjj #ith year 7#ahhc71 and all years after4 ,nurseries1 at ,rs4 #ejjge ,repairs to buildings1 at ,rs4 #ejjgf #a1jjj ,cultivating the #cjj acres1 at ,rs4 #ajj per acre#gg #cj1jjj ------ #ca1jjj ,nothing is allowed for interest after the third year1 for soon after that1 viz41 fifth year1 the garden begins to give profits on the yearly operations4 ,all the above figures are carried out in the table in the next chapter1 page #agb1 and how large the profits on ,tea may be will there be seen4 ,in none of the estimates of cost1 up to this1 is the expense of manufacturing the ,tea included4 ,it would have been very inconvenient to do so4 ,the cost is so much per maund of ,tea1 and ,i prefer estimating the ,tea at its market rate minus the cost of manufacture shown at pages #gj and #afb4 ,,footnotes3 #fc ,the cost for seed1 nurseries1 and transplanting increases each year as the area over which vacancies may exist enlarges4 #fd ,see note #fc p4 #afc4 #fe ,the expenditure for planting the #ajj acres each year includes cutting and clearing jungle1 removing roots1 digging1 staking1 pitting1 and sowing the seed4 ,in fact all expenditure including part of the pay of ,manager and ,establishment4 ,the rate per acre decreases each year1 because each year there is more expenditure of other kinds1 which helps to pay for the ,manager and ,establishment4 #ff ,the reason why the rate for cultivation on the #ajj acres planted each of the three first years increases each year is given in the table and remarks at pages #hd and #he4 #fg ,see note #fe1 p4 #afd4 #fh ,see note #ff1 p4 #afd4 #fi ,the seed to be bought is now less each year1 as it is produced on the garden1 and after the fifth year no more has to be purchased4 ,from the fourth1 and all subsequent years1 nurseries for vacancies are calculated at ,rs4 #ejj1 which is enough1 as the garden has been previously yearly replenished4 ,this expenditure will be continual as long as the garden lasts1 for there will always be some vacancies to replace4 #gj ,rupees #ejj is a fair sum to estimate for ordinary annual repairs to buildings1 and it will be required as long as the garden lasts4 ,a temporary ,factory was made in #ahgg1 and a permanent building is now allowed for in #ahha4 ,permanent ,manager's and ,assistant's houses are also allowed for in #ahhb4 ,the garden can afford this now1 for the profits are large4 7,see table at page #agb47 #ga ,for the rates assumed here see page #hd4 #gb ,see ,note #fi1 p4 #afe4 #gc ,see ,note #gj1 p4 #afe4 #gd ,see ,note #ga1 p4 #afe4 #ge ,see note #fi1 p4 #afe4 #gf ,see note #gj1 p4 #afe4 #gg ,see note #ga1 p4 #afe4 ,,chapter ,,xxx4 ,,how ,,much ,,profit ,,tea ,,can ,,give4 ,we have already estimated the cost of making and cultivating a plantation of #cjj acres4 ,we must now ascertain how much ,tea that area will give yearly4 ,it is a very wide question what produce an acre of ,tea will give4 ,the following is an extract from the 8,report of the ,commissioners appointed to enquire into the state and prospects of ,tea cultivation in ,assam and ,cachar10 addressed to the ,government of ,bengal1 and dated ,march1 #ahfh3-- 8,average produce per acre40 8,the returns of actual produce of gardens in #ahfg which we have obtained are so few in number that it is impossible to take any general average from them4 ,the produce in these varies from three-and-a-half maunds to one-and-a-half maunds per acre1 omitting the more recently formed gardens4 8,from information received during our tour we have reason to believe that some gardens produce more than the highest rate per acre here mentioned2 but1 in the absence of returns of exact acreage and out-turn1 we cannot notice these instances4 8,mr4 ,haworth1 in his pamphlet already quoted1 speaks of the produce of ,cachar gardens as follows3-- 8#8,i believe that three maunds per acre is fully one-third more than the present average yield of gardens in ,cachar1 after deducting the area of plant under yielding age4 8#8,there is no reason1 that ,i am aware of1 why the yield of ,tea should not soon be raised to four maunds1 and more gradually six maunds per acre1 equal to twenty-four maunds of leaf per acre 7less than one ton per acre for a green crop1 which is still a very small one74 ,even now there are gardens in ,cachar which give an average of from five to six maunds per acre this season4 ,some of these gardens have really no apparent advantage over their less fortunate neighbours1 beyond that of a somewhat better system of cultivation and pruning2 and these improvements even are to such a small degree ahead of the general practice1 that ,i feel justified in saying ,i cannot place a limit on what the increased yield should be under a more rational system of cultivation1 and the application of manures on a liberal scale1 leaving out of consideration altogether what might reasonably be expected from a good system of drainage in addition4' 8,mr4 ,james ,stuart1 ,manager of the ,bengal ,tea ,company's gardens in ,cachar1 has also given two maunds an acre as the general average of ,cachar gardens for the past season1 including young gardens of two1 three1 and four years old4 8,we do not think it necessary to quote in detail the opinions of all the gentlemen examined by us on the subject of average produce per acre4 ,a garden that can give four maunds per acre is undoubtedly a good one1 and we have no doubt there are such1 or even better2 but we do not think they are so common as to warrant our taking more than three maunds as a safe average40 ,mr4 ,a4 ,c4 ,campbell1 ,extra ,assistant ,commissioner at ,burpettah1 in his 8,notes on ,tea ,cultivation in ,assam10 published in the ,journal of the ,agricultural and ,horticultural ,society of ,india1 part #c1 vol4 xii41 page #cji1 says3--8,good ,tea land can be made to yield as high as seven maunds per poora40 ,i forget exactly how much a poora is1 but ,i believe it is nearly an acre4 ,in the ,report to ,government by the ,commissioners1 quoted above1 at page #i1 ,mr4 ,t4 ,burland1 after estimating the cost of cultivation per acre per mensem at ,rs4 #i-aj-b1 adds3--8,with the above expenditure per acre it is probable that much more than five maunds of ,tea will be obtained from an acre of fair plant40#gh ,all these estimates1 however1 are based on the cultivation of ,tea as carried on hitherto with few exceptions1 that is to say1 on gardens covered with weeds for many months in the year1 and to which no manure has ever been given4 ,with such cultivation1 particularly on gardens planted on slopes1 ,i think myself that the yield will not exceed four maunds at the outside4 ,high cultivation and liberal manuring will1 ,i believe1 at least double the above1 if the plants are of a high class4 ,however1 here ,i give a table on the subject which ,i have carefully framed4 ,estimate of probable yield per acre on flat land1 good soil1 in a good ,tea climate1 and with hybrid plants1 if really high cultivation and liberal manuring is carried out4 ------------------------------------ ,year,supposed ,year,estimated yield per acre in maunds#gi ------------------------------------ #ast #ahge -- #bnd #ahgf -- #crd #ahgg #a_/b #dth #ahgh #b #eth #ahgihj #d #fth #ahhj #e #gth #ahha #f #hth #ahhb #g #ith #ahhc #g-a_/b #ajth #ahhdha #h ------------------------------------ ,i do not think plants reach to perfect maturity under eight or ten years4 ,that eight maunds per acre as estimated in the table just given can be realised1 under the conditions stated1 ,i have no doubt whatever1 but ,i am equally certain that the size of some gardens in ,india must be much reduced if even five or six maunds are looked for4#hb ,not only must they be reduced in size1 but they must be highly cultivated1 must be manured1 and no vacancies allowed4 ,however1 ,i have dwelt on all these points before1 and need not repeat here1 for unless the reader is convinced before this that a large area and low cultivation won't pay1 it were waste to write more4 ,i now give a table showing the result for twelve years of a plantation such as ,i have advised4 ,,table ,,showing ,,the ,,estimated ,,results ,,for #ab ,,years ,,of ,a #cjj-;,,acre ,,plantation1 ,,in ,a ,,good ,,tea ,,climate1 ,,highly ,,cultivated ,,and ,,liberally ,,manured4 ---------------------------------- ,,year ,,and ,,rate ,,of ,,yielding ,,in ,,maunds -------------------------------- #a #b #c ---------------------------- ,yield per acre as per page #agj,supposed year ,year -------------------------------- ,mds4 #a 44 #ahge #b 44 #ahgf #c #a_/b #ahgg #d #b #ahgh #e #d #ahgi #f #e #ahhj #g #f #ahha #h #g #ahhb #i #g-a_/b #ahhc #aj #h #ahhd #aa #h #ahhe #ab #h #ahhf -------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- -- ,,yield ,,in ,,maunds ,,of #cjj ,,acres ,,and ,,its ,,value ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- #d #e #f #g #h ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ,rate yield of #ajj,rate yield of #ajj,rate yield of #ajj ,total yearly ,value per acres1 planted acres1 planted acres1 planted yield in maunds maund in #ahge in #ahgf in #ahgg ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ,mds4 ,mds4 ,mds4 ,mds4 44 44 44 44 ,rs4 #ej 44 44 44 44 per maund1 #a_/b 44 44 #ej after #b #a_/b 44 #bej cost of #d #b #a_/b #fej manufacture1 #e #d #b #a1ajj packing1 #f #e #d #a1ejj and #g #f #e #a1hjj transport #g-a_/b #g #f #b1jej are #h #g-a_/b #g #b1bej deducted1 #h #h #g-a_/b #b1cej see pages #h #h #h #b1djj #gj #afb ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ,,yearly ,,results ---------------------------------------- ------------- #i #aj #aa #ab ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,receipt from,total expenditure sale of ,tea detailed at pages,yearly ,profit,yearly ,loss #afd1 #afe1 #aff ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,rs4 ,rs4 ,rs4 ,rs4 44 #bb1fjj 44 #bb1fjj 44 #bc1jjj 44 #bc1jjj #b1ejj #cg1feghc 44 #ce1aeg #ab1ejj #bc1djj 44 #aj1ijj #cb1ejj #be1gjj #f1hjj 44 #ee1jjj #bh1jjj #bg1jjj 44 #ge1jjj #db1jjj #cc1jjj 44 #ij1jjj #ci1jjj #ea1jjj 44 #a1jb1ejj #ca1jjj #ga1ejj 44 #a1ab1ejj #ca1jjj #ha1ejj 44 #a1ag1ejj #ca1jjj #hf1ejj 44 #a1bj1jjj #ca1jjj #hi1jjj 44 ---------------------------------------- ------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------- ,,final ,,results ---------------------------------------- ---------------- #ac #ad #ae #af ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ,total receipts,total expenditure ,balance to ,balance to to end of to end of credit end ofdebit end of each year each year each year each year ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ,rs4 ,rs4 ,rs4 ,rs4 44 #bb1fjj 44 #bb1fjj 44 #de1fjj 44 #de1fjj #b1ejj #hc1beg 44 #hj1geg #ae1jjj #a1jf1feg 44 #ia1feg #dg1ejj #a1cb1ceg 44 #hd1heg #a1jb1ejj #a1fj1ceg 44 #eg1heg #a1gg1ejj #b1jb1ceg 44 #bd1heg #b1fg1ejj #b1da1ceg #bf1adc 44 #c1gj1jjj #b1gb1ceg #ig1fdc 44 #d1hb1ejj #c1jc1ceg #a1gi1adc 44 #f1jj1jjj #c1cd1ceg #b1fe1fdc 44 #g1bj1jjj #c1fe1ceg #c1ed1fdc 44 ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ---------------------------------- ,,remarks4 ---------------------------------- ,it will be seen from this table as follows3-- #a4 ,about ,rs4 #ij1jjj of capital is necessary to make a plantation as quick as this4 ,if made more gradually1 very much less would suffice4 #b4 ,there is no yearly profit until the fifth year4 #c4 ,by the eighth year all the outlay is recovered4 ,this table has been prepared with great care1 and the authority for the figures assumed has been arrived at in previous parts4 7,see headings of the ,cols4 for the pages and note at foot47 ,i believe this table represents truly what ,tea1 with all the necessary advantages detailed in the next page1 can do4 ---------------------------------- ,at the following pages will be found the calculations for the figures assumed3--,col4 #b1 page #agj2 ,col4 #h1 pages #gj and #afb2 ,col4 #aj1 pages #afd1 #afe1 #aff4 ,the necessities for success in ,tea are3-- #a4 ,a good climate4 #b4 ,a good site4 #c4 ,perfect knowledge in ,tea cultivation and ,tea manufacture on the proprietor's part or that of his manager4 #d4 ,seed from a high class of plants4 #e4 ,local or cheap imported labour4 #f4 ,facilities for manuring4 #g4 ,cheap transport4 ,do not dispense1 though1 with even one of the seven points named1 for the truth is simply1 that ,tea will pay very well with all the above advantages1 but will utterly fail without them4 ,such is my advice to intending beginners4 ,to those who have gardens1 ,i say1 reduce your areas till of the size you can really cultivate them highly1 and procure manure at any cost4 ,i shall not have written in vain1 and ,tea enterprise in ,india will flourish1 if the motto of planters in future be-- 8,a full area1 highly cultivated40 ,,footnotes3 #gh ,see my estimate for cultivation at page #hd4 ,i there estimate ,rs4 #ajj per acre per annum from the sixth year1 so that ,mr4 ,burland six years ago had come to the same opinion about high cultivation that ,i hold4 #gi ,calculating ,tea by maunds is convenient1 inasmuch as pounds necessitate such lengthy figures for all calculations4 ,the maund here employed is1 however1 quite an arbitrary measure4 ,it is not the ,indian maund1 it equals and is represented exactly by #hj lbs4 ,any number of maunds multiplied by #hj will naturally give the lbs4 of ,tea4 #hj ,up to this point1 viz41 the fifth year inclusive1 the figures given have been much more than realised1 and that on a garden with #ae per cent4 vacancies4 ,it has been1 though1 highly cultivated and liberally manured from the first4 #ha ,from the fifth to the tenth year is assumption1 except that ,i know one garden which1 to my certain knowledge1 has given more then ten maunds an acre1 and this in spite of about #ae per cent4 vacancies4 ,the garden is an old one1 planted about #ah years ago4 ,it is also a very small one4 ,the soil is very poor1 but the plants are of the highest class4 ,it was much neglected till about eight years ago4 ,from that time it has been highly cultivated in every way except in the point of irrigation1 for it has not that advantage4 ,it has been most liberally manured4 #hb ,note to ,third ,edition4--,with high cultivation on a favourable site and in a really good ,tea climate1 ,i now believe #aj maunds per acre will eventually be realised4 #hc ,with interest1 see pages #afd and #afe4 ,,chapter ,,xxxi4 ,,past1 ,,present1 ,,and ,,future ,,of ,,indian ,,tea4 ,a few words on the past1 the present1 and the future of ,indian ,tea will now conclude this ,essay1 and will1 ,i hope1 be acceptable to the reader4 ,the subject is one of growing importance1 but being a new one1 there are points connected with it on which the public are very ignorant1 and should be enlightened4 ,to begin with1 the following facts are not disputed by those who know anything of the subject3-- #a4 ,indian ,teas have far more body1 that is strength1 than ,chinese ,teas4 #b4 ,indian ,teas consequently command a higher price at the ,london sales than ,chinese ,teas4 #c4 ,in spite of its higher price1 it is far more economical than the ,chinese produce1 as1 generally speaking1 one-third of the quantity suffices4 #d4 ,there are lands enough in ,india to grow all the ,tea required for ,england's use1 and1 indeed1 for all her colonies4 ,if these are facts1 and ,i confidentially affirm they are so1 how is it that the following holds in ,england8 #a4 ,indian ,tea is not known to the public4 #b4 ,except in one or two shops in ,london and ,glasgow1 unknown to the mass of the people1 not an ounce of pure ,indian ,tea can be bought in all ,england4 #c4 ,that ,india is even a ,tea-producing country is scarcely known in ,england4#hd ,i think ,i can explain some of these anomalies4 ,tea is an acquired taste3 by which ,i mean1 not only that the adult who had never tasted ,tea would not like it when first offered to him1 but also that1 with those who consume it regularly1 any ,tea that differs in flavour from what is habitually drunk is not relished4 ,it matters not whether it is intrinsically better or worse1 enough that the flavour is different1 for that reason it is not liked4 ,indian ,tea differs widely from ,chinese ,tea1 and for that reason is rarely appreciated by those accustomed to the latter4 ,for a long time it appeared as if this difficulty would be a bar to the general introduction of ,indian ,teas in ,england1 and so indeed it would have proved1 had the short-sighted policy adopted at the commencement by one or two ,indian ,companies that their ,teas should be sold retail and pure1 that is1 unmixed with ,chinese1 been followed out4 ,it did not avail to tell ,john ,bull it was better ,tea1 that it was far stronger1 that it was in no way adulterated2 for he simply shook his head1 the flavour was different to what use had made him familiar with1 and he would none of it4 ,but little by little1 in spite of the above1 it made its way4 ,grocers soon found that the worst1 id est1 the weakest class of ,chinese ,teas received body and were made saleable by an addition of ,indian ,tea4 ,it was not long after this that the trade discovered that pretty well all ,chinese ,teas were improved1 if proportions of ,indian ,teas were mixed with them4 ,in short1 the fact was recognised by ,tea vendors that ,chinese ,teas were weak1 and much improved if mixed with ,indian4 ,the public were thus educated to relish the superior flavour of ,indian ,tea1 and did so1 when the quantity mixed with the ,chinese was not so great as to make the new flavour too prononc4 ,little by little the custom of so mixing became very general1 so much so that it may almost be said to-day that if ,indian ,teas cannot be purchased pure1 no more can ,chinese4 ,a mixture of ,chinese and ,indian ,tea1 the latter small as compared with the former1 is what is now generally used in ,great ,britain4 ,this is the case to-day4 ,what will it be in the future8 ,as the ,english palate is educated to like the flavour of ,indian ,tea1 more and more of it will be demanded in the mixture made up for the public1 and though the day is distant1 nay1 may never arrive1 on account of its greater cost1 when it will be generally drunk pure1 ,i do not myself doubt that the demand for it will go on steadily increasing for years to come1 as it has for years past4#he ,it is an important query if1 with a largely increased demand1 the supply will be equal to it4 ,very far from all ,india has a good ,tea climate1 which is a peculiar one1 and only exists in perfection in ,assam1 ,cachar1 ,chittagong1 and lands in ,bengal close to the foot of the ,himalayas4 ,but in these districts alone there are lands sufficient to supply nearly the whole world with ,tea1 so that it is not the lands which are wanting1 though the ,government prices for the lands are prohibitory and will check cultivation4 ,but in ,assam1 ,cachar1 and the ,terai below the ,himalayas labour is very scarce1 while in ,chittagong the area fit for ,tea is not large1 so that ,i do not anticipate any very sudden increase of the cultivation1 though year by year it is on the increase and will so continue4 ,on the other hand1 ,i do not--for the reasons stated1 viz41 that ,tea is an acquired taste and thus a new kind is not at first palatable--anticipate any very sudden increase in the demand4 ,if1 however1 ,i am wrong1 and from a largely increased demand the prices of ,indian ,teas rise1 ,i do not doubt that the cultivation will be greatly extended1 and that after an interval of four years 7it takes that time for the ,tea plant to produce7 the supply will be equal to the then wants of the ,english market4 ,the future of ,indian ,tea is1 ,i think1 a bright one1 and ,i know nothing in which capital can be more profitably invested if the business is conducted with knowledge and experience1 but to embark in it without these two requisites is ruin4 ,a few figures may be given here4 ,the imports into ,great ,britain of ,indian ,teas have been yearly increasing1 till in #ahgc they amounted to #ah1cfg1jjj lbs41 and1 judging from the estimate out here of the produce this year1 viz41 #ahgd1 the imports into ,great ,britain in #ahgd will not be far short of #bj1jjj1jjj lbs4#hf ,but as the annual consumption of ,tea in the ,united ,kingdom is not less than #acj1jjj1jjj lbs41 ,india is still very far from supplying enough to give a mixture of three-fourths ,chinese and one-fourth ,india ,tea4#hg ,the finest ,chinese ,tea sells in ,london in bond at #bs4 #d;d4 to #bs4 #f;d41 while the finest ,indian in bond fetches #cs4 to #cs4 #f;d4#hh ,what1 then1 will be the future of ,indian ,tea8 ,it is an important query4 ,the industry is one which1 if successful1 might attain to wide limits1 and help not a little to relieve the ,indian ,state ,exchequer1 while it would afford occupation to many a class of ,englishmen who at present look about in vain for employment4 ,tea speculation has passed through the first two preliminary phases to which most new ventures are liable4 ,first1 we had the wild rush1 the mad fever1 when every man thought that to own a few ,tea bushes was to realise wealth4 ,in those days existing plantations were bought at eight and ten times their value2 nominal areas of #ejj acres were paid for which1 on subsequent measurement1 proved to be under #ajj2 new gardens were commenced on impossible sites1 and by men as managers who not only did not know a ,tea plant from a cabbage1 but who were equally ignorant of the commonest rules of agriculture4 ,boards highly paid1 with secretaries still more liberally remunerated1 were formed both in ,calcutta and ,london to carry on the enterprise2 and1 in short1 money was lavished in every conceivable way1 while mismanagement ran rampant in each department4 ,it is not strange that the whole thing collapsed3 the wonder is it did not do so earlier4 ,the second stage was then entered upon4 ,numbers had been bitten1 and the idea1 once formed1 grew apace1 that ,tea could not pay at all4 ,everyone wanted to sell1 and down went all ,tea shares to a figure which only increased the general panic4 ,many companies1 and not a few individuals1 unable to carry on1 had to wind up and sell their estates for whatever they would fetch4 ,gardens that had cost lakhs were sold for as many hundreds1 and the very word 8,tea0 stank in the nostrils of the commercial public4 ,a few of the best companies held on1 as also such individuals embarked in the speculation as could weather the storm2 but some of the companies were bowed down with heavy debts1 and it has been with many1 from that cause1 a losing race ever since4 ,this great smash occurred in #ahfg4 ,i purpose1 therefore1 to examine into the future prospects of the industry1 now that time has been given to test its vitality4 ,naturally the mistakes made at the first have not been repeated since1 so the speculation has had more or less of a fair chance to show what it can do4 ,in the first place1 the share list of ,tea companies in the public prints does not at all represent the true position of ,tea property to-day4 ,it only gives the dividends declared and the value of the shares in those few limited liability companies which were able to weather the storm1 but who1 in common with all the others1 were bowed down with debt1 and are suffering up to the present time1 both from that and the numberless mistakes made at the commencement of the enterprise4 ,there are a few notable exceptions1 even among the ,tea companies4 ,some of these have done very well1 pay large dividends1 and are quoted at a high premium1 which shows that ,tea can and will pay even with the disadvantages attached to limited liability companies4 ,i mean that in these latter work is always expensively done1 and that much of the profits are swallowed up by secretaries1 directors1 c41 besides which1 generally from interested motives1 the ,teas are sent home for sale which private planters know from experience is not the best plan4 ,but to return to the share list4 ,the very many gardens held by firms or private individuals are absent1 and inasmuch as many of these were begun more lately1 and consequently1 the blunders made in other gardens were avoided1 it is evident that their position1 if it could be ascertained1 would give the true picture needed4 ,there is one class of plantations which it would be by no means fair to include4 ,i mean those gardens bought for a mere song during the panic4 ,on many of these necessarily enormous profits have been made1 but it proves nothing1 inasmuch as the profits1 to be legitimate profits for criticism1 should on the debit side include the whole cost incurred in making the plantation4 ,to form a fair appreciation of the profits ,tea planting can give1 we must select gardens constructed after knowledge on the subject was attained1 where good management1 combined with economy in all details1 has been carried out1 and where the necessary natural conditions for success exist--and such are rare4 ,but first let me explain what ,i mean by the 8necessary natural conditions for success40 ,manageable areas2 flat or nearly flat land for the garden2 a good class of indigenous and hybrid plants2 local labour1 or anyhow a good proportion of this2 facilities for manuring2 a good soil2 a good ,tea climate2 and cheap means of transport constitute these1 and where they exist ,i hold ,tea must1 and does1 pay well4 ,i don't believe in plantations of #fjj or #hjj acres2 some of these pay1 but they would pay much better if reduced in size4 ,a garden of #cjj acres1 yielding even at the rate of four maunds an acre1 will pay much better than another of #ejj acres1 yielding but two and a-half or three maunds4 ,the reason is obvious1 the larger produce is against a smaller expenditure4 ,were ,i to commence a ,tea plantation to-day1 it should not exceed #cjj or #djj acres in size4 ,this passion for large areas is the rock on which1 more than any other1 ,tea ,companies have wrecked themselves2 experience has already shown this1 and will show it more1 as time goes on4 ,flat land for ,tea gardens is a great desideratum4 ,steep lands are difficult to cultivate2 the soil is continually washing away from the roots of the plants2 it is impossible to manure them successfully1 and the consequence of all this is that the ,tea bushes do not thrive4 ,the ,chinese plant gives a small and inferior produce1 the indigenous and hybrid kind a larger and very superior one2 thus ,i think the latter one of the 8necessary conditions for success40 ,on the other points1 with the exception of manuring1 nothing need be said1 inasmuch as their necessity is evident2 but on the point of manure ,i must say a few words4 ,the ,tea plant is being continually denuded of its leaves2 nothing is returned to the soil2 and consequently in process of time that soil is exhausted4 ,it was held once that manure destroyed the flavour of ,tea4 ,this idea1 at variance with all agricultural experience1 is now completely exploded1 like many others received from the ,chinamen who first came from the ,flowery ,land to teach the art of ,tea cultivation and ,tea manufacture to the ,indian public4 ,many of them had never perhaps seen a ,tea bush1 anyhow in many respects theirs was faulty teaching1 and all experienced planters are convinced1 and it is truth1 that more knowledge on ,tea exists in ,india than ,china at the present time4 ,but to return to the subject of manure4 ,it is1 and is now generally allowed to be1 a necessity to the lengthened and successful maintenance of a plantation4 ,means for its production are now largely adopted in ,assam and ,cachar1 and the results will be a yield per acre the most sanguine have never dreamt of4 ,chittagong1 on this head1 has great advantages2 manure in any quantity can there be procured for a trifle1 and the results have shown its great value4 ,we have scarcely yet entered on the third stage to which any new speculation1 after the two first 7the wild venture1 and the unreasoning panic have passed71 tends2 but as knowledge of the financial results of ,tea plantations in the hands of private firms and private individuals increases1 that third stage will dawn1 if it has not done so already4 ,it consists in a sober appreciation of the subject opposed to both the extremely exulting and depressing views passed through1 and when it arrives1 the great and successful future of ,indian ,tea will be only a question of time4 ,,footnotes3 #hd ,note to ,third ,edition4--,the above three statements1 quite true when written1 are not so now4 ,the heavy fall in the value of both ,indian and ,chinese ,teas in #ahgg1 while pressing hard on the ,indian producer1 has certainly had the one good effect for him of making ,indian ,teas more widely known4 ,they are generally known now1 in many cases sold pure as ,indian ,tea1 and used by all retail dealers to give the body1 or strength lacking in most ,chinese kinds4 #he ,note to ,third ,edition4--,yes2 the demand has largely increased1 but1 alas6 production has increased in a greater ratio4 ,in short1 the supply exceeds the demand1 and hence the low prices now ruling4 ,as regards the use of ,indian ,teas1 so much have the ,english public been now made familiar with their flavour1 they1 as a rule1 reject any ,teas which have it not more or less4 ,in fact1 the ,english public1 as ,i predicted years ago1 have now begun to like the new flavour1 and even pure ,indian ,teas are now relished by many4 #hf ,note to ,third ,edition4--,the imports have been as follows during the last three years3-- #ahge #be1fae1jjj4 #ahgf #bi1chd1jjj4 #ahgg #ca1hhb1jjj4 #hg ,note to ,third ,edition4--,the annual consumption of all ,teas in ,great ,britain in #ahgg was3-- ,chinese #aeh1jjj1jjj ,india #bh1jjj1jjj ----------- ,total #ahf1jjj1jjj #hh ,note to ,third ,edition4--,in #ahgf the average prices of the two kinds in bond were3--,chinese1 #as4 #b;d42 ,indian1 #as4 #aj;d4 per lb4 ,,additions ,,to ,,the ,,fourth ,,edition4 ,,chapter ,,xxxii4 ,,countries ,,outside ,,china ,,and ,,india ,,that ,,produce ,,tea4 ,so much has the industry marched since the ,third ,edition was published in #ahgh that ,i think it well to add the following pages to my book4 ,i will first consider the countries outside ,india and ,china which produce ,tea1 or wish to do so4 ,,ceylon4 ,this is likely to prove a formidable competitor4 ,as far as ,i can gather1 ,tea plants 7of both the ,assam and ,china kinds7 were introduced into ,ceylon in #ahda1 but it is only during the last few years ,tea planting has been taken up in earnest4 ,a ,mr4 ,shand1 who seems to have studied ,tea in ,ceylon1 estimates #ejj lbs4 per acre as the produce when in full bearing4 ,this is #f-a_/d maunds1 and though less than the best ,indian gardens give1 it is considerably above the average all over ,india4 ,ceylon ,tea finds a ready market in ,london4 ,the parcels vary much1 as they do from ,india1 but in the past year 7#ahhb7 many very desirable lots were sent home4 ,i believe1 take it all in all1 ,ceylon ,tea is no better1 and no worse1 than ,indian ,tea4 ,with ,tea prices as they are to-day1 ,i would not myself commence ,tea cultivation in ,india1 ,ceylon1 or anywhere4 ,i feel sure1 therefore1 if ,ceylon planters rush into ,tea1 as they did in ,india in times past1 they will regret it4 ,but ,i hear that made ,tea gardens can be bought there cheap1 and under these circumstances ,tea will probably pay the purchasers well4 ,,johore4 ,h4,h4 the ,maharajah there has started a small ,tea garden1 but as there are in it only two acres of ,tea1 the whole thing is quite an experiment yet4 ,the climate is said to be favourable1 and land easily acquired4 ,cheap labour is the difficulty4 ,may it long continue so6 ,there is too much ,tea already2 the low prices ruling result simply from supply exceeding demand4 ,thus ,i hope ,johore will not produce ,tea4 ,the following is from the ,tea ,gazette3-- ,,tea ,,in ,,johore4 ,we have lately published several articles on the subject of ,tea in ,johore and the prospects of ,tea plantations in the ,malay ,peninsula4 ,the soil and climate are all that can be desired for the successful cultivation of the ,tea plant2 there is abundance of land lying idle which can be obtained on advantageous terms2 but all hopes of establishing the ,tea industry on a prosperous footing are frustrated by the want of cheap ,indian labour4 ,a correspondent writes on this subject to the ,ceylon ,observer as follows3-- 8,i was pretty well disgusted with ,johore at first4 ,i got such fever as nearly finished me up twice4 ,a new comer from ,ceylon says he had ,wellawaya fever and all other fevers in ,ceylon1 but he never felt anything to come near the severity of ,johore fever4 ,liberian coffee does first-class in the low country4 ,cocoa is being tried with apparent success4 ,tea is also promising4 ,you may have seen about some samples sold in ,london1 at a high figure4 ,all this is nice enough1 but what's the good of it when we have not a plentiful supply of labour over which we can have complete control8 ,so you see1 the burden of my letter is an indefinite supply of labour40 ,strenuous efforts are1 however1 being made to arrange with the ,government for the importation of labourers from this country1 which1 if successful1 will inevitably result in the cultivation on a large scale of the ,tea plant in ,johore4 ,in another column will be found a description of the ,maharajah of ,johore's experimental ,tea plantation at ,tanjong ,putri1 ,johore4 ,,japan4 ,sends its ,teas principally to ,america4 ,the ,tea is of a greenish nature1 and experiments to manufacture black ,tea have not1 it seems1 been successful4 ,the following should give a hope to ,indian ,tea planters3-- ,,japan ,,tea4 ,to the ,editor of the ,japan ,herald4 ,dear ,sir1--,i read your article on ,tea contained in last ,saturday's paper1 anent the deterioration in quality of one of the country's principal articles of export1 and can fully confirm the chief points contained therein4 ,but in addition1 from my personal experience1 there appears to exist a steadily increasing disregard of care in the preparation of the leaf up country1 and the evil1 though existing for the last three or four years1 is much more manifest this season1 and is worthy of being brought under the especial notice of parties interested in the welfare of this country's produce4 ,i submit for your inspection a sample of coarse leaf sifted out of a parcel of good quality1 and the proportion of similar stuff in the chop amounts to fully #c per cent41 very much affecting the good appearance of the fired leaf4 ,this defect no doubt arises from the attempted production of too great an amount of cured leaf for each hand employed per diem in the process1 to be attributed no doubt to the enhanced cost of labour in the interior4 ,but the defect is of vital importance for the future of ,japan ,teas in ,america4 ,the buyer for distribution amongst consumers in that country is greatly influenced by the 8appearance0 of the leaf1 despite its relative intrinsic quality in infusion1 in comparison with a ,tea of worse appearance1 hence the high facing and colouring at present so much in vogue4 ,if the ,japanese producers continue the present style of manufacturing the leaf up country1 so surely will ,japan ,teas decline in favour in ,america1 as the foreign shipper here cannot make up the leaf prepared up country to the standard required by the ,american buyers1 and with the prospect of a possibility of ,oolongs and even blacks becoming ere long dangerous rivals with consumers in the ,united ,states1 it behoves the ,japanese ,tea growers to turn their attention towards an improvement in production in their own country before they attempt to rival foreign competitors at this side4--,yours faithfully1 ,,yamato4 ,yokohama1 ,aug4 #ai1 #ahha4 ,we have inspected the sample of coarse leaf referred to in the above letter1 and though we cannot pretend to any critical knowledge of ,tea1 we can confirm the statements of our correspondent1 and hold the specimen at our office1 where it can be seen by anyone desirous of doing so4--,editor1 ,japan ,herald4 ,i know not where this next extract came from1 but it appears they understand adulteration in ,japan3-- ,mr4 ,yanagiya might1 however1 have gone a step farther1 and have given particulars of the various analyses1 and have mentioned that the 8leaf0 of the various samples showed a large proportion of leaves quite different to those of the ,tea shrub1 and for the presence of which not even the astute foreigner--that bugbear of ,japanese commerce--can be held accountable4 ,we have heard this season loud complaints of the presence of leaves entirely distinct from those of the ,tea plant amongst purchases4 ,these consisted principally of wisteria1 willow and a species of ash1 but the native growers were impartial1 and several other species of shrubs also contributed their quota to the frauds practised by the ,japanese4 ,the probable reason of the falling off in the quantity of one of the leading articles of export from ,japan is not difficult to guess at1 nor can the ,japanese say that they have not received full and timely warning of the danger threatening the popularity of ,japan ,tea4 ,a reckless over-production1 excessive and close picking of the shrubs1 and great carelessness in pruning and manuring the tree--caused1 no doubt1 in no small degree by the high rate of wages in the interior--is militating against the realisation of a good crop1 and the peasant is too intent upon immediate profits to forego the picking of the third crop of a season under existing circumstances4 ,the result of all this has been that--at the close of last season--a quantity of worthless leaf was poured upon the market1 finally sold at almost nominal figures1 and shipped across to the ,united ,states1 where it remains an incubus on the figures of stock1 and a source of future abhorrence to any unfortunate purchaser towards anything bearing the name of ,japan ,tea4 ,the following is from the report of the ,japanese ,consul at ,san ,francisco4 ,i should have thought the ,americans were too sensible 8to prefer coloured ,teas30 ,it has however come to my knowledge that in the ,eastern ,states the ,tea was analyzed1 and adulteration was discovered2 such as the admixture of other leaves and poisonous ingredients which are used for colouring the ,tea before it is exported1 and that the markets in the ,eastern ,states being overstocked1 no ,tea1 unless of the best quality1 can find purchasers4 ,this is a very deplorable state of affairs4 ,the colouring is made by the foreign merchants residing in ,japan1 for ,americans prefer coloured ,tea1 and a few ,japanese merchants may have imitated them1 and exported on their own account4 ,the exports of ,japan ,tea to ,america have declined from seventeen to fourteen million in one year6 ,not strange if all the above is true4 ,the following from the ,tea ,gazette bears out what ,i say above as to ,japan black ,tea3-- ,,japan ,,black ,,tea4 ,mr4 ,consul ,euslie writes from ,kanagawa 7,japan7 as follows concerning black ,tea3--,this has1 on the whole1 proved a failure1 although the production continues on a limited scale4 ,the climate and soil of this country appear unfitted to the growth of plants producing a leaf of the quality necessary to make good black4 ,teas resembling good leaf congous can be made with good and even handsome leaf1 several samples being in appearance very similar to ,indian ,teas of pekoe class1 but lacking strength1 and not being nearly equal to good ,chinese ,foochow ,teas in that respect4 ,a small amount of these ,teas has been shipped to ,germany on native account1 a ,german financier providing the necessary funds2 but thus far the outcome of these shipments has not transpired4 ,the results generally of #ahha have not proved as satisfactory as those of the preceding year2 the whole crop1 and more particularly the first picking1 shows signs of hasty and careless preparation4 ,the amount of ,tea exported from ,japan was decidedly in excess of the requirements of the ,united ,states and ,canada1 and a considerable portion of the shipments for the year had to be sacrificed at prices which did not cover laying down cost4 ,all this is hopeful for our ,indian ,teas1 as we can manufacture the greenish ,tea they like--that is1 we can do it if they won't take our black1 but they have begun to do so4 ,the above mode of manufacture in ,japan is new to us in ,india4 ,the process of steaming the ,tea is as follows3--,as soon as picked it is at once steamed1 all damp or wet leaves being thrown on one side1 excepting those that may be a little wet with dew4 ,in order to obtain the proper application of heat1 a few leaves are put into a shallow basket1 spread out evenly1 and the lid put on2 the basket is then placed over a charcoal fire box or stove1 a perfume is at once perceived4 ,when the greeny smell has subsided1 the leaves are removed1 spread on a piece of new matting1 and fanned briskly so as to draw out the heat4 ,after the lapse of some little time the ,tea is placed in a tray1 and then undergoes a firing process1 the length of which is regulated either by the minute hand of a watch or the beats of a pulse1 and depends a good deal on the manipulator's own ideas4 ,,java4#hi ,much of this ,tea goes to ,holland and ,northern ,germany4 ,i know ,tea cultivation in ,java is carried out very carefully and very successfully1 but this one fact is all ,i know as to ,java or its ,teas4 ,,america4 ,that the proper climate for ,tea can be found there 7a huge ,continent to choose from67 goes without saying4 ,but equally sure is it that ,tea will not pay except labour is cheap4 ,by the extract below1 it appears ,georgia has been selected for experimental ,tea cultivation1 and ,i doubt not it is a good selection3-- ,,tea ,,planting ,,in ,,america4 ,successful experiments have been made in this branch of cultivation in the ,united ,states1 as is shown by a report just published by ,mr4 ,jackson1 a ,scotch gentleman now settled in ,america1 who was at one time manager of the estates of the ,scottish ,assam ,company4 ,the ,commissioner of ,agriculture has1 at ,mr4 ,jackson's advice1 selected a tract of land in ,georgia for an experimental farm1 on which the raising of ,tea on an extended scale will be carefully and thoroughly tried4 ,samples of the ,teas already produced by ,mr4 ,jackson have been sent to ,messrs4 ,thompson1 tea merchants1 ,mincing ,lane1 ,london1 to be examined4 ,the reply was that--8,they represented ,teas of a high type4 ,the flavour1 though not strong1 is remarkably fragrant4 ,in appearance they resemble ,indian ,tea1 but the flavour is more like that of the finest ,chinese black ,tea1 or of the hill ,teas of ,india40 ,no reason why the ,teas should not be good1 but the labour difficulty will1 ,i think1 prevent ,tea paying there1 as elsewhere in ,america1 for ,mr4 ,jackson himself1 who continues the above1 asks further on1 8,can we afford to pay our labourers four times as much as they pay in ,india and still make ,tea a success80 ,he1 strange to say1 tries to prove 8yes40 ,i say no1 a thousand times no1 in spite of all ,mr4 ,jackson says4 ,i like1 however1 to give both sides of a question1 and so will let ,mr4 ,jackson speak for himself3-- ,the stock cry continually raised against ,tea culture in this country is1 how can you raise ,tea in a country where wages are so high8 ,you can cultivate ,tea at a profit only in a country where labour is at the lowest possible minimum1 and so on4 ,and so it is taken for granted that the ,tea culture is to be allowed to retain its antiquated forms and systems for all time1 and that the skill and intelligence of a civilized nation can do nothing to raise it to a level with corresponding branches of agriculture1 such1 for instance1 as rice growing4 ,what would the people of ,south ,carolina say if told that the only way to cultivate rice at a profit was to sow all their seed in nursery beds and1 when sprouted1 to transplant their entire crop1 seed by seed1 by hand1 as is done in ,india8 ,what would a ,minnesota farmer say if told that the only implement with which he could profitably rear a crop of corn was the hoe1 wielded by an attenuated skeleton of a man8 ,if the hundreds of wealthy ,tea planters in ,assam were told that they must return to the original system of manufacturing their ,teas by hand1 they would throw up their farms in despair4 ,seventy million pounds of ,tea are now annually manufactured by machinery in ,india and ,java1 and ,i have satisfied myself that green ,teas1 suitable for the ,american market1 can be manufactured at one-third the cost of the black ,teas prepared by machinery for the ,english market4 ,there is but one division of ,tea culture into which the labour question would enter at all1 and that is the picking of the leaves4 ,everything else can be carried on with the mechanical precision of the cultivator1 reaper1 and floutring mill4 ,is not the real truth of the matter to be found in the fact that the ,american people know nothing--absolutely nothing--of the modern system of ,tea culture and manufacture1 and are therefore in no position to form a sound judgment of the possibilities of their country and countrymen in regard to ,tea8 ,i say again1 as ,i have often said before1 that the question of labour will prove no barrier to successful ,tea culture in ,america4 ,let any who are interested enough in this subject to feel sceptical about it favour me with a call at ,no4 #bbi ,east ,fourth ,street and ,i will take pleasure in showing them what achievements modern skill and mechanical genius have already attained and what may very easily be accomplished in ,america4 ,i believe that then there is a bright future in store for successful ,tea culture4 ,in another place ,mr4 ,jackson says he has always cultivated with ploughs1 and done it successfully4 ,naturally this would make his cultivation much cheaper1 and it is high time1 as ,i say elsewhere1 that we in ,india should try and do the same thing4 ,we1 all the world knows1 how ingenious1 how inventive the ,americans are1 and thus it is possible they may by the use of machinery for all branches of manufacture1 by improved steam-ploughs and other agricultural instruments which shall dispense with hand labour for cultivation1 so cheapen the cost of ,tea that its production will pay in spite of the high rate of wages ruling4 ,only in this way1 however1 can the industry succeed in ,america1 and if it be done 7,i hope it may1 for we in ,india shall then benefit by the ideas carried out71 the ,united ,states will add one more laurel to the many they have achieved already in other branches of commerce4 ,,natal4 ,tea here too6 ,where1 alas6 is it not8 ,the following is in a report from ,natal3-- ,we have glanced at the past and seen the present condition of the ,tea enterprise4 ,the most important matter is still before us--the future of ,tea in ,natal4 ,it must be remembered that an industry may be profitable to encourage for local consumption1 and yet fail when it comes to be exported4 ,this production 7,tea7 must be looked at as one which1 if it progresses1 must shortly be exported4 ,three hundred acres of ,tea in full bearing will supply to the full the present need of the ,colony and its surroundings1 i4e41 taking the import returns as our guide2 and even with increasing demand1 that demand can soon be met4 ,therefore the importance attaching to the question1 8,can we in ,natal grow ,tea to pay1 so as to compete with other countries in the markets of the world80 ,the ,tea-growing districts of ,india1 till lately confined to ,assam1 ,cachar1 and neighbourhood1 have now been extended to the ,neilgherries and ,ceylon1 and these places1 till lately confining themselves to coffee1 are leaving that most precarious crop and growing ,tea and cinchona4 ,both these districts at present export ,tea to ,england4 ,it is said that ,tea is to be introduced into ,queensland and the northern territory of ,australia2 and that the ,southern ,states of the ,union and ,california contemplate ,tea growing4 ,are we justified1 then1 in believing that ,tea may be profitably exported from ,natal8 ,before considering this1 we have to bear in mind that ,tea is placed in the ,london market in large quantities at a very low price2 ,china ,teas as low as #e-a_/b;d4 per lb4 in bond1 and ,indian ,teas as low as #h;d4 per lb4 in bond2 but again the price extends to #cs4 and even #ds4 per lb4 in bond4 ,all these things have to be weighed and well considered by anyone before embarking in this enterprise to any great extent4 ,in all matters of agriculture the labour question is the foremost1 after it is known that the plant will flourish4 ,to attempt to base the success of this particular industry upon any other than that of coolie labour would be foolish1 as we all know that ,kafirs are not to be relied upon2 therefore the cost of labour has to be considered4 ,we well know that all the ,tea estates of ,india have to be supplied with imported coolies--the natives of the districts concerned will not work unless casually--but the cost of coolies in ,natal must be more than the cost of coolies in ,assam--therefore in that item the advantage must be in favour of the ,indian planter4 ,countries such as ,queensland and the ,united ,states of ,america must either import labour1 or pay a much higher rate than we do2 hence so far as these countries are concerned1 ,natal will hold its own4 ,i have not done yet4 ,here is another place where it seems they mean to try ,tea4 ,i do hope that climate1 soil1 labour1 something will be found unsuitable4 ,,fiji ,,tea4 ,mr4 ,j4 ,e4 ,mason1 of the ,alpha ,tea and ,coffee ,estate1 ,taviuni1 ,fiji1 has forwarded to ,mr4 ,j4 ,o4 ,moody1 the expert1 of ,melbourne1 samples of the first ,fijian ,tea produced in his part of the world2 at the same time writing that early next year he hoped to pluck off #cj acres planted with ,tea1 and that the samples sent were hastily made in a barrel with a frying-pan of charcoal4 ,mr4 ,j4 ,o4 ,moody reports3--8,fiji ,pekoe leaf3 ,handsome1 small1 even1 golden tipped1 evenly and well fermented4 ,fiji ,pekoe liquor3 ,very strong1 full1 rich1 and pungent pekoe flavour1 thick1 with deep red infusion4 ,an invaluable ,tea for mixing1 and worth about #bs4 #f;d4 per lb4 in bond4 ,fiji ,pekoe ,souchong leaf3 ,well made1 wiry1 twisted1 rich1 black tippy leaf1 evenly and well fermented ,fiji ,pekoe ,souchong flavour1 with good1 bright1 red infusion4 ,a fine ,tea to drink alone1 and worth about #as4 #i;d4 per lb4 in bond4 ,these ,teas have the character of good ,ceylon growths1 and are in every respect suitable ,teas for general consumption1 and such samples are sure to meet with ready sale in ,australasia or ,great ,britain40 ,here again1 ,i am told1 the labour question is the doubtful point4 ,tea cannot be made to pay without cheap labour1 and the sooner all these new ,tea countries learn the lesson the better for the pockets of the projectors4 ,i may add1 the better for the ,indian planter's pocket too1 for any increase in the supply is hurtful4 ,in closing this chapter1 ,i would give one word of advice to intending ,tea planters in ,india1 or indeed anywhere4 ,there is too much ,tea already1 why plant more8 ,if you must 8go into ,tea0 you may do so and probably make money1 but it will not be by planting it4 ,if you look about you can buy a plantation ready made for far less than you could make such1 and in doing so there is no reason why it should not pay1 and pay well4 ,if you make a garden you will have five or six years to wait for any return2 you attempt what requires knowledge and experience to succeed in1 and begging your success1 who can say what the market will be then8 ,i have far from exhausted the subject of these new ,tea fields1 but my space is limited1 and several other points demand attention4 ,,footnote3 #hi ,much about ,java and its ,teas can be found in a book entitled 8,java1 or ,how to ,manage a ,colony10 by ,j4 ,w4 ,b4 ,money4 ,crown #hvo1 #b vols4 ,hurst and ,blackett4 ,,chapter ,,xxxiii4 ,,statistics ,,regarding ,,indian ,,tea4 ,as early as #aghj a few ,chinese plants were to be seen in ,calcutta cultivated by a ,colonel ,kyd4 ,the possibility of cultivating ,tea in ,india was first mooted in #ahce-cf1 and the ,indian ,government started an experimental garden at ,lukimpore 7,assam7 at that time4 ,indigenous ,tea was first discovered in ,assam by a ,mr4 ,bruce in #ahcj4 ,in #ahde and following years the ,government imported large quantities of ,china seed and established nurseries on the ,himalayas4 ,tea planting was commenced in ,india by the ,assam ,company about #ahdj1 and the cultivation was undertaken in other districts in the following years3--,kumaon and ,gurwhal1 #ahej2 ,cachar1 #ahee2 ,dehra-,dhoon1 #ahee2 ,sylhet1 #aheg2 ,kangra1 #aheh2 ,darjeeling1 #ahfj2 ,terai1 #ahfj2 ,chittagong1 #ahfj2 ,neilgherries1 #ahfb2 ,chota ,nagpore1 #ahgb2 ,dooars1 #ahge4 ,thus it may be said ,tea planting in ,india dates from #ahdj by one ,company1 but #ahej by individuals4 ,the following figures show the imports of ,indian ,teas into ,great ,britain since #ahgj in millions of pounds3-- -------------- ,millions ,yearof ,pounds -------------- #gj #ac #ga #ae-a_/d #gb #ag #gc #ah-a_/d #gd #ag-a_/d #ge #be-a_/b #gf #bi-a_/d #gg #ca-c_/d #gh #cf #gi #ch-a_/b #hj #dd #ha #de-c_/d #hb #ed-c_/d -------------- ,i may here remark that while the imports of ,indian ,teas have1 since #ahgg1 increased by #bc million pounds1 the imports of ,china ,teas have increased by #d million pounds only in the same time4 ,the deliveries and stocks were as follows for #ahha and #ahhb in millions of pounds3-- #ahha4 #ahhb4 ,deliveries #dh-c_/d #ej-a_/b ,stocks on #cast ,december #ah-a_/b #ba-c_/d ,during the last #c months of #ahhb the deliveries averaged #e million pounds per month4 ,in ,january1 #ahhc1 they were #e-a_/b millions1 and in ,february 7,i write in ,march7 #e millions4 ,deliveries at this rate mean #fj millions a year4 ,i estimate ,indian produce for #ahhc at about #fb millions4 ,deduct the probable quantity to be sent to countries outside the ,united ,kingdom1 #e-a_/b and local consumption in ,india ------------------ ,leaving available for the home market #ef-a_/b millions4 ,thus1 if deliveries continue at the present rate1 demand must soon equal1 if not exceed1 supply1 and the consequence naturally must be enhanced prices1 which1 however1 will surely to some extent check the deliveries4 ,there is1 however1 a hopeful feature regarding ,indian ,teas4 ,the taste for them is increasing greatly4 ,a very small per centage of the public drink them pure 7a large per centage in ,ireland71 but the public generally are now accustomed to the strength attained only by mixing1 say one third of ,indian to two thirds ,china1 and will nothing weaker4 ,thus retail dealers must continue to use them1 and thus though1 as remarked1 increased prices will check deliveries1 they will not do so with ,indian ,teas to the same extent they would with ,china4 ,another hopeful feature is 7for details see further on7 a growing demand for ,indian ,tea is now established in ,australia1 and has quite lately commenced in ,america4 ,thus1 ,i think1 the increased produce from ,india 7which in no case can be large for some years#ij7 will probably be met by this outside demand1 leaving no greater quantity than now available for the home market4 ,true ,ceylon 7a new field7 will increase the supply1 but it will not be by much for some time4 ,take it all in all1 ,i look hopefully at the prospects of ,indian ,tea in the future4 ,i never anticipate a range of prices as good even as ruled in #ahha1 but a good deal better than we had in #ahhb1 and thus enough to make the industry a paying one4 ,i have lately received a valuable paper on ,indian ,tea statistics from ,messrs4 ,gow and ,wilson1 ,indian ,tea brokers4 ,i cannot transcribe the diagram they allude to1 but otherwise ,i give the complete paper as sent me3-- #ai1 ,little ,tower ,street1 ,mincing ,lane1 ,london1 #aeth ,february1 #ahhc4 8,,indian ,,tea ,,statistics40 ,dear ,sir1--,now that the annual figures are made up1 we beg to submit a statement showing the continued progress made by ,indian ,tea in public estimation1 together with comparative figures relating to the consumption of ,china and ,indian ,teas1--,and remain1 dear ,sir1 yours faithfully1 ,,gow ,,and ,,wilson1 ,indian ,tea ,brokers4 ,the very considerable increase in the home consumption of ,indian ,tea during the last quarter of #ahhb1 and ,january this year1 once more attracts attention to the growing importance of ,india as a field of production1 and the increasing appreciation of the ,british public for ,indian ,teas1 whether used alone or mixed with ,china sorts4 ,notwithstanding the check to consumption in the early part of #ahhb1 when ,indian medium and common ,teas were just #ej per cent4 dearer than they now are1 the average monthly deliveries of the first three months were #c1fgj1jjj lbs41 or #bcj1jjj lbs4 a month more than the average of the first quarter of #ahhj1 with prices much the same at both periods4 ,quotations last year receded step by step1 and1 as prices dropped1 so we found the consumption grew1 till for the last quarter of #ahhb1 with its very low range of prices1 the average monthly deliveries reached the unprecedented figures of over #e-a_/d million pounds4 ,the average monthly deliveries in each quarter of the last five years have been as follows3-- 7,in thousands of lbs41 #jjj's omitted47 ,jan-,mar4 ,april-,june4 ,july-,sept4 ,oct-,dec4 #ahgh #c1baf #c1abi #b1hfi #c1jda #ahgi #c1ddd #b1fhh #b1dfa #c1aee #ahhj #c1dda #c1dah #c1ebb #d1bbh #ahha #d1aig #d1agb #c1hbd #d1jid #ahhb #c1fgj #d1abe #d1aaf #e1bed ,during the year #ahgh1 out of every #ajj lbs4 of all descriptions of ,tea consumed in this country1 #bc1 or one in about four-and-a-third1 was ,indian ,tea4 ,last year the proportion was #ca per cent41 or nearly one in three4 ,these figures show1 in the clearest manner1 how steadily ,indian ,tea is becoming popular4 ,the unevenness of the quarterly deliveries of ,china ,tea in the year #ahgh and #ahgi is due to the apprehensions felt in those years that the duty would be increased4 ,in consequence1 clearances were hastily made before the ,budget announcement1 and the deliveries immediately after sank to very low figures1 increasing again as stocks of retailers were depleted4 ,in ,march1 #ahhj1 again there was a pressure to clear ,teas1 which brought up the total deliveries of the first quarter to a high level4 ,a considerable check was given to deliveries of ,indian ,teas during the latter part of #ahha and the early part of #ahhb through the rise of prices during that period4 ,the most noticeable feature of the last three calendar years is the stationariness of deliveries of ,china ,teas at the reduction from the level of both #ahgh and #ahgi4 ,approximately the deliveries of ,china and ,indian ,teas in the five years ending #cast ,december in each case may be given1 in millions of pounds1 as follows3-- #ahgh4 #ahgi4 #ahhj4 #ahha4 #ahhb4 ,china #aba #abe #aae #aaa #aac ,indian #cg #ce #dd #di #ea ,the deliveries of ,china ,tea have receded from #abe million pounds in #ahgi to #aac million pounds in #ahhb1 while the home consumption of ,indian ,tea has increased from #ce million pounds to #ea million pounds in the corresponding years4 ,notwithstanding the supply of ,indian ,tea for the season #ahhb-c is estimated at the unprecedented figure of #ee million pounds against the actual imports in the previous two season years of about #ej million and #df million pounds respectively1 it appears not unlikely the consumption of #ahhb-c will once again1 as in #ahhj-ha1 overtake the supply and reduce the stocks by ,july next to the equivalent of less than three months' deliveries4 ,we find that there has been received to the #cast ,december last1 #cc1bah1jjj lbs41 leaving to arrive #ba1ghb1jjj lbs4 for the six months ending #cjth ,june next1 to make up the estimated supply of #ee million pounds which1 according to ,indian advices1 will be available for shipment to this country4 ,the imports of the current six months1 therefore1 will be but slightly in excess of those of the corresponding half-year1 when #bj1idh1jjj lbs4 were received2 for although the shipments of #ahhb-c are expected to show an excess of more than five million pounds over #ahha-b1 exporters this season have hurried forward their ,teas early and in the six months ended ,december #cast the arrivals in the ,united ,kingdom were #cb1bah1jjj lbs4 against only #bh1idg1jjj lbs4 in the corresponding half of #ahha4 ,the significant feature of the movement1 however1 is the very agreeable surprise1 month by month1 caused by the publication of the delivery figures4 ,these compare for the last few months as follows3-- ,deliveries of the last ,four ,months compared with corresponding ,months4 ,october4 ,november4 ,december4 ,january4 lbs4 lbs4 lbs4 lbs4 #ahhb-c #e1acb1jjj #e1agd1jjj #d1deg1jjj #e1ejb1jjj #ahha-b #d1cec1jjj #d1bje1jjj #c1gbd1jjj #d1ajd1jjj --------- --------- --------- --------- ,increase #ggi1jjj #ifi1jjj #gcc1jjj #a1cih1jjj ,a continuance of similar large increases is most probable1 especially as we compare with the relatively small deliveries of ,february to ,april inclusive of last year1 when only #aj1dhi1jjj lbs4 were taken from warehouse1 against #ab1ghb1jjj lbs4 in the same months of #ahha--;a decrease of #b1bic1jjj in three months4 ,part of the decrease may be attributed to the then higher range of medium and common ,indian ,teas4 ,the net result of the above statistics is that--with no materially larger arrivals visible1 even with the liberal allowance of #e1jjj1jjj lbs4 increased shipments for the crop year--the deliveries give every promise of showing very considerable expansion1 and1 as we have said1 threaten for the complete year to more than absorb the extra supply4 ,to enable anyone to check and form an independent opinion on the forecast we venture to give1 we present below the imports and deliveries1 half-year by half-year1 for the four seasons #ahgi-hj to #ahhb-hc inclusive1 with the totals of each crop year3-- ,,imports ,,of ,,indian ,,tea4 #ahgi-hj4 #ahhj-ha4 #ahha-hb4 #ahhb-hc4 lbs4 lbs4 lbs4 lbs4 #ast ,july to #cast ,dec4 #bc1ecg1jjj #bi1adb1jjj #bh1idg1jjj #cc1bah1jjj #ast ,jan4 to #cjth ,june #ae1hfh1jjj #af1hai1jjj #bj1idh1jjj #iaba1ghb1jjj ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ,season year #ci1dje1jjj #de1ifa1jjj #di1hie1jjj #iaee1jjj1jjj ,,deliveries ,,of ,,indian ,,tea4 #ahgi-hj4 #ahhj-a4 #ahha-b4 #ahhb-c4 lbs4 lbs4 lbs4 lbs4 #ast ,july to #cast ,dec4 #af1hdg1jjj #bd1ceb1jjj #bc1gee1jjj #bg1aji1jjj #ast ,jan4 to #cjth ,june #ai1dfe1jjj #be1ajf1jjj #bc1chf1jjj #ibbh1hjb1jjj ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ,season year #cf1cab1jjj #di1deh1jjj #dg1ada1jjj #ibee1iaa1jjj ,these figures show an estimated supply to the end of ,june next of #ba1ghb1jjj lbs41 and an estimated consumption of #bh1hjb1jjj4 ,the former is based on the statements that the available supply for the ,united ,kingdom will be #ee million pounds1 and the latter on the actual delivery to ,january inclusive1 and estimated average deliveries of #d1ejj1jjj lbs4 a month for the remainder of the half-year4 ,having these figures before us1 we can proceed to calculate the effect on stocks4 ,at #cast ,december last we had in warehouse lbs4 a stock of #ba1gaf1jjj ,add six months' imports to ,june #cjth #ba1ghb1jjj ---------- ,total supply #dc1dih1jjj ,deduct estimated deliveries six months #bh1hjb1jjj ---------- ,leaving probable stock at #cjth ,june #ad1fif1jjj ,which will compare with 7at #cjth ,june1 #ahhb7 #ae1iia1jjj ,in stating the deliveries at an average of #d1ejj1jjj lbs4 for the next five months1 we have taken this amount merely for the purpose of arriving at a conclusion4 ,in case the deliveries of the months of ,february to ,june inclusive average1 as is generally expected1 #e1jjj1jjj lbs4 a month1 the stocks at #ast ,july next will be under #ab1bjj1jjj lbs41 or #c-c_/d million lbs4 less than at the corresponding date4 ,we can but consider this a very healthy outlook1 especially as it is simultaneous with the estimated decrease in the supply of ,china ,tea1 and the possibility that the shipments to the ,united ,kingdom may not reach the estimate4 ,with respect to the latter contingency1 we must recollect that new markets are being rapidly developed for ,indian ,tea4 ,australia1 ,america1 and other parts than the ,united ,kingdom took over three million pounds from #ast ,may to #cast ,december last year1 compared with less than a third of that quantity shipped thence from ,india in the corresponding period of #ahha4 ,a continuance of this rapid rate of outside demand would considerably curtail our supply1 and develope the growing ,indian industry4 ,,gow ,,and ,,wilson1 #ai1 ,little ,tower ,street1 ,london1 ,e4,c4 ,the diagram omitted shows as follows3 it gives the results quarterly1 ,i only give them yearly in millions of pounds4 ,,consumption ,,of ,,china ,,and ,,indian ,,teas ,,in ,,the ,,united ,,kingdom ,,for ,,the ,,last ,,five ,,years4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------ #ahgh4 #ahgi4 #ahhj4 #ahha4 #ahhb4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------ ,china #abh-a_/b #abe-a_/d #aad-a_/b #aaa-a_/d #aad ,all are ,millions ,indian #cf #ce-a_/b #dc-c_/d #dh-a_/b #ea-a_/b of ,pounds4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------ ,,totals4 #afd-a_/b #afj-c_/d #aeh-a_/d #aei-c_/d #afe-a_/b ---------------------------------------- ------------------------ ,thus1 while ,china ,tea consumption has decreased in five years by fourteen and a-half millions of pounds1 ,indian has increased by fifteen and a-half millions6 ,it must be remembered that the former table given at page #aid deals with imports1 this with consumption1 and thus the difference in the figures4 ,the following extract from the ,tea ,gazette 7,january1 #ahhc7 is interesting in a statistical point of view3-- ,the exports to ,australia 7which1 as it is well known1 have increased more than twenty-fold in six years7 now occupy a position only second to that of the ,united ,kingdom2 and if the ,p4 and ,o4 ,company would see its own interest1 it would facilitate by every means in its power so important a development of a great industry4 ,the ,straits ,settlements1 in spite of their proximity to ,china1 took last year ten times the quantity they took six years ago2 and ,persia1 strange to say1 has taken #ed1gablbs4 against #ccdlbs4 in #ahgf-gg--,turkey in ,asia and ,egypt1 together1 having taken also #ba1dhhlbs4 against #hhflbs4 in the same period4 ,mr4 ,liotard is of opinion that these are not a tithe of the openings that might be found2 and it is to be hoped that at the ,amsterdam ,exhibition and elsewhere the ,tea ,syndicate will in no way relax its efforts4 ,the imports of ,china ,tea to ,india have1 in the six years also above referred to1 increased about #fj per cent4 ,speaking on this point1 we are of opinion that the ,syndicate might well make efforts to increase the local consumption of ,indian ,tea to the replacement of ,chinas1 and we feel sure that such organised exertion would be followed by very satisfactory results4 ,the re-export of ,china ,tea from ,india shows four times the quantity of six years ago--by far the greater quantity going to ,persia and ,turkey in ,asia4 ,mr4 ,liotard thinks that the ,n4-,w4 ,p4 and the ,punjab might appropriate a good deal of this trade2 and from the character of the ,teas of these districts we are disposed to agree with him4 ,the great increase of export from ,karachi shows that this1 to some extent1 is being done4 ,the abolition of the duty on ,china ,tea imported to ,india1 under the recent free trade policy1 appears to have had a prejudicial effect on the planters in ,northern ,india--who can ill afford it4 ,the figures given at the commencement of the pamphlet show that the number of plantations in ,northern ,india has increased in six years from #hea to #a1dbb1 and the area from #d1bdf to #g1dff acres2 the outturn from #a1caa1aac lbs4 to #b1bga1ggc lbs4 ,these figures speak of great activity in production1 and show the necessity for every exertion being employed to open out new markets4 ,a combined ,syndicate for all the districts in ,northern ,india1 on the lines of the one now established in ,calcutta1 is suggested1 but how far this is practicable we are not at present prepared to say4 ,the following1 too1 from the ,tea ,gazette this year is in some respects hopeful3-- ,we see from the ,north ,china ,herald that the exports of ,tea from ,shanghai and the ,yang-tse ports to ,england during the current year have fallen off some six and a-half million pounds 7#h-a_/b per cent471 and that there is also a decrease of some six million pounds in the quantity sent to ,america this last year--making a difference of nearly thirty per cent4 ,on the other hand1 there has been an increase of nearly three million pounds 7#de per cent47 in the direct export to ,russian ports4 ,two large cargoes--one of nearly three million pounds destined for ,england1 and one of almost two million pounds bound for ,russia--were lost1 so that the real increase of ,china ,tea sent to ,russia is only one million pounds1 which would reduce the increase to about #ae per cent4 ,the decrease of ,tea sent to ,england becomes even greater1 reducing the receipts as compared with last year by nearly ten million pounds4 ,another aspect of the question must1 however1 be considered1 namely1 that the real displacement1 i4e41 in the amount of ,tea destined for the ,english market1 would be only six and a-half million pounds1 and it is not safe to reckon on a recurrence of loss of such a heavy quantity by shipwreck4 ,the decrease of ,china ,tea sent to ,america is almost entirely in green ,teas1 there being only a falling off of #dj1jjjlbs4 in black1 as compared with one of over six millions in green ,tea4 ,the falling off as regards the ,english market is much more evenly distributed between the two varieties1 the difference being greater in that of black than of green ,tea4 ,while ,america takes from the ,shanghai ports over four times as much green as black ,tea1 ,england1 on the other hand1 takes eleven times as much black ,tea as it does of green ,tea4 ,these last facts might make it worth the while of planters in the ,north-,west ,provinces and in the ,punjab to combine to exploit the ,american markets with half-chests of green ,tea1 for the manufacture of which those districts are famous1 and for which there is so little demand at present in the ,central ,asian market4 ,we merely throw out the suggestion1 knowing that most of the planters in these parts could ill afford to risk much in such an experiment4 ,it is possible that the ,syndicate here1 which already ships largely to ,america1 might arrange to ship green ,tea for such of the planters in ,northern ,india as cared to join the ,calcutta body4 ,the ,american demand for green ,tea is so large1 that a quantity representing the entire outturn of ,northern ,india would form but a small percentage of the whole1 and if ,indian green ,tea from the ,himalayas were taken up in that market1 a demand for the whole quantity produced might easily arise4 ,whether it would ever be able to compete with ,china green ,tea in the matter of price we do not know1 and we should think it would be up-hill work1 and attended with some loss--in the first instance at any rate4 ,the more ,tea each individual drinks1 the better doubtless for the producers4 ,it is satisfactory therefore to find the consumption per head is increasing in the ,united ,kingdom as follows3-- #ahgj4 #ahge4 #ahhj4 lbs4 lbs4 lbs4 #c4ha #d4dd #d4ei ,nearly #a lb4 per head more in #ahhj than #ahgj6 ,a few figures as to ,indian ,teas in ,australia and ,america will finish this ,chapter of ,statistics4 ,the consumption of ,indian ,tea in ,australia and the ,colonies stands as follows3-- #ahhj-ha ,little under #c_/d of a million lbs4 #ahha-hb ,nearly #a million #ahhb-hc ,estimated #b million ,this is a satisfactory increase1 but when we consider how vast is the great ,australasian field1 it stands to reason two millions is but a small fraction of what it eventually may be4 ,the outdoor rough life1 led more or less in the ,colonies1 makes its inhabitants the largest ,tea drinkers in the world4 ,for instance1 each white denizen in ,new ,zealand drinks nearly three times as much ,tea as each person in ,great ,britain6 ,the following was the consumption in lbs4 per head in #ahgh3-- ,united ,new ,kingdom4 ,victoria4 ,n4 ,s4 ,wales4 ,queensland4 ,zealand4 #d4ff #f4ib #g4ec #i4af #aa4je ,i now give1 in millions of lbs41 the consumption in #ahhj in the same ,colonies3-- ,victoria4 ,n4 ,s4 ,wales4 ,queensland4 ,new ,zealand4 #e-a_/b #e #b #c ,but what vast tracts exist outside these4 ,the total consumption of all the ,colonies must be very large4 ,we make the best ,tea in the world in ,india1 why should we not have a large share of the market8 ,the population of ,australia is nearly #b-a_/d millions1 and of ,tasmania and ,new ,zealand nearly #c_/d million1 say three millions in all1 or say three-quarters of the population of ,london4 ,what a field exists there for ,indian ,tea6 ,,america4 ,the yearly consumption 7,canada is included7 is over eighty million pounds1 nearly all supplied by ,china and ,japan4 ,it is quite lately ,indian ,teas have been sent to ,america2 so far1 their reception has been favourable4 ,but the ,americans are accustomed to a greener ,tea than we make in ,india1 and this will prove a difficulty4 ,still we can make the ,tea they like1 if they will buy it4 ,it is early to speculate much as to ,america1 but ,i think we shall succeed little by little1 especially as in the ,states they are awaking to the fact that both ,china and ,japan ,teas are adulterated4 ,in closing this chapter ,i must put on record the fact1 known to all in ,india1 that the great success achieved in ,australia1 and the opening thus early attained in ,america1 is entirely due to the labours of the ,calcutta ,tea ,syndicate1 and that ,i firmly believe1 much as they have done1 they would have done still more had they been properly supported by larger supplies of ,tea by the planters in ,india1 who1 as a class1 are strangely blind to the advantages of co-operation4 ,i can only hope in this respect they will do better in future4 ,,footnotes3 #ij ,it will not be large because much in the way of extensions has not been executed lately4 ,a higher range of prices will doubtless cause more land to be cultivated1 but no produce from such will be available for four or five years4 #ia ,estimated on basis of #ee1jjj1jjj lbs4 available for shipment to the ,united ,kingdom4 #ib ,estimated on average monthly deliveries1 ,february to ,june inclusive1 of #d1ejj1jjj lbs4 ,,chapter ,,xxxiv4 ,,markets ,,outside ,,great ,,britain4 ,i have forestalled a good deal on the above in the last chapter1 so this will be short1 but1 ,i hope1 cheering4 ,,australia4 ,this1 from the correspondent of the ,tea ,gazette in ,melbourne1 as to the size of chests1 should be attended to3-- ,if the planter wishes to get his ,tea direct into consumption1 the packages must be small1 to suit buyers4 ,in the ,colonies a large trade is done in #chlb4 half-chests4 ,they are within the purchasing power of a numerous class1 and are easy to handle4 ,a fierce fight has been going on in ,melbourne between the advocates of ,china and ,indian ,tea4 ,the latter say ,china ,tea is often adulterated1 but this is disputed by the former4 ,of course ,i cannot say which is right1 but chemical analysis1 to which ,china ,teas have been subjected in ,melbourne1 would seem to prove that in some cases they are not pure4 ,we all know ,china ,teas in ,london have1 in several instances1 been pronounced unfit for consumption1 so it is possible1 of course1 that similar ,teas are sent to ,australia4 ,the ,tea trade in ,china has taken alarm at our attempts on the ,australian market4 ,this is what the ,north ,china ,herald 7an organ of the ,china ,tea trade7 said lately3-- ,there are no squeezing mandarins in ,india2 there is ,european supervision in the packing and firing of the leaf1 and the plantations are connected with civilisation by the railway and the telegraph4 ,everything is done to give ,india an unfair advantage over ,china4 ,consequently1 ,india tea of the same quality is far cheaper in ,london than the ill-regulated produce of ,hankow and ,foochow1 and it is only the conservatism of the consumer1 who is not yet entirely habituated to the ,indian flavour1 that prevents our losses being much heavier than they are4 ,every year this preference for the leaf that has been longer known is wearing away1 and our buyers will soon have to reckon with its disappearance4 ,as yet1 ,indian ,tea is hardly taken on the continent of ,europe at all2 but here1 too1 it will penetrate sooner or later1 as it is doing into ,america and ,australia1 and then there will be no corner of the earth where the sway of ,china ,tea will be undisputed4 ,until foreigners can supervise the packing of the leaf in ,china as they do in ,india1 the produce of the latter country will continue to have an unfair advantage4 ,the time no doubt will come when we shall be able to go up and buy the raw leaf on its native hills1 pack it by our own methods1 and bring it down by railway to ,shanghai for shipment2 but for years yet we labour under the disadvantage of having to buy it just as the ,chinamen choose to prepare it1 without any real knowledge of the total crop at any time1 or any immediate power to manipulate the ,teas to suit the tastes of consumers4 ,mark you1 this is an enemy's opinion4 ,may his prognostications be accomplished to the letter6 ,the following is from the ,tea ,gazette lately received3-- ,,the ,,calcutta ,,tea ,,syndicate4 ,we are glad to learn that this most useful body intends to continue its operations in opening up1 wherever possible1 new markets1 although there will be no more soliciting supplies of ,tea for ,australia--the feeling being that the trade in this direction may now be left to take care of itself4 ,the ,tea ,syndicate has done a great good1 and those able to ship to ,australia should at once arrange to take the fullest advantage of the opening made for them4 ,we would have wished that the ,syndicate had continued actively its operations there1 but perhaps they are right in leaving1 now1 the further development of the trade they have so successfully founded to private enterprise4 ,it will be the fault of owners themselves if they do not take advantage of the large market opened to them4 ,i conclude my notice of ,australia as a market by the following1 also from the ,tea ,gazette4 ,matters there certainly look promising for the ,indian planter3-- ,,the ,,new ,,australian ,,tea ,,association4 ,our friends in ,australia1 now that they are convinced of the purity and good quality of our ,indian ,teas1 have determined1 we are glad to see1 to follow in the wake of the ,calcutta ,tea ,syndicate1 and push by united effort ,indian ,teas throughout the ,australian ,colonies4 ,knowing full well that no half-hearted measures would be likely to succeed1 and that the efforts of a few individuals would not meet the requirements of the market1 our friends in ,victoria and ,new ,south ,wales have combined1 and formed an association under the title of the 8,calcutta ,tea ,association10 for the sale of pure and unadulterated ,indian ,teas to wholesale merchants1 storekeepers1 and customers in general4 ,large and handsome premises have been taken in ,king ,street1 ,melbourne1 and ,charlotte ,place1 ,sydney1 in which the operations of the ,association are to be carried on on a large scale4 ,,america4 ,the following is from the ,daily ,news--a ,calcutta paper3-- ,we were glad to note that our ,american cousins were being induced to give some orders4 ,if only ,indian ,tea was once taken up1 and became popular1 its future would be secured4 ,the teeming masses of people in the ,states would consume more ,tea we should imagine than all the ,english public1 provided ,indian ,tea took the place of ,china4 ,australia so far has done well1 but the market there would be easily glutted1 whereas1 if its use became general1 it would be almost impossible to glut the ,american market4 ,the millions of settlers in ,america and in ,canada all use ,tea at their meals very much as an ,englishman takes his beer1 so that the inland consumption must be very large4 ,in ,australia1 every shepherd carries his pannikin of ,tea1 and the amount he swallows in twelve months must be pretty considerable4 ,in the backwoods of ,america and ,canada1 each woodcutter consumes nearly half a pound of ,tea weekly1 so that1 with its millions of people1 ,america could easily dispose of millions of pounds of ,tea1 which would not only clear off all the surplus ,tea in the ,london market1 but would probably cause a deficit4 ,we wonder if in our time this golden era will take place4 ,this from the ,,tea ,,gazette3-- ,,tea ,,in ,,america4 ,a petition has been presented to the ,united ,states ,congress asking for the prohibition of the importation of adulterated ,teas from ,china and ,japan1 which are at present extensively sold4 ,this1 it is thought1 will lead to increased attention being paid to ,indian ,teas1 which are well known to be pure and unadulterated4 ,again from same paper3-- ,the circular lately addressed to the local ,tea planting interest by the ,committee of the ,calcutta ,syndicate1 reporting the results of ,mr4 ,sibthorp's efforts to create a market for ,indian ,teas in ,america1 opens up a vista of unprecedented prosperity in the future4 ,that the population of ,america1 the bulk of which consist of the same races among whom ,indian ,tea has grown in favour so rapidly in the ,united ,kingdom1 should persist in rejecting it after a fair trial was priori highly improbable4 ,it was1 therefore1 reasonably to be presumed that whatever difficulty might beset the opening up of this new market would consist chiefly in the obstacles to securing such a trial4 ,mr4 ,sibthorp's report not only bears out this view of the case1 but justifies a confident expectation that the obstacles in question1 so far as they have any real existence1 will speedily disappear4 ,in ,chicago1 so far from having had to encounter any of those strong trade prejudices which were met with at first in ,australia1 ,mr4 ,sibthorp found the leading importers1 ,messrs4 ,j4 ,doane and ,co41 ready to render every assistance and confident of being able to dispose of five thousand half chests the first season1 without forcing the market4 ,similar success seems to have attended his efforts in ,new ,york1 and a telegram has been received from him ordering a thousand half chests for shipment to that port4 ,the importance of this new market is immensely enhanced by the circumstance that the ,american consumption of ,tea is destined to increase1 owing to mere growth of population1 at a rate not to be looked for in any other country2 at such a rate1 in fact1 that if ,india could only secure the annual addition to the demand from this cause1 she would probably have to double her production in less than a generation to enable her to meet it4 ,so far from seeing any reason why she should not secure this amount of custom in the ,new ,world1 we see none why the proportion of ,india to other ,teas consumed in ,america should not ultimately be as large as in ,england1 where there was once a strong prejudice against ,indian ,tea4 ,what possible foreign markets have we besides ,australia and ,america8 ,russia and many ,european countries are on the cards1 and if the ,calcutta ,syndicate will continue its work great results may ensue4 ,those who know the ,continent often say1 and it is true1 that no good ,tea can be had in ,france1 ,germany1 or ,italy 7it is not so in ,russia71 and retail dealers have offered again and again 7made the offers to me7 to take large quantities of the ,indian ,tea of which ,i have shown them samples4 ,as this is so1 why not supply them8 ,but it cannot be done well to any extent by individual planters4 ,the ,calcutta ,syndicate could easily do it1 and ,i quite believe they would find the work in ,europe easier than in ,america4 ,the ,amsterdam ,exhibition1 so soon to take place1 affords a great opening1 and from all ,i hear it will be taken advantage of4 ,inhabitants from all countries will be there1 and the fame of our ,teas should thus spread throughout ,europe4 ,the ,tea ,gazette says3-- ,,the ,,amsterdam ,,exhibition4 ,it is intended to have ,indian ,tea well represented at the forthcoming ,exhibition at ,amsterdam2 and we trust that the most will be made of the opportunity4 ,there is no reason why we should not succeed in ,holland as well as we have succeeded in ,america and ,australia4 ,the rapid strides going on in production must be met by exceptionally active exertions to open out new markets1 and to see that those recently opened out are not allowed to drop for want of fostering4 ,the effect of this opportunity will be by no means limited to ,holland1 as in all probability thousands will flock to the ,exhibition from adjacent countries1 and many from all parts of the world4 ,we hope that every advantage will be taken of future ,international ,exhibitions in any part of the world by an adequate quasi-permanent organization in ,calcutta1 and we sincerely trust that the existing ,calcutta ,tea ,syndicate will not cease its most useful operations until all the world bows to the great god ,indian ,tea4 ,the operations in countries other than ,great ,britain during the last few years show what important developments in the ,tea trade of this country are now taking place1 and every exertion is necessary to maintain these successful results--for which the industry is so much indebted to the ,syndicate4 ,,thibet4 ,this is a large1 mountainous1 and table land country on the northern side of the ,himalayas4 ,it is at a very high elevation1 intensely cold1 and very thinly populated4 ,the ,thibetans drink much ,tea per head1 but they use ,brick ,tea2 this is made of the coarsest leaves compressed with some glutinous substance4 ,there is no difficulty in its manufacture4 ,at present it is supplied by ,china1 which is close by1 but not nearer than ,india4 ,many think much of our coarse ,tea 7particularly from the ,himalayan gardens7 might find a market in ,thibet1 and ,i incline to the belief they are right4 ,the quantity would not be very large1 8but every little helps40 ,formerly much ,tea was sold to the native tribes over the northern border by the gardens in ,kumaon1 ,gurwal1 and ,kangra4 ,why ,i know not1 but ,i hear the trade has fallen off to some extent2 the ,teas are taken to the ,central ,asian markets4 ,i have done with foreign markets1 but there is yet another and a very large one regarding which nothing has yet been done3 ,i allude to the market among the natives of ,india1 in other words ,,the ,,local ,,market4 ,the following is from the ,calcutta ,englishman on the subject3-- ,the letter of our correspondent 8,a4 ,e4 ,t40 calls attention for the hundredth time to the failure of the planting interest to make the most of the local demand for ,indian ,teas4 ,it is only necessary to compare the prices realised at the public auctions with those at which even the most liberal of our retail firms offer to supply their customers with such ,teas to see that but a very small fraction of the difference between the prime cost of the ,tea and what the consumer has to pay for it goes into the pocket of the planter4 ,it is probably no exaggeration to say that while the consumer pays1 on the average1 from twelve annas to a rupee per pound more than the actual cost of the ,tea laid down in ,calcutta1 the planter may think himself fortunate if he can appropriate from half an anna to an anna of this sum4 ,by whatever course of argument the fact may be justified1 it is certainly not justifiable by the equity of the case as it appears to ordinary minds4 ,for it is the planter who has borne the heat and burden of the day1 and the proportion which the capital invested by him bears to the ultimate return is immensely greater in his case than in that of the retail dealer4 ,on whom does the blame for the continuance of this state of things1 if blame there be in the matter1 rest8 ,hardly on the public4 ,they would only be too glad to allow the ,tea planter1 say1 four times his present profit instead of allowing twelve times that profit to a middleman or a series of middlemen4 ,the public1 however1 can give their custom only to those who bid for it1 and who consult their convenience in the arrangements they make to secure it4 ,it is evidently the planter1 and the planter alone1 who can move in the matter4 ,but whether out of regard for the interests of the retail dealer1 or from a belief that the game is not worth the candle1 he does not move4 ,if there were a retail ,tea trade worthy of the name1 in the proper sense of the term1 in ,calcutta1 it would probably not be to the interest of planters to enter into competition with it4 ,but though we have many retail establishments who deal in ,tea1 its sale is1 in the great majority of cases1 only one item of a very multifarious business1 the profit on which1 as a whole1 is probably not excessive under all the circumstances of the case4 ,as to the game not being worth the candle1 that is possibly the case if only the present demand is considered4 ,but we are persuaded that it is otherwise if regard is had to the expansion of which that demand is capable4 ,if ,indian ,tea were procurable in the bazaars in parcels of moderate size at a reasonable advance on auction prices1 we believe that a large native demand for it would rapidly grow up4 ,as it is1 an extensive business goes on in ,china ,tea of the most wretched quality1 some of it sold in packets of a few ounces1 and some of it loose in still smaller quantities4 ,even in ,calcutta this ,tea is sold at prices which would pay the ,indian ,tea planter a handsome profit1 while in the interior it is sold at rates which would have been high fifty years ago4 ,surely a ,syndicate which extends its efforts for the popularisation of ,indian ,tea to such distant and widely separated markets as ,australia and ,america might profitably make some systematic effort to promote its use among the vast population at its doors4 ,the time may be far distant when the great bulk of this population will adopt ,tea as an ordinary beverage2 but the way in which the habit of using it has spread during the last ten or fifteen years1 among all classes of the vast population of ,calcutta1 affords an indication of possibilities very well worth testing4 ,when last in ,india ,i wrote on this subject largely1 but all to no avail4 ,the following was one of my letters which appeared in the ,tea ,gazette3-- ,,the ,,market ,,at ,,our ,,doors4--,,consumption ,,of ,,china ,,tea ,,in ,,india4 ,the ,statesman1 in a recent article1 observes as follows1 while discussing the maritime trade of ,british ,india3-- 8,perhaps the most anomalous import we have is ,tea4 ,it is hardly conceivable that while ,indian ,tea continues to advance in public estimation at home1 we should not only use ,china ,tea in ,india1 but that in increasing quantities40#ic ,in #ahgf-gg the imports of ,china ,teas were a little under two millions1 but in #ahhj-ha as much over three millions6 ,the ,statesman states1 and truly1 that the reason of this is simply 8that ,indian ,tea is sold in too large packets to be easily obtainable by the general public1 for it seems1 as regards ,indian ,tea1 the smallest quantity that can be bought is one pound1 whereas an ounce of ,china ,tea can be purchased40 ,further on1 the ,statesman kindly alludes to my advocacy in the ,tea ,gazette of a company to sell ,tea in small packages to the natives1 stating also that such a trade is 8capable of almost unlimited expansion at a fair profit10 which is exactly what ,i have1 for some time1 been trying to hammer into the heads of those interested in the ,tea industry of ,india4 ,now1 ,sir1 is it not absurd that while the bte noir of our industry is 8supply in excess of demand10 and while1 with this dread1 we are trying 7it seems with success7 to open up new markets at the ,antipodes and in ,america1 we are neglecting a market at our very doors1 the limits of which1 ,i hold1 no man can foresee1 for is it not a market where the possible buyers number #bjj millions8 ,is it not also more than absurd1 nay a very shame to those interested in our industry1 that while we have a better article than ,china ,tea1 we allow1 by our supineness and lack of enterprise1 more than three million pounds of an inferior article to be sold in the birth place of the better8 ,and why8 simply because we will not supply it in the form the teeming crowd of natives willing1 nay anxious1 to buy can avail themselves of it6 ,since ,i advocated in your paper the formation of a company to sell ,tea to natives in small packets1 and showed1 ,i thought conclusively3 #a--,that the capital required was not large 7say one and a-half lakhs74 #b--,that the shareholders might expect very fair dividends4 #c--,that there was no assignable limit to the trade which might be developed4 #d--,that if such a company was started and worked well1 all fear for the future of ,indian ,tea would be at an end4 #e--,that every ,tea owner1 who became a shareholder1 would advance his own interests by many times more than the dividends he would receive--since then ,i have obtained from ,england estimates of all the machinery required to bulk and pack the ,teas1 advice from the best firms as to the mode so successful in ,england1 and ,i am more than ever convinced that the company would be a money-making one1 and that1 in two words1 we shall sadly neglect our own interests if we do not accomplish it4 ,again1 since my former articles ,i have spoken to dozens of ,tea planters and ,tea owners on the subject1 and all of them think highly of the scheme1 while many only wait for the company to be launched to take shares4 ,i could name more than one influential native also who is willing to join1 and this is a good sign1 for1 in my opinion1 a moiety of the directors should be natives4 ,i will myself become a large shareholder1 though ,i cannot offer my services on the board1 for it must be in ,calcutta1 and ,i do not reside there4 ,i am convinced1 if the company is launched1 the shares will be taken up in a week4 ,but if no one in ,calcutta is public-spirited enough to launch such a company1 why should not an association of a few individuals try to carry out the scheme4 ,i quite believe ,tea proprietors would help them1 at starting1 by supplying1 on reasonable credit1 the coarse ,teas suitable4 ,were this done1 the thin edge of the wedge would be driven in1 and1 if the association succeeded1 they might later transfer the business at a fair profit to a company4 ,i had written so far when ,i saw your remarks on the same subject in your last issue4 ,i cannot agree with you in thinking an association would be better than a company1 but ,i say1 failing the last let us have the first--in fact1 let us make a beginning4 ,i give here below1 to save the trouble of reference1 the last part of my former article3-- 8,i will now1 in conclusion1 shortly estimate for how much two and four ounce packets could be sold to the consumer4 8,supposing suitable ,teas could be bought at six annas per lb4 7and all ,tea planters know that a very large supply of broken ,teas with some red leaf would be available at that price71 one ounce would equal #d-a_/b pie or #i pie for #b ounces4 ,we may then calculate thus for each #b ounce packet3 ,r4 ,a4 ,p4 ,tea #j #j #i ,tin foil1 company's mark1 labour of making up packet1 wear and tear1 bulking machinery #j #j #c ,profit to company #j #j #c ------- ,price at which company could sell #b ounce packets #j #a #c ,profit to dealer or middleman #j #j #c ,profit to retailer #j #j #c ------- ,cost to consumer for #b ounce packet #j #a #i 8,as making up a #d ounce packet would be cheaper in proportion1 and the profit to company1 middleman1 and retailer need not be double the #b ounce rate1 we may fairly say that #d ounce packets could be sold at #c annas4 8,i have sent to ,england for an estimate of the necessary machinery1 so that if my project meets with favour1 there will later be no delay on that score40 ,surely the above figures1 and ,i believe they are sound1 have the look of success about them4 ,i hear it has been suggested that paper packets would deteriorate by keeping1 but protected by a good wrapper of tin-foil inside1 ,i feel sure this would not be the case4 ,,edward ,,money4 ,nothing has been done to this day2 and thus1 to our shame be it said1 we are allowing a market capable of indefinite expansion to remain dormant4 ,,footnote3 #ic ,with few exceptions it is bought by the ,natives alone and for the reason given above4--,e4 ,m4 ,,chapter ,,xxxv4 ,,making ,,indian ,,tea ,,known ,,in ,,the ,,united ,,kingdom4 ,several plans have at times been proposed in ,india with a view to make the merits of pure ,indian ,teas known in ,england4 ,when ,i was last out there ,i saw the following letter in the ,calcutta ,statesman1 and it appeared to me the plan suggested was in every way an excellent one3-- ,,how ,,to ,,push ,,the ,,sale ,,of ,,tea4 ,to the ,editor 8,statesman40 ,sir1--,referring to your leader of to-day on the subject of selling ,tea at home1 ,i agree with you that ,tea-growers should combine for retailing1 as they have1 through the ,syndicate1 combined for opening up new markets1 but there must be the same spirit of enterprise in the one case as in the other4 ,now1 the mere opening up of shops for the sale of ,indian ,teas1 involving1 as it would1 rents1 expensive establishments1 and bad debts1 would not afford the necessary scope1 nor would it meet the case4 ,the system of auction in ,mincing ,lane must with all its drawbacks continue1 but it is surely possible to extract some good from it4 ,let agencies for such a combination as you propose be established in all the large towns in ,great ,britain1 and weekly auctions of packets of ,tea from #b ounces to #e lbs4 or so be held in different parts of each town1 so that every day except ,sunday there would be an auction going on somewhere4 ,let the sales be bon fide to the highest bidder and for cash on the nail1 and ,i will promise that before a year is over1 as high prices will be paid at these auctions as are at present realised by ,cooper and ,cooper1 whilst the demand would soon greatly exceed the supply4 ,if something of the same kind were done in the bazaars of ,india1 the taste which so decidedly exists among natives would develop rapidly4 ,,matt4 ,,drews4 ,calcutta1 ,january #dth1 #ahhb4 ,i wrote the following remarks on the above to the same paper3-- ,,indian ,,tea ,,sales ,,at ,,home4 ,to the ,editor 8,statesman40 ,sir1--,your article of ,wednesday on the above1 and a letter from ,mr4 ,drews in ,thursday's paper1 have interested me much4 ,as you truly say1 it is more than absurd that the public at home should pay #aej per cent4 for our ,teas above the prices at which they are sold in ,mincing ,lane1 and that this tremendous profit1 minus #f;d4 duty1 should all go into the hands of the retail dealer4 ,absurd as it is1 it is still a great fact1 and the absurdity can only be increased in one way1 and that is1 if we remain quiet1 accept the position1 and do nothing4 ,that we ought to move1 and move quickly1 is very certain4 ,how best to act requires serious consideration1 and ample discussion4 ,you advocate a company or association to sell our ,teas retail in all the large towns in ,great ,britain1 and advocate a subscription of ,rs4 #aj per month by each garden in ,india1 until the business could support itself4 ,nothing can be done unless we all subscribe a small sum to set it going1 and the amount you mention 7,rs4 #abj for one year2 the necessity would most assuredly last no longer7 should frighten no one1 while1 if done generally by the ,indian gardens1 it would be ample4 ,i would suggest1 therefore1 that we should begin the matter as set out below4 ,the following none of the very many interested in ,tea can deny3-- #a4 ,the large profits made on ,indian ,teas at home are not realised by the producers1 but by the retail dealers4 #b4 ,we can easily undersell the said retail dealers1 to the tune of #ej per cent4 or more1 and still work at a large profit4 #c4 ,if the retail dealers were so undersold1 an enormous custom would ensue to us1 or rather the agents we employed4 #d4 ,if ,indian ,teas were procurable at a fair price all over ,great ,britain1 because ,indian ,tea is superior to ,china1 because those who have drunk ,indian never revert to ,china1 because thousands would then taste our ,teas for the first time1 and continue their use--,i say1 because of all this1 little by little1 the consumption would increase in a ratio we do not dream of now4 #e4 ,the consumption so increased1 we should necessarily1 because demand exceeded supply1 get good prices at the public marts in ,calcutta and ,london1 and in consequence thereof the value of all ,tea property in ,india would be greatly enhanced4 ,i believe all the above would certainly follow on a general well-combined movement on our part2 but let us take the worst view4 ,no one can deny that they might do so4 ,would ,rs4 #abj be a large stake from each garden for even the chance8 ,let us begin thus3 ,open a list in your office for the names of those gardens willing to join4 ,one year's subscription1 at ,rs4 #aj per month1 should be the limit from each garden4 ,when enough names are collected to warrant further movement1 call a meeting in ,calcutta1 and let the next steps be decided on1 and in the interval--agitate2 ,i will help to the best of my power1 and collect opinions from all sides4 ,open the list with the names of the three gardens ,i represent 7as per enclosure71 equivalent at once to a subscription of ,rs4 #cfj4 ,now1 as to the question--how to do it8 ,i give you my views1 but let them be criticised and discussed4 ,we want to do it1 and to do it the best way4 ,what ,i have been suggesting for months in the ,tea ,gazette1 as the best thing to do in ,india--viz41 to sell ,tea by auction in convenient forms as to quantity for native consumption--is really what ,i advise for ,england4 ,i am quite at one with ,mr4 ,drews on this point4 7,i wish you would reprint his valuable letter above1 and then my allusions to it would be understood47 ,retail shops and all they would entail1 viz41 intricate supervision1 rents1 establishments1 and what not1 necessitate details quite outside our legitimate sphere as producers4 ,no organisation we could devise would carry on successfully two or three hundred shops at home4 ,we 7that is1 the company or the association7 could not efficiently superintend such a complicated business1 and we should be cheated right and left4 ,but let others1 ,i say1 do the work for us at their own risk1 as follows3-- ,sell ,teas in whole1 half1 and quarter chests1 in tins of #aj1 #e1 and #a lbs41 in packets of #h1 #d1 and #b ounces once a week 7the market day7 in country towns2 daily1 in different localities in ,london1 ,birmingham1 ,edinburgh1 ,glasgow1 ,dublin1 and such like cities--all by auction to the highest bidder for cash1 in lots which would suit both retail dealers and retail purchasers4 ,never mind if there be a loss at the commencement2 the quantities sold1 till we felt our way1 need not be large4 ,what would be the result8 ,retail dealers would shortly sell as much ,indian as ,china ,tea1 if they could get it4 ,our ,teas would go into thousands of houses where it has never been tasted yet4 ,the demand would increase on all sides2 prices in ,mincing ,lane1 and consequently in ,calcutta1 would rise1 and no fear of a glutted market could then exist4 ,in two words1 ,indian ,teas would1 ,i believe1 six months after such operations were commenced1 become the rage in ,england1 and we1 the owners of ,tea property1 would add #ej per cent4 to the value of our estates4 ,is not even the chance of all this worth an outlay of ,rs4 #abj for each garden8 ,i am proud to head the list with my ,rs4 #cfj1 and ,i do beg of all interested in ,tea to follow my lead4 ,in the plan ,i have sketched1 like ,mr4 ,drews1 all the operations would be simple4 ,the necessary supervision would be small3 the details easily arranged4 ,the ,teas would of course be bought in the open market in ,london and distributed for public auction to the different localities4 ,there might be some loss at first 7it is for this the capital is wanted71 but if always sold to the highest bidder1 there would be none--nay1 a handsome profit after a time2 and though ,i do not think with ,mr4 ,drews1 nor should ,i wish1 that the prices would eventually equal ,cooper and ,cooper's1 ,i do think that the said firm would soon find it useless to advertise their cheapest ,indian ,tea at #c shillings a pound--,tea for which they certainly paid no more than #ac pence6 ,i may add that ,i quite agree with the last paragraph of ,mr4 ,drews' letter2 but a sale for ,india and a sale for ,england are two different things1 and ,i will not treat of both together4 ,,edward ,,money4 ,western ,dooars1 ,january #g1 #ahhb4 ,alas6 in this case1 like the one of supply of ,tea to natives1 nothing practical came of it4 ,a very few gardens agreed to subscribe1 and the matter dropped4 ,of all the plans that have been mooted1 this of ,mr4 ,drews ,i believe to be the best4 ,i wish a small company in ,england would try to initiate it4 ,no greater boon1 in my opinion1 could be conferred on the ,indian ,tea industry2 and were such a ,company1 with good names1 launched in ,england1 a large proportion of the shares would probably be taken in ,india4 ,a very moderate capital would suffice4 ,,chapter ,,xxxvi4 ,,tea ,,machinery4 ,so much has it been extended and improved since the ,third ,edition was published1 ,i have much to say on this subject4 ,i will divide it into two headings1 8,tea ,cultivation0 and 8,tea ,manufacture40 ,of course the machines for the last far outnumber the first1 which are very few1 but much of great importance to the industry will find its place under the first heading-- ,machinery and ,implements for ,tea ,cultivation4 ,formerly1 with prices as they ruled1 ,tea paid under most circumstances4 ,it is not so now4 ,unless ,tea1 and good ,tea1 can be made cheap it is hopeless to look for profit from a ,tea garden4 ,to cultivate cheaply1 and efficiently1 is therefore all important 7far more important than has hitherto been recognized71 and assuredly the more machinery can be made to take the place of hand labour1 the sooner shall we attain that end4 ,on this point ,i need only observe that in most of the ,tea districts in ,india labour has to be imported at a great cost1 varying from ,rs4 #ej to ,rs4 #ajj per coolie1 and anything which would lessen this want would materially help to success4 ,the following1 signed 8,nil ,desperandum10 appeared in the ,tea ,gazette in ,august1 #ahha4 ,i quite agree with the writer and have myself often expressed the same opinions3-- ,,ploughing ,,and ,,hoeing ,,machinery4 ,dear ,sir1--,on looking over your columns ,i have been surprised to see the small attention paid to agricultural machinery3 in fact1 ,i can't find the subject mentioned1 although one would imagine it was as important if not more so than manufacturing machinery4 ,various agricultural instruments1 such as ploughs1 c41 have1 ,i know1 been tried in old times1 and not with the best results to the bushes2 but there is no reason why1 because the ordinary machines have failed1 that planters should be sunk in the belief that that costly article the coolie must endure as long as ,tea does4#id ,i will now consider the cultivation implements ,i know of4 99 99 99 99 99 ,planting ,pots4--,these are made of clay1 cow dung1 and cut straw4 ,they are placed in the nurseries and the ,tea seed planted in them4 ,when the seedlings are big enough to put out1 pot and all is buried where the ,tea bush is to be4 ,the pot being broken a little when placed in the ground1 the rain soon destroys it4 ,the seedling does not know it has been transplanted1 and the check of six weeks or more1 experienced by all transplants1 is entirely avoided4 ,i know not who invented the pots1 but the idea is an excellent one4 ,jebens ,transplanter4--,this is an implement for lifting seedlings without injuring the rootlets or disturbing the soil around them4 ,it is noticed at page #gi favourably3 since that time 7#ahgh7 it has been used more or less in all ,tea districts4 ,i have seen many opinions both for and against it4 ,i believe the truth is it works very well in light soil1 and with smallish seedlings1 but does not answer in hard soil or with plants above #b-a_/b feet high4 ,where the soil and size of seedlings are suitable1 it certainly saves much of the check experienced otherwise by transplants4 ,i know of no other peculiar implements for ,tea cultivation4 ,the greatest expense connected with cultivation is1 naturally1 opening the soil or digging2 the spade is never used in ,india and would not answer4 ,coolies dig with a kodali1 a thing something like a spade1 with the handle set at right angles to the blade4 ,could we dispense with this1 and cultivate between the lines of ,tea with ploughs of any suitable pattern1 whether worked by steam or animal power1 an enormous saving would be effected4 ,i am sure the whole space between two lines of ,tea can never be so done1 round each and every bush the soil must be opened by hand2 but the centre space1 say about #b-a_/b to #c feet1 could1 ,i am convinced1 be so worked1 and ,i think it is only a question of time when it will be so treated4 ,the planting community are gradually appreciating the fact that something may be done in this way4 ,the following appeared in the ,tea ,gazette1 end of #ahha1 re ploughing by steam3-- ,,ploughing v4 ,,hoeing4 ,dear ,sir1--,i am glad to see by the letter of a 8,man in the ,kundah0 that some managers have taken up the idea of ploughing instead of hoeing4 ,it is an idea which ,i have been dinning into the ears of ,tea planters ever since ,i saw a ,tea garden4 ,mr4 ,lyell deserves credit1 and so will everyone who assists to introduce ploughing instead of hoeing4 ,the saving of labour would be immense4 ,the gentlemen who are interested in the subject will be glad to learn that ,i wrote home last month to several leading agricultural machinery people asking the fullest particulars as to steam ploughing machinery1 with a view to seeing how far suitable it would be for ,tea cultivation4 ,as soon as all my information arrives1 and ,i have thought the matter out1 ,i will give the planting community my opinion4 ,i have1 as far as ,i am personally concerned1 already formed it1 and am confident that at no very distant date the steam plough will supersede the dhangar or other hand labour4 ,but of course ,i must make out a strong case for it1 or my opinions would be supposed to arise from a professional predilection for machinery4 ,f4 ,siligoorie1 #bgth ,november1 #ahhb4 ,again1 8,nil ,desperandum10 quoted above1 continues3-- ,i enclose a report on ,darby's ,digger from the ,times and ,pioneer1 which shows that it is an instrument possessing the principle we require in deep hoeing1 viz41 turning the earth completely over1 and bringing the subsoil to the surface1 although of course far too unwieldy1 costly1 and weighty to be used in ,tea4 ,it is1 however1 the first step in the right direction1 as it closely copies spade action2 and we may hope that before long a machine with that principle1 and capable of being worked in a ,tea khet1 will be brought out4 ,for light hoeing1 last cold weather ,i procured from ,messrs4 ,vipan and ,headly1 ,church ,gate1 ,leicester1 ,england1 two expanding horse hoes1 which ,i worked all the hot weather1 and which did their work admirably and at a much cheaper rate than can be done by hand labour4 ,two of these hoes hoe a #ab-;acre khet in six days up the lines of ,tea and across them1 but to make a thorough job it is better to go over the work again4 ,the total cost of this3-- ,planted #d #d ,pay of boy and man #ab days #c #f #j ,for one hoe ,food of bullocks #d as4 per diem1 ,barley #bd per ,rupee #b #j #j ------- ,cost of light hoeing #ab-;acre khet #e #f #j #b ------- ,against #aj #ab #j ,nirrikh for #acf bildars1 light hoeing1 #bdj spaces1 #d #d1 per diem #j-b-i each #bc #f #j ,or a saving of more than #ajj per cent4 ,i gave one #ab-;acre khet four of these light hoeings during the hot weather1 which so thoroughly destroyed the grass seeds that1 although heavy rain has fallen here for the last month and a-half1 the grass in this khet is thin and not more than #f high1 a fact which1 to those who know how the jungle springs up in cultivated ground in the ,doon when the rains set in1 will be a sufficient proof of the success of these instruments4 ,the frame of the hoe is only #g high1 and when the blades are buried in the ground is only #d1 and as the handle projects from the centre of the back of the hoe and not from the sides1 there is no danger of the bushes being injured4 ,the hoe will expand from #ad to #bj at back1 and from #c to #g in front2 and as the standards of the blades are curved outwards1 the hoe in its greatest expansion cultivates a breadth of #bg of ground4 ,i found that one bullock was too weak to drag a hoe1 although a good pony was quite equal to the work1 so put in a pair of bullocks4 ,the bullocks and hoe take up between them three rows of ,tea at once1 the bullocks on each outside row and the hoe in the centre one4 ,a boy walking up the centre row leads the bullocks1 which are harnessed to the hoe in the same manner as bullocks are harnessed to the country ploughs1 but with longer julas of course4 ,these hoes are1 ,i find1 useless during wet weather1 as they clog dreadfully1 but during hot dry weather they are invaluable4 ,what we now want is a machine that1 either by bullock1 horse1 or steam power1 will do our deep hoeing as well as the light hoe does the light hoeing4 ,this is a matter which ,i consider of vital interest to owners and shareholders1 as1 unless in these days of very low prices we can reduce the cost of production considerably1 we cannot hope that ,tea will pay a fair interest on the money expended1 and great length of time lost in getting up a garden4 ,,nil ,,desperandum4 ,in the above1 two bullocks to drag the plough or digger are evidently contemplated4 ,my experience is1 that two draught cattle cannot be used1 simply because there is not room for them between the lines of ,tea4#ie ,if animal power is used1 it must be a single bullock alone4 ,how to harness a single bullock to the plough is the question4 ,a collar with a hinge below1 which allows it to open at top1 may be put on from below1 and then the sides fastened together at the top4 ,but ,i advise another plan1 which ,i have seen most successfully practised in ,austria4 ,the traces1 joining together1 and thus becoming one behind the bullock1 are fastened to the horns1 and tightly connected with a leather pad across the animal's forehead4 ,the bullock thus pulls by his head1 and ,i am sure he can pull in no more efficient or easier way to himself4 ,bullocks in pairs1 or singly1 are thus harnessed for plough work in ,austria1 and ,i have seen single animals dragging ploughs of much greater weight and power than we should require in our ,tea gardens4 ,given a proper plough1 and ,i feel sure a large strong bullock thus harnessed would be successful4 ,a really good ,tea garden plough has yet to be invented4 ,all that is necessary is to give some agricultural machinists here at home the conditions necessary for success1 and ,i predict what we want would be soon forthcoming4 ,i will myself try to do so1 let others do the same2 one of us is sure to succeed4 ,i give all these extracts to show that many think as ,i do4 ,cultivation with ploughs of any kind can never be feasible except on flat land4 ,the hill gardens in ,india must in no case hope to introduce it2 but ,i sincerely trust the planters in ,india who own level gardens will not rest till they have solved the problem1 and that ,messrs4 ,kinmond1 ,jackson1 and other inventors of ,tea machinery will give their valuable aid4 ,the following two letters from the ,tea ,gazette show the difficulties to be encountered in steam cultivation3-- ,,steam ,,cultivation ,,for ,,tea4 ,sir1--,as promised in your last issue1 ,i now write to say that ,i have received from ,england the catalogues and price lists of ,messrs4 ,howard1 of ,bedford1 ,messrs4 ,barford and ,perkins1 and other makers of steam ploughing machinery4 ,messrs4 ,howard seem to think that the greatest difficulty would be in lifting the return rope over the bushes4 ,this would be certainly a difficulty1 but the idea of steam cultivation for ,tea is so valuable that it is well worth while thinking this out4 ,i will in your first issue for ,january give a resum of all the information gleaned from the illustrated catalogues and the letters from the engineers at home on the subject of steam ploughing1 and will then be glad to co-operate with any gentlemen interested in ,tea by giving my professional opinion and assistance without fee in endeavouring to solve this matter4 ,i trust1 should ,i ever have to write another series of articles on ,tea machinery for the ,tea ,gazette1 the steam plough may figure as one of the machines which ,i will have to describe as in use on ,tea gardens4 ,meanwhile the principal difficulty in the way seems to be the shifting of the long wire pulling rope over the row of bushes4 ,let those interested in the subject try to devise a speedy and economical method of doing this4--,yours1 c41 ,c4 ,b4 ,,fergus1 ,c4,e4 ,siligori1 #agth ,december1 #ahhb4 ,,as ,,to ,,steam-,,ploughing ,,on ,,tea ,,gardens4 ,sir1--,as promised1 ,i give you a letter regarding the question as to whether steam-ploughing could be wholly or partially introduced as a substitute for manual labour in ,tea gardens4 ,i have been in communication with several of the leading makers of steam-ploughing machinery in ,england1 but notably with ,messrs4 ,howard1 of ,bedford1 and ,messrs4 ,barford and ,perkins1 of ,peterborough4 ,these gentlemen forwarded me their illustrated catalogues in duplicate1 one set of which ,i sent to you4 ,the first question that ensues in regard to the subject is1 8,would it pay1 even if found feasible80 ,in ,assam1 ,cachar1 ,sylhet and other places1 where labour is scarce1 it is probable that the introduction of steam cultivation would be a great boon to the ,tea planter4 ,the first cost of a steam-ploughing apparatus with ropes1 plough1 and everything complete as in use in ,england on what is called the 8single system10 that is1 working with only one engine1 is about #iej4 ,this is heavy1 but as a much lighter cultivator would be used for ,tea1 ,i think the cost might be reduced to #hjj--say ,rs4 #aj1jjj on the garden4 ,under moderately favourable circumstances the machinery1 making all allowances for native attendants1 and the usual difficulties we have to encounter in ,india through their laziness and stupidity1 should cultivate #hjj to #a1jjj acres per month of twenty working days4 ,the remaining ten days might be occupied in the rains by taking the engine and gear from place to place where it might be required2 for1 as the expense of a steam-ploughing engine and apparatus would be too much for any concern1 except a very large one1 to bear1 ,i suggest that two1 three1 or four gardens unite and purchase one4 ,there need be no clashing or quarrelling about terms at the end of the season3 each should pay his share of the cost of fuel1 up-keep1 wages1 c41 according to the number of days it was on each garden4 ,it would thus be to the interest of each manager to forward it on to the man whose turn was next1 without delay4 ,remember1 please1 that in saying that it would cultivate so many acres in such a time1 ,i mean that it would cultivate two ways--that is up and down and across4 ,there would remain a little hand-hoeing1 c41 round the inner part of the roots of the bushes1 but not much1 as the cultivator ,i would design would go partly underneath the laterals and still not hurt the roots1 the outer lines being much shorter than the inner ones4 ,now it is a simple matter to calculate1 according to the rates of the district in which the reader may be1 the comparative cost of cultivating #a1jjj acres of ,tea by hand and by the steam-plough4 ,the plough would be worked for ,tea by an #h-;,h4 ,p4 portable engine of any maker's manufacture4 ,wages for one engineman1 one cooly to cut wood1 possibly one pair bullocks and cart-driver to bring barrels of water1 two coolies to shift the anchors1 and two more to assist them 7possibly7 in shifting the rope1 added to the cost of fuel1 and #ae per cent4 per annum added for repairs and deterioration1 seems to be the cost of working4 ,this would be lessened by the rope and anchor-men and the woodcutter on the days when the plough was not at work4 ,add1 however1 the cost of elephants or bullocks to take the engine1 c41 from garden to garden1 and ,i think it will be found that the saving in expense would be very great on the side of the steam-plough as regards cooly labour4 ,now1 as to the feasibility of the scheme4 ,it is difficult1 without the aid of plates1 to describe how steam-ploughing is done4 ,the engine remains stationary at one corner of the field4 ,near it is a large double windlass1 which1 when the cultivator is at work1 winds up the dragging rope with one barrel of the windlass1 whilst from the other the rope is uncoiling1 which will drag the plough down the next furrow4 ,when the plough comes to the end of the furrow1 two men1 one at each end of the rope1 shift the anchors1 on which are the pulleys round which the rope runs3 one furrow breadth forward the plough is double1 one set of coulters and shears being at work1 while the other set is tilted up in the air by the weight of a man who sits on and guides the plough4 ,when the plough is to return it is not turned round1 but the man simply tilts up into the air the set of ploughs that have done their work1 and brings down the others4 ,of course ploughs like this would not do for ,tea3 a special cultivator would be needed4 ,at the end of the furrow the motion of the windlass is reversed1 and the drag rope becomes in its turn the following rope4 ,in ,england there is an ingenious mechanical contrivance for shifting the anchors1 which does away with two men1 as it works automatically4 ,now the greatest difficulty in the whole matter1 will be best explained to the reader in ,messrs4 ,howard's own language in their letter to me4 ,they say3-- 8,the obstacle to the use of steam-ploughs through rows of bushes or trees is the practical difficulty of bringing the slack or following rope into position for following the implement back on its return journey4 ,the rope cannot be lifted over the intervening row of bushes1 and to employ draught animals to take the rope up the next alley between the bushes would add to the expense of the work1 and would impede it40 ,they continue3 8,if it is important that the land be broken up to a depth of #i inches1 and the obstacles to effecting this by animal power are practically insuperable1 the steam plough worked on the single system1 with animals to convey the slack from end to end of the land1 would probably be the most effectual and economical method of working40 ,now if this difficulty could be overcome 7and ,i confess it is a rather formidable one71 ,i quite believe that on fairly straight land1 even if somewhat sloping1 with straight rows of bushes1 and the land clear of stumps1 steam cultivation would be easy4 ,on hill gardens1 or gardens where the ,tea is irregularly planted1 on ground much traversed by nullahs or having stumps left in1 the steam cultivator could not work4 ,there may be some method of lifting the rope over the bushes4 ,coolies might be stationed at intervals along the row1 and with the aid of a very light block and tackle might hoist long bights of the rope high enough to clear the bushes4 ,the block and tackle would be fastened to the top of a light pole4 ,one man would hold the pole while the other hove up1 and 7the pole being midway between the two rows7 might incline it over till above the next row and then lower away4 ,a strong #aj ft4 bamboo1 a pair of light wooden blocks1 and an inch and a half ,manilla rope1 would be all that would be requisite4 ,other projects for effecting this may strike some of your readers1 and what ,i want is1 that those who may think the idea of steam-ploughing of any value should co-operate together to work it out in a practical form3 ,i will give every assistance in my power4 ,we can scarcely hope1 in the present depressed state of the ,tea market1 that proprietors will club together to subscribe to bring out a set of steam cultivating apparatus in order to institute experiments on the subject4 ,should #ahhc bring better times1 something of the sort might be done1 and it is as well to have the matter well thought out and discussed beforehand1 so that should a series of experiments take place1 people would be prepared for any contingencies which might arise1 and perhaps be better prepared to overcome these difficulties through the matter having been previously well discussed4 ,it is now the season for opening out ,tea gardens1 and one piece of advice ,i would give to planters--that is this4 ,it is quite possible that steam ploughing for ,tea cultivation is a thing of the future1 or may be nearer than you imagine3 therefore be careful to have your lines of ,tea very straight1 both along and across1 so that there would be no obstacle to the plough or cultivator working4 ,if you object to the expense of taking out stumps1 they may remain in1 as they could be taken out afterwards4 ,i trust your readers1 ,mr4 ,editor1 will not view this subject with indifference1 but will co-operate in endeavouring to solve the problem4--,i am yours faithfully1 8,,tea ,,machinery40 ,though the signatures differ1 ,i conceive ,mr4 ,c4 ,b4 ,fergus1 ,c4,e41 wrote the second as well as the first4 ,he has evidently pondered the matter well4 ,let others do so too1 and ,i foretell that the day is not far distant when flat ,tea gardens will1 in a great measure1 be cultivated by steam or animal power4 ,when this is so1 even #h annas 7say #aj;d47 per lb4 for our ,tea all round should pay us well4 ,tea ,manufacturing ,machinery4 ,the processes in ,tea manufacture1 as generally practised in ,india to-day1 are-- #a4 ,plucking4 #b4 ,withering4 #c4 ,sorting green leaf in a measure1 and separation of ,pekoe ,tips4 #d4 ,rolling4 #e4 ,fermenting4 #f4 ,drying or firing4 #g4 ,sorting4 #h4 ,final heating before packing4 ,no4 #c is not always done1 the others invariably4 ,i will consider the machines invented for each process1 in the order of the said processes4 ,plucking4--,no machine has ever been invented for this1 and ,i do not think any is possible4 ,withering4--,in any but continued wet weather no artificial means are necessary4 ,the leaf1 spread thinly and exposed to the action of the air below and around 7former attained by any kind of mesh71 withers perfectly4#if ,in continued wet weather artificial means are sometimes required4 ,the various ,dryers in use 7see further on7 are sometimes supposed to furnish the means1 but their use necessitates much labour1 nor is the result satisfactory4 ,a good withering machine 7it must be on a large scale7 might1 ,i think1 be easily invented2 there is none at present4 ,why do none of the inventors of other ,tea machinery try to succeed in this8 ,sorting ,green ,leaf4--,this is sometimes attempted in a rough way by the use of sieves of different meshes4 ,to separate the fine from the coarse leaf1 and in some cases to eliminate the ,pekoe tips1 is the object4 ,a machine by ,john ,greig and ,co41 of ,edinburgh1 professes to do the latter4 ,i have never seen it1 but ,i doubt any machine abstracting the ,pekoe tips alone4 ,a machine which would1 however1 separate the fine from the coarse leaf previous to rolling is1 ,i think1 quite feasible1 and it would conduce much to good ,tea4 ,this1 again1 is an opening for inventors4 ,rolling4--,this is perhaps the most important of all processes in ,tea manufacture4 ,the object of it is to break the cells in the ,tea and liberate the sap 7fermentation could not take place otherwise71 and further to give a tight roll or twist to the leaf4 ,formerly this was always done by hand 7it is so done in ,china1 ,i believe1 to this day71 but the process was lengthy1 expensive and dirty4 ,i might perhaps add inefficient1 for doubtless machine-rolled ,tea is better done 7better in appearance1 better in liquor7 than hand-rolled4 ,i will now consider-- ,tea ,rolling ,machines4 ,the inventors are ,jackson1 ,kinmond1 ,haworth1 ,lyle1 ,greig and ,thompson4 ,there may be others1 but ,i have not heard of them4 ,jackson has invented five machines4 ,the details of each1 how much each can do1 the testimonials regarding them1 c41 would fill many pages4 ,all can be seen in the illustrated catalogue he supplies1 so ,i will only offer a few general remarks4 ,all planters know ,jackson's rollers1 and they are held in high estimation4 ,his last invention 7if ,i mistake not7 is the ,rotary ,tea ,roller1 which is on quite a different principle to the others4 ,it consists of an elongated revolving barrel or cylinder1 with a polygonal internal surface1 and a roller with a fluted external surface1 mounted within the said barrel its whole length4 ,these revolve in opposite directions 7the roller the quicker7 and the leaf is rolled in the annulus between4 ,it is not yet known what the success of this last invention will be4 ,not so with his ,cross-action and ,excelsior ,rollers4 ,these are first-rate machines1 and all who have tried speak well of them4 ,kinmond invented the first ,tea roller 7see page #aag71 many years ago4 ,many improvements resulted1 eventually1 in his 8,improved ,double ,action ,tea ,roller10 which is a very good machine and has given satisfaction to the many who have used it4 ,from all ,i have heard and seen1 however1 ,i doubt if1 take it all in all1 it is equal to ,jackson's ,cross ,action ,excelsior4 ,kinmond1 some two years ago1 invented a 8,centrifugal ,roller40 ,it was made in two sizes4 ,the smaller seems to have done well1 not so the larger2 one of the latter on the ,phoolbarry garden 7in which ,i am interested7 has proved a failure4 ,but ,mr4 ,kinmond has quite lately materially altered the said ,centrifugal machines1 and is confident that they will do well4 ,he is now leaving for ,india with one1 and anticipates good results4 ,tea machinery is still so much in its infancy that the best machines are likely to be improved upon1 and perhaps superseded by others1 but as things are now1 ,i think1 though some do not agree with me1 that ,jackson has carried off the palm in rollers4 ,the following two letters on rollers appeared in the ,tea ,gazette1 and are well worth attention3-- ,,kinmond',s ,,improved ,,patent ,,double ,,action ,,tea ,,rolling ,,machine4 ,sir1--,you have so repeatedly asked planters to supply you with information regarding 8,tea machinery0 that it is a matter of surprise to me you have not been flooded with letters on the subject4 ,i know very little about ,tea machinery1 as ,i am not an engineer1 but ,i gladly contribute my quota of knowledge on the subject4 ,i have been rolling leaf for some time past in one of ,kinmond's old machines1 styled his 8,improved ,patent ,double ,action ,tea ,rolling ,machine40 ,a machine for fine leaf ,i do not believe there is in existence4 ,i have seen several machines at work on different factories1 and ,i should say for fine leaf this machine of ,kinmond's cannot be beat4#ig ,a few improvements could no doubt be made1 and ,i feel sure ,mr4 ,kinmond himself is aware of this1 and is quite competent to make them4 ,i have seen ,mr4 ,kinmond's 8,compound ,action ,centrifugal0 at work4 ,i do not consider it a success4 ,it certainly cannot hold a candle to his 8,patent ,double ,action40 ,i would strongly recommend ,mr4 ,kinmond to improve the latter1 and forego the former1 unless he can make some very material alterations to it4 ,the roll from the 8,centrifugal0 comes out hot and flat1 whereas that from his 8,patent ,double ,action0 is turned out not only perfectly cool1 but has a perfect twist4#ih ,for coarse leaf1 ,jackson's 8,excelsior0 is a splendid machine4 ,i should say a factory could not want two better machines than one of ,kinmond's 8,patent ,double ,action0 and one of ,jackson's 8,excelsior0 ,rollers--the former for fine1 the latter for coarse leaf4 ,will some of my brother planters kindly give their experience1 and thus further enlighten an anxious ,,enquirer4 ,,tea ,,rolling ,,machinery4 ,dear ,sir1--,i will be glad if some of your numerous readers will kindly furnish results of trials1 or of experience1 of ,kinmond's ,compound ,action ,centrifugal ,tea ,rolling ,machine4 ,i have tried it repeatedly1 and find it not only heats the green leaf a great deal too much1 but in addition cuts1 ,i may say into mincemeat1 about #e of the leaf in the process of rolling4 ,i am not an engineer1 and therefore cannot state for certain where the fault lies1 but ,i fancy the ribs of the two revolving plates are somewhat at fault4 ,if they were broader and bolder1 the machine might1 perhaps1 be a better success4 ,the green leaf does not come out sufficiently rolled4 ,the major portion of the roll is too flat4 ,perhaps ,mr4 ,kinmond will kindly help by giving a hint or two to a perplexed ,tea-house 8,,assistant40 ,haworth's ,roller4--,this machine was invented long ago4 ,the leaf is placed in bags and so rolled4 ,in some respects the machine resembles a mangle4 ,it has not been largely used1 and thus is not much known4 ,i have no personal experience of its worth1 but have heard much of it from an old friend of mine1 ,mr4 ,carter1 of the ,chandpore ,tea ,estate1 ,chittagong4 ,he has1 ,i believe1 had one from the first on his plantation1 and thinks very well of it4 ,mr4 ,carter is a first-rate judge on all ,tea matters4 ,he conducted some experiments to test the value of ,tea rolled by ,jackson's and ,haworth's ,rollers1 and did it with great care1 that the quality of leaf1 the withering1 the drying1 all but the two modes of rolling should be exactly the same4 ,the samples were then sent to ,calcutta and valued4 ,results as below3-- ,messrs4 ,carritt and ,co4's report on the samples is dated ,calcutta1 #bith ,october1 #ahha1 viz43-- ,chandpore leaf rolled by ,haworth's machine3--,large irregular open unassorted leaf1 brisk1 fair flavour1 little strong--,re4 #j-i-i4 ,chandpore leaf rolled by ,jackson's machine3--,leaf preferable1 closer rolled1 liquor inferior1 not very strong--,re4 #j-i-j4 ,sungoo leaf rolled by ,haworth's machine3--,rather large irregular loosely twisted unassorted leaf1 flavoury1 little brisk--,re4 #j-i-c4 ,sungoo leaf rolled by ,jackson's machine3--,leaf little preferable1 liquor inferior1 wanting briskness--,re4 #j-h-i4 ,by above it appears ,haworth's gave better liquor1 and ,jackson's the best ,tea in appearance4 ,from all ,i have heard ,i think it likely ,haworth's roller has not received the attention it deserves4 ,lyle's ,roller4--,i have never seen this4 ,from the drawing before me it has no resemblance to other rollers4 ,the inventor claims for it simplicity1 cheapness1 strength1 durability1 good rolling1 and large outturn with a minimum of labour4 ,one testimonial ,i have seen speaks very highly of its capabilities4 ,greig's ,roller4--,this ,i have not seen or heard of4 ,i can only give the description sent me by the inventor3-- ,the ,greig ,link and ,lever ,tea ,rolling ,machine1 worked by one man1 and suitable for rolling the finest nibs without breaking them1 or to crush the coarsest leaf into broken black at will4 ,it can roll a large or small quantity equally well4 ,price #gj1 delivered in ,edinburgh4 ,small size suitable for cattle gear1 #de4 ,cattle gear1 #bj1 delivered in ,edinburgh4 ,the ,calcutta ,agent of the ,luckea ,moung ,lung ,tea ,estate1 ,sonada1 ,darjeeling1 in sending remittance for a large size machine which has been working there all the past season1 says3 8,i am informed the machine does its work in a most satisfactory manner1 rolling better than by hand3 ,i am pleased to have to state this40 ,thompson's ,challenge ,roller4--,this 7quite lately invented7 though given last is likely1 by all ,i hear1 to stand well among rollers4 ,i have no drawing or description of it1 but why ,i think well of it is that a ,tea engineer1 ,mr4 ,ansell1 of ,kurseong1 who thoroughly understands ,tea machinery1 thinks so highly of the machine that he has recommended its purchase by the ,phoolbarry ,tea ,company4 ,i have every faith in ,mr4 ,ansell's judgment1 and feel confident therefore the machine must be a good one4 ,one feature and advantage claimed for it is1 8free contact of the leaf throughout the roll with the outer air40 ,i may conclude my remarks on rollers with a quaint letter 7from ,tea ,gazette7 by a native4 ,if he can judge of ,tea machinery as well as he can write ,english his opinion is worth preserving3-- ,,tea ,,rolling ,,machinery4 ,dear ,sir--,on the subject of ,tea-leaf rolling machinery1 the 7to all appearance7 strangely opposite results ,i have obtained from machines of the same make have led me to the following conclusions1 viz43-- #a4 ,all 8genuses0 of machines are equally good4 #b4 ,there are hardly two 8species0 of the same genus which give similar results4 #c4 ,changing the 8fixings0 of a machine makes all the difference in the world4 ,ergo a good mechanic will have a good machine whether he patronize ,jackson1 ,kinmond1 ,haworth1 or any other inventor4 ,i think with your correspondent 8,a ,voice from ,assam0 that the machine that gives the roll quickly1 and in a continuous supply1 is the best4 ,i would defy any man to prove that any inventor has it 8all his own way10 for ,i certainly have not found it so in my experience4 ,yours truly1 ,,kol ,,mistry4 ,before going to press ,i received drawing and description of 8,thompson's ,challenge ,roller40 ,it is impossible to judge of its merits by the drawing1 but some very strong testimonials are appended--one much in its favour from ,mr4 ,ansell1 the ,tea engineer above mentioned4 ,by the testimonials 7more than one from men ,i know7 the following advantages appear to have been obtained3-- 8,balling0 of the leaf is avoided4 ,the tips are kept quite bright4 ,heating prevented4 ,simplicity of 8feed0 and 8discharge40 ,one attendant1 a minimum of motive power1 and low priced4 ,a good twist attained4 ,simplicity in the machine1 and ease of transport and erection4 ,if all the above are facts1 ,i quite think the 8,challenge0 will prove a great success4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the following1 written by me to the ,tea ,gazette1 may be worth the attention of ,tea-rolling machine inventors3-- ,,suggestions ,,for ,,improving ,,the ,,drums ,,and ,,the ,,faces ,,of ,,the ,,rollers ,,in ,,tea ,,rolling ,,machinery4 ,sir1--,the following idea1 suggested to me by a planter up here1 may be practicable or not1 but in any case it is worth letting the patentees of ,tea-rolling machines know it4 ,in days gone by when iron worked in contact with iron on the faces of rollers the colour of the outturn 7that is the infused ,tea leaves7 was quite destroyed4 ,that is now remedied1 but there is still an evil of less importance4 ,the wood on the said faces of the rollers absorbs the sap of the leaf1 and unless they are washed very clean1 the said old sap is apt to contaminate1 more or less1 the new leaf4 ,could not this be rectified by making the faces of the rollers of porcelain or iron 7like camp crockery7 and the drums of opaque coarse glass8 ,both these1 if they would stand1 could easily be washed quite clean4 ,i give the idea1 given to me1 for what it is worth1 and would invite the opinion of other planters on it4 ,,edward ,,money4 ,darjeeling1 ,november #ajth1 #ahhj4 ,fermenting is the next process in the list4 ,after the leaf is rolled it is put together2 some make it up in truncated balls1 some put it in baskets1 but in either case it is allowed to stand until a given amount of fermentation has set in4 ,this is done in the warm atmosphere of the factory4 ,naturally no machine is required for this process2 but shelves1 at varying height from the factory floor1 are useful to regulate the fermentation1 inasmuch as the higher the shelf the warmer the air1 and warmth hastens the process4 ,this plan of shelves was devised by ,mr4 ,j4 ,fleming1 at the ,phoolbarry ,garden1 and it seemed to me to answer well4 ,drying or ,firing comes next4 ,up to this point the leaf is of a brownish green colour1 and soft4 ,after the drying it is black and crisp1 in fact1 made ,tea4 ,by the drying process all the moisture in the mass is driven off4 ,for many years charcoal only was used to fire ,tea1 and it was an established belief that the fumes given out by the said charcoal had some chemical effect on the ,tea--in fact1 that good ,tea could not be made without it4 ,when1 twelve years ago1 ,i published the ,first ,edition of this ,essay1 ,i had begun to doubt the soundness of the above belief1 and four years later ,i had thoroughly satisfied myself of its fallacy4 ,it was not1 however1 till #ahgg-gh that ,i devised a means of firing ,teas without charcoal4 ,the invention was well received1 and thought well of4 ,at all events1 it proved what ,i had long urged--viz41 that any fuel1 if contact with the smoke was avoided1 would dry ,tea4 ,my invention was a very crude one1 and quickly superseded by far more perfect designs2 still ,i have the satisfaction of knowing that on this head ,i have done much to perfect ,tea manufacture1 and that the conviction ,i had attained to in #ahgd is now general and practised throughout ,india4 7,pages #aai-aba1 #bie1 to end of ,addenda1 bear out the above remarks47 ,i will now consider the various ,tea-,drying ,machines4 ,robertson's ,typhoon4--,this is a late invention3 it was noticed in the ,tea ,gazette in #ahha4 ,it had1 however1 made a great noise at end of #ahhj1 and so well was it spoken of1 many1 in the early part of #ahha1 purchased it4 ,the following was the report as to its merits 7,tea ,gazette1 ,september1 #ahha73-- ,,robertson',s ,,typhoon4 ,mr4 ,j4 ,m4 ,robertson1 manager of the ,arcuttipore ,tea ,company's ,gardens1 has invented a new ,tea-drying apparatus which he has named the 8,typhoon40 ,a number of the planters of his district met at his garden1 by invitation1 to test the merits of his machine4 ,we quote the verdict recorded by them in their own words1 and also append the brokers' report on the ,teas which were manufactured in their presence during the trial4 ,the 8,typhoon0 is a simple and inexpensive construction of brick and iron1 which can be erected without skilled labour4 ,the heating material used is coke1 and the quantity of coke required for a maund of ,tea is stated to be one quarter of a maund4 ,the out-turn from the 8,typhoon0 we found to be at the rate of one half maund of thoroughly dried ,tea per hour1 and the manner in which the work was done was to our entire satisfaction1 some of us thinking that the apparatus was capable of doing more4 ,the inventor leads us to understand that the entire cost of construction and material will not be over ,rs4 #cjj1 and we do not see that this sum need be exceeded4 ,we are unanimously of opinion that unless the dryers at present in use are very materially reduced in price1 they will be beaten off the field by the 8,typhoon40 ,messrs4 ,william ,moran ,co4's report on the ,teas is as follows3-- ,typhoon ,teas4 ,london ,cal4 ,equi4 value4 ,ex4 #a-h-a_/b4 ,pekoe1 very well made leaf1 with ends1 good brisk flavour #a #aj #ad ,orange ,pekoe1 very well twisted leaf1 good amount of tip1 very good brisk flavour #b #j #ae-a_/d ,br4 ,pekoe1 leafy black ,br4 ,pekoe1 some ends strong #b #a #a ,pekoe ,souchong1 well twisted leaf1 some ends good flavour #a #c #i ,souchong1 small good even grey leaf1 brisk #a #a #g-a_/b ,the above are very desirable ,teas as regards leaf and liquor4 ,the following are some of the chief features and advantages of this machine3 #a4 ,the low cost4 #b4 ,durability1 there being nothing except the trays that can suffer from wear and tear4 #c4 ,the small quantity of fuel required--about #a_/d maund of coke for kutcha firing #a maund of ,tea4 #d4 ,ease in stoking1 the furnace not requiring attention oftener than once every one and a-half to two hours4 #e4 ,absolute and immediate control over the temperature1 which can be raised or lowered instantaneously4 #f4 ,no 8getting up heat0 required4 ,in fifteen minutes after beginning to light the fire the apparatus is ready for work4 #g4 ,requires no troublesome cleaning out4 #h4 ,quantity4 ,the apparatus is capable of drying at least #dj lbs4 an hour1 and has frequently dried over #ej lbs4 #i4 ,quality of ,tea is equal to that obtained by any process hitherto introduced4 ,of course all the above was very favourable1 and its low price gained it many purchasers4 ,i think1 as a first success1 it beat any machine yet invented4 ,but1 alas6 its fall was sudden as its rise1 for1 judging from several letters in the ,tea ,gazette1 the purchasers were not satisfied with its capabilities1 and ,i doubt consequently if it is now manufactured2 still ,i may be wrong4 ,allen's ,tea ,drying ,apparatus4--,i have never seen this1 and have not heard much about it4 ,advantages claimed for it are--#a4 ,quick drying4 #b4 ,coke can be used as a drying agent1 #aj seers to one maund of ,tea4 #c4 ,only manual labour required4 #d4 ,not necessary to turn the ,tea4 #e4 ,perfect control over temperature4 ,i have three testimonials to its merits before me1 one from an engineer1 and all three speak highly of it4 ,the following letter from the inventor to the ,tea ,gazette gives further information3-- ,,allen',s ,,patent ,,drying ,,machine4 ,dear ,sir1--,some time back your valuable paper contained a description and rough drawing of my ,patent ,drying ,machine4 ,i now beg to say that the machine is in the market4 ,i will simply state here that it can dry one maund of ,tea per hour1 or about equivalent to four maunds of leaf4 ,it cannot burn the ,tea as in other machines1 yet it thoroughly dries it at one fill of the machine4 ,it takes half a maund of ,tea at each fill1 and every leaf of this is done in exactly the same time2 no turning over1 changing of trays1 or further looking after the ,tea1 after the roll has been placed in the machine on the trays4 ,temperature can be lowered from #cjj to #ajj in two or three seconds1 and run up again in five to seven minutes4 ,it will burn any fuel4 ,fireplace #b-a_/b #c1 when kept regularly three quarters full of firewood or coal about #f to #h inches thick1 while machine is drying1 will suffice 7half a maund of fuel to a maund of ,tea should be ample74 ,the appearance and fine flavour of ,tea dried in this machine by fan beats charcoal2 no gloss is lost on the ,tea from shaking up and turning over1 and the ,tea is black1 with glossy appearance and good flavour4 ,the following are valuation and reports on this machine's dried ,tea1 by ,messrs4 ,william ,moran and ,co41 to whom some of bulk or rough ,tea was sent4--,yours1 c41 ,j4 ,c4 ,,allen4 ,i omitted to extract the broker's reports1 but they were favourable4 ,i think it likely this ,dryer is well suited to small gardens1 which cannot afford steam motive power4 ,davidson's ,sirocco4--,many of these1 over #bjj1 have been set up in all the ,tea districts2 it has done good work in its time3 had it not done so it would not so long 7some years7 have commanded attention4 ,when it came out it was1 ,i think1 the best machine going4 ,i doubt much that being the case now4 ,it requires no motive power1 and is thus1 in that respect1 cheap to work4 ,the following letter to the ,tea ,gazette in many respects embodies my views of the machine3-- ,,the ,,sirocco4 ,dear ,sir1--,as both sides of a question1 viz4 for and against1 should be stated before the public for their judgment1 ,i think ,i may say that1 as far as we have seen in print1 the 8,sirocco0 is a 8first rate ,tea-drying machine40 ,i beg to state that all does not appear in print1 though what does appear there may be quite true1 and quite right too for the seller to get as many sales of it as he can1 for who would be such an ass as to cry down his own invention or anything else he wished to profit by4 ,the 8,sirocco10 as ,i have seen 7and ,i have seen over ten1 and amongst them the latest improved ones71 does not thoroughly fire off the ,tea without burning it3 the ,tea must be taken out of the machine when three parts fired1 and allowed to cool1 when its own heat1 and the fact of it being gathered in one place1 give sufficient heat to finish the kutcha firing1 but pucka batti is required after that4 ,again1 the advertisement would lead one to suppose that the drying is effected by means of the draught of hot air entirely3 now if this were the case1 when the fires are first lighted in the machine1 the hot air would at once be of sufficient heat to dry ,tea2 but this is not the case1 for the whole iron work1 in fact1 the whole apparatus1 iron work1 c41 has to be heated up by fire1 and when a little off red hot1 the ,tea is put in and fired4 ,i do not mean to say that hot air does not ascend through the ,tea1 but ,i contend that the heat of the iron has more to do with the drying2 there is no detriment to the ,tea1 ,i feel convinced1 whether it is dried by hot iron or hot air1 but there is a very considerable detriment to the machine4 ,let purchasers ask any engineer1 or even blacksmith1 how quickly iron burns away1 and he can tell them4 ,up to date no doubt the 8,sirocco0 has seen its run3 over #bjj are advertised as in use1 but it is now beaten by two machines which have come out lately1 and which beat the 8,sirocco0 entirely as to quantity dried and simplicity of working1 and for durability should last any time by careful looking after4 ,one is ,robertson's1 which is firebrick1 and the other ,allen's2 both these machines for durability cannot be surpassed3 the difference in results between the two is1 that one dries every tray of ,tea in the same time without turning over1 and the other requires to have the ,tea turned over and the trays changed1 c41 as in the 8,sirocco40 ,the 8,sirocco10 no doubt1 was a good ,tea-drying machine in its time1 and the inventor deserves the greatest credit for it1 but it has been improved upon1 as is always inevitably the case in machinery4 ,i trust no offence will be taken by the 8,sirocco0 inventor1 as such is not intended4 ,any answer of his will be gladly read4 ,cachar4 ,yours faithfully1 ,,pucka ,,tea4 ,there may have been an answer1 but ,i did not see it4 ,gibbs and ,barry's ,tea ,dryer4--,this machine has been lately invented4 ,i saw it when not as complete as it is now4 ,i have tried to get details1 but failed4 ,it must have merit1 however1 for though a late machine1 some thirty-six are now in operation2 ,i heard one good judge speak very well of it4 ,more are1 ,i hear1 being despatched to ,india4 ,no trays are used with this ,dryer4 ,shand's ,dryer4--,this hails from ,ceylon4 ,steam for drying ,tea is not quite a new idea4 ,i saw an apparatus to use steam in ,cachar years ago4 ,the great advantage claimed for this ,dryer is that ,tea cannot be burnt4 ,it is quite a new invention4 ,this1 from the ,tea ,gazette1 describes it3-- ,a ,,new ,,tea ,,dryer4 ,a gentleman in ,colombo1 ,ceylon1 a ,mr4 ,c4 ,shand1 as we mentioned in our last1 has invented a new patent ,tea ,dryer4 ,the following is a description of his invention3-- ,the barbacue-shaped steam-heated ,tea ,dryer is the cheapest1 most economical and safest drying machine4 ,as this machine can be made any length and width1 the quantity of leaf which can be manufactured is only limited by the extent of drying surface4 ,one1 #e feet wide1 and #ae feet long1 will admit of about forty pounds of ,tea being spread as thinly as on ,sirocco trays1 and1 if heated to #aej ,fahrenheit1 would dry a maund per hour4 ,the steam for heating thin galvanized iron drying surface is generated in the space 7#c inches7 between it and the thin boiler plate bottom4 ,the machine1 which is made steam-tight1 is partially filled with water1 and placed on a fire stove4 ,it is evident that a comparatively small quantity of fuel will generate sufficient steam to heat a large surface1 especially if the smoke flue is placed under the whole length of the machine4 ,as it is impossible to fire-burn the ,tea1 dried by the steam-heated ,dryer1 the enormous advantage of being independent of the care and judgment of coolies1 and of the necessity of uninterrupted ,european supervision1 is too evident to require comment4 ,then comes the figure of the ,dryer with the following note3-- 8,barbacue-shaped ,tea ,dryer4--,the far end should be slightly higher than that over the fire1 to allow the space over it to be full of water4 ,an apparatus for escape of steam and supplying water is inserted in the end plate covering the boiler40 ,the ,ceylon ,observer1 referring to the above1 asks the following questions3-- ,is it really impossible by means of steam to over-heat1 though we may not1 indeed cannot1 8fire-burn0 ,tea8 ,and when a boiler is employed to generate steam1 do we become quite independent of the care and judgment of coolies1 and avoid the necessity of uninterrupted ,european supervision8 ,will not a thermometer be necessary to indicate the proper degree of heat1 will it not require close watching1 and will there not be danger of the boiler exploding if neglected8 ,the danger may be reduced to a minimum1 but we should be glad of proof that it cannot exist4 ,mr4 ,shand in reply writes--,with reference to your remarks and queries regarding my ,tea-drying machine1 will you allow me to mention that1 as it is not intended to sustain any pressure of steam1 the drying surface cannot easily be heated over #aej degrees4 ,as a matter of course1 the ,tea takes a longer time to dry than when made by ,siroccos1 in which the temperature is maintained at #bge degrees1 but the extent of drying surface available makes this a matter of secondary importance4 ,i did not mean that no care or attention is required to keep up fire and supply boiling water periodically from a cistern placed over the flue2 but you can understand that the same care1 judgment and observation is not required to dry ,tea at a comparatively low temperature as at a very high one3 for instance1 it does not injure coffee to allow it to remain on the barbacue after it is thoroughly dry2 but put it in a roaster1 and what care and judgment is not required to perfect the roasting6 ,no doubt1 by the use of ,siroccos and other modern appliances1 the risk of fire-burning is now greatly diminished1 but these still require great care in shifting the trays and watching the thermometer4 ,this constant watching is obviated by the use of my machine1 and all the superintendent has to do is to feel when the ,tea becomes crisp and dry4 ,he has the security that1 if this is neglected to be done at the moment it is sufficiently dry1 no injury takes place by its remaining on the heated surface4 ,the machine is especially adapted for redrying ,tea before packing1 this being an operation carried on at a low temperature1 and requiring a good deal of care4 ,there are1 it is well known1 two difficulties connected with the proper manufacture of ,tea1 requiring at present the constant supervision of the superintendent3 these are fermentation and firing4 ,if the necessity of closely watching the latter can be dispensed with1 it gives the superintendents more time to direct the fermentation1 on which the colour of the infused leaf1 and consequently the value1 so greatly depends4 ,i have now considered all the ,dryers ,i know of except ,kinmond's and ,jackson's4 ,i have purposely left these to the last4 ,while in the case of ,rollers ,i thought ,jackson had done best1 in ,dryers ,i most decidedly award the first place to ,kinmond4 ,jackson's ,dryer4--,a long and exhaustive report upon it from ,mr4 ,carter1 of the ,chandpore ,garden1 ,chittagong1 appears in the ,tea ,gazette1 ,november #g1 #ahha4 ,it is too long to insert here4 ,no one can read it and doubt that the trials were most carefully conducted1 and without bias of any kind4 ,the results are not in favour of the machine4 ,moreover1 were ,jackson's ,dryers a real success ,i should have been aware of the fact long ago4 ,i incline to the belief ,mr4 ,jackson thinks he can do better1 for he has lately brought out a ,self-acting ,tea ,dryer regarding which the following appeared in the ,tea ,gazette3-- ,,jackson',s ,,new ,,self-,,acting ,,tea ,,dryer4 ,messrs4 ,w4 and ,j4 ,jackson have invented a new apparatus that will deal with the ,tea itself throughout the drying process1 and thus1 they submit1 secure a perfection in the dessication of the leaf not hitherto obtained4 ,the objects arrived at by the new invention are as follows3-- #a4--;,after the leaf is fed into the machine it requires no more attention until it is discharged dry4 #b4--;,every individual leaf is simultaneously exposed in precisely a similar manner to the action of the heated air1 thus producing an unvaried and perfectly even dried leaf4 #c4--,the ,tea is steadily but very slowly kept in motion1 thereby dispensing with the tedious and tiring watchfulness of attendants1 hitherto required in ,tea drying on the tray system4 #d4--,there are no trays about the machine to handle1 and it is1 therefore1 thoroughly durable and cannot get out of order4 ,in operating with the machine1 a boy or attendant has simply to spread the leaf on a slowly moving feeding web or band1 which carries it forward and places it in the machine1 where it is steadily but inactively kept in motion1 and in due course is discharged dry and crisp from a shoot at the delivery end2 so long1 therefore1 as the attendant continues to supply the machine with leaf1 it will steadily dry and discharge it1 and should he have occasion to leave the machine at any time1 no injury can take place to the leaf in the apparatus1 as it must pass on and be discharged4 ,the leaf is continuously1 but very slowly1 turned over1 disentangled and individually presented to the action of the heated air by a peculiar combination of concentric cylinders1 thus ensuring not only the most uniform fermentation1 but the drying of each leaf being simultaneously effected alike must produce an unvaried briskness and quality of liquor not obtainable from any of the methods of drying at present known4 ,the machine will dry about forty maunds of green leaf per day1 and will be approximately #i long1 #c-a_/b wide1 and #h high4 ,the apparatus will take very little driving1 which can either be effected by steam or hand power4 ,it is very simple1 easily erected1 and self-contained4 ,i know nothing about this new ,dryer beyond what is printed above1 and ,i rather doubt if any have yet been set up4 ,if the advantages detailed are truly all realised1 they are doubtless of much value4 ,kinmond's ,dryer4--,i shall devote extra space to this1 for ,i believe in it4 ,i have seen it working for a long time on the ,phoolbarry ,garden1 and ,i continue since ,i left ,india to receive good reports of it4 ,this is what the inventor himself says of it recently3-- ,this ,tea-drying machine continues to give great satisfaction4 ,the improvements made last year considerably increased the out-turn of ,tea1 and reduced the amount of fuel required4 ,further improvements have this year been introduced in fastening the iron plates at the corners of the trays with copper rivets1 and otherwise strengthening the trays1 remedying many small defects suggested by planters who are using the ,dryers1 and in improving the arrangement of the fire-bricks over the furnace4 ,the latter1 as well as some of the smaller alterations1 were suggested by ,mr4 ,ansell 7inventor of the sifting machine which bears his name71 an engineer who has had great experience in and around ,darjeeling in erecting and working all the three sizes of these ,dryers4 ,this is the only ,tea-drying machine which can keep pace with the largest rolling machines4 ,it is made in three sizes4 ,the capacity of the smallest or ,no4 #a ,dryer is one maund of pucka ,tea per hour4 ,the capacity of ,no4 #b ,dryer is two maunds per hour1 and that of ,no4 #c ,dryer is three maunds per hour4 ,the consumption of fuel is less than one maund of wood fuel to one maund of pucka ,tea dried4 ,one of the great advantages of this ,tea ,dryer is the facility it gives for final firing before packing4 ,the enhanced price of ,tea which has been dried and final fired in this ,dryer is well shewn in the high average of #as4 #f;d4 per lb41 which the ,scottish ,assam ,company's ,teas have fetched this season4 ,see letters annexed from their superintendent in ,assam1 ,mr4 ,cruickshanks1 and their secretary in ,edinburgh1 ,mr4 ,moffat4 ,when final firing ,tea with the ,dryer1 it is found convenient to place a fine gauze cover over the top trays in each compartment1 to prevent any of the ,tea dust being carried away with the hot air which passes through the ,tea4 ,in order to get the maximum quantity of work from the ,dryer1 the trays must be spread with rolled leaf twice as thick as that used when ,tea is dried over charcoal1 where there is no forced current of air1 and after the ,tea has been half-dried1 then the ,tea on two trays should be spread on one tray1 and the drying finished4 ,in the ,dryers now in course of construction1 the trays have been made one-half deeper1 so that the half-dried ,tea on three trays should be finished in one tray4 ,the out-turn of the machine is greatly diminished when the foregoing method is not observed2 and owing to its non-observance1 many of the ,dryers in use have never been worked to their greatest capacity4 ,the ,dryer should be lined outside with one thickness of bricks--they are the cheapest and best non-conductors of heat--inferior or badly-burned bricks may be used4 ,both ends of the ,dryer should be lined1 and both sides and elbows as high as the trays4 ,the top may either have a lining of bricks1 or four inches thick of sand or clay4 ,when the ,dryer is lined round with bricks1 it not only greatly reduces the consumption of fuel1 but by preventing the radiation of heat1 it enables the men to increase the out-turn of pucka ,tea4 ,the ,dryer is extremely simple and compact--the ,no4 #b size occupies a space of about #g feet long and #c feet wide4 ,the fan of this ,dryer requires about half a horse-power to drive it4 ,the fan should be driven at a speed of #ejj revolutions per minute4 ,the pulley on the fan spindle is #g-a_/b inches diameter and #d inches wide4 ,owing to the satisfaction given by these ,dryers this season1 an exceptionally large number of orders are on hand1 and although a number of each size is generally kept in stock1 the patentee will be obliged to those requiring ,dryers for next season to kindly send in their orders early4 ,no4 #a ,dryer1 capable of drying one maund of pucka ,tea per hour1 #aej2 ,no4 #b ,dryer1 capable of drying two maunds of pucka ,tea per hour1 #bbj2 ,no4 #c ,dryer1 capable of drying three maunds of pucka ,tea per hour1 #cjj4 ,these prices are f4o4b4 in ,london4 ,london ,agents--,messrs4 ,geo4 ,williamson and ,co41 #g1 ,east ,india ,avenue2 ,calcutta ,agents--,messrs4 ,williamson1 ,magor and ,co41 #d1 ,mangoe ,lane4 ,the best of the three sizes is ,no4 #c4 ,i have quite lately sent out two of them1 one for the ,phoolbarry1 one for the ,leesh ,company's ,gardens1 both in the ,western ,dooars4 ,i think the prices are much too high1 and might with advantage 7to both inventor and planters7 be reduced2 but as to the excellence of the machine there can1 ,i think1 be no doubt4 ,my opinion is shared by many4 ,i have before me many testimonials as to its excellence4 ,space forbids me inserting them here1 but ,mr4 ,kinmond or his agents will send them on application4 ,in ,march1 #ahha1 so satisfied was ,i even then with the ,dryer 7both the manager1 ,mr4 ,pillans1 at ,phoolbarry1 and ,i am still more so now71 ,i wrote the following to the ,tea ,gazette1 and ,i give it here as details are embodied3-- ,,kinmond',s ,,tea ,,dryer4 ,to all interested in ,tea in ,india1 and their name is legion1 ,tea manufacturing machinery and its capabilities must be a subject of great interest4 ,though ,tea prices may1 and ,i think to a certain extent will1 revive1 the old scale which existed previous to the late serious fall will never probably return4 ,how serious the fall has been will be appreciated when ,i state that gardens which previously realised #ad annas to #a rupee for their produce think now they do well if they obtain an average of #aj annas4 ,thus1 an average of #ab annas 7even if the partial rise ,i hope for takes place7 will probably be more than most ,indian plantations will get in the future4 ,in two words1 the ,tea industry of ,india is passing through a period of depression and a crisis which argues 8the survival of the fittest40 ,not only must plantations1 destined to last1 produce largely1 they must also make good ,teas at a small cost4 ,this latter1 ,i hold1 both as regards quality and economy1 can only be attained by the use of machinery2 and thus1 what is the best kind of rolling machine1 the best description of dryer1 equaliser1 and sifting apparatus1 is an all-important point4 ,tea machinery is still quite in its infancy4 ,various as are the machines in use1 and superior as some are to others1 perhaps none of them are yet quite perfect4 ,still1 planters cannot afford to wait for ultimate perfection1 for though any machines bought to-day will probably be more or less out of date in a few years' time1 he who waits must go to the wall in the meanwhile4 ,realising this fact1 as those who know the subject do1 they 7and they are many7 ask eagerly3-- 8,which of the several machines for the different processes in ,tea manufacture shall we buy80 ,i have not now1 perhaps1 the knowledge to discuss fairly the several merits of the various machines for each different process1 but as ,tea ,dryers hold an important place in the list1 and ,i have1 perhaps1 an exceptional experience of one kind1 ,i purpose to give your readers the benefit thereof4 ,years ago1 when ,i first mooted the idea that ,tea could be fired without charcoal1 it was scouted4 ,it was said1 8,the fumes of charcoal had some chemical and necessary effect40 8,the ,chinese would not have used it from time immemorial had a substitute1 and a cheaper one1 been practicable40 ,such were the objections4 ,it is now no longer a question4 ,a great part1 perhaps the greater part1 of the ,indian produce is to-day worked with other fuel1 and it is only a question of time when all of it will be so4 ,it is generally admitted that ,tea prepared in ,dryers is more valuable than that fired over charcoal2 and begging the question that the fumes of charcoal are not necessary 7the old idea is very nearly exploded71 it is reasonable that it should be so2 for1 if there is one thing certain in ,tea manufacture1 it is that speed is necessary4 ,charcoal drying took on an average #de minutes2 ,tea is fired in the best ,dryers in eight minutes4 ,in respect of speed1 ,kinmond's ,dryer 7which is the one ,i advocate7 is certainly unequalled4 ,when1 as in large factories1 #cj or #dj maunds of ,tea have to be made daily1 it is evident that1 cteris paribus1 the machine which will do most in a given time and given space must be the best4 ,in these respects also ,kinmond's ,dryer stands well1 for the small size 7,no4 #a7 will do one maund1 and the larger size 7,no4 #b7 will turn out two maunds per hour4 ,in other words1 in a working day of #ab hours 7and ,i allow no more1 for ,i do not believe in night work7 #ab and #bd maunds daily are the capacities of the two sizes4 ,considering that the said two sizes1 with necessary stokehole1 tables1 c41 occupy respectively not more than #bjj and #bfj square feet of space in a factory1 the satisfactory results1 in both the above respects1 are unquestionable4 ,tea made at night1 both because the colour of it in its different stages cannot be well seen 7let the light be what it will71 and also because superintendence cannot then be so close1 is never so good as day-made ,tea4 ,this is why ,i do not believe in night work2 and it is also a very important extra reason why machinery 7which by its speed enables all the necessary ,tea to be made by daylight7 will prove such a great and lasting advantage4 ,when ,kinmond's ,dryer was first constructed1 it was proposed to work it at #cjj degrees4 ,later experience has proved #bfj degrees is better and sufficient2 but of course more time is thus taken1 and with the old sizes one and two maunds per hour could not be turned out at the lower temperature4 ,the machines are now made one-fifth larger to obviate this4 ,the fan is worked at #fjj revolutions per minute1 and this is found to be the best speed4 ,several alterations1 and important ones1 have been made since the first machines were constructed1 but ,i will mention them shortly1 for they will only be understood by those who know the ,dryer--#a4 ,the trays now take out alternately both sides4 #b4 ,the fine ,tea or dhole trays take out independently4 #c4 ,outside bearings are supplied to the fan shaft or spindle3 thus the lubricating oil cannot now run down into the fan casing4 #d4 ,the chimney is moved forward1 and thus heats a larger amount of air and reduces fuel4 ,after the necessary temperature has once been obtained1 one maund of wood will fire one maund of ,tea4 ,this is an outside estimate4 ,the great feature in ,kinmond's ,dryer is the fact that a separate blast of hot air is forced through the ,tea on each tray4 ,in all other ,dryers ,i have heard of1 the same hot air passes through each tray successively1 and moisture is consequently more or less carried upwards through each4 ,it is principally in this respect1 and in the large quantity of work it executes1 that ,i consider the excellence of ,kinmond's ,dryer to consist4 ,it remains only to give shortly the results of a long series of experiments with ,kinmond's ,dryer4 ,the valuations were made by more than one ,calcutta broker3-- ,class4 ,charcoal dried4 ,machine dried4 ,pekoe ,rs4 #j #aa #j ,rs4 #j #ad #j ,broken ,pekoe ,rs4 #j #aj #j ,rs4 #a #a #f ,pekoe #j #a #f #j #a #aj ,broken ,pekoe #j #a #e #j #b #g ,these were made from the same leaf1 at the same time1 with every care4 ,in one of my gardens1 after ,kinmond's ,dryer was obtained1 the ,teas averaged upwards of #b annas per lb4 more all round4 ,the ,dryer can also be used for withering leaf1 but in my opinion no ,tea ,dryer is fit for that work1 inasmuch as to do a large quantity takes far too much time4 ,artificial withering is only necessary when the weather is wet and cold1 and the machine to do it should do a large quantity at a time4 ,no ,tea ,dryer can do this4 ,a machine fitted for that work has yet to be invented1 unless ,baker's ,wet ,leaf ,dryer1 of which ,i have heard good accounts1 but have not seen1 would answer4 ,,edward ,,money4 ,since the above was written1 further improvements and alterations 7suggested by ,mr4 ,ansell1 the ,tea engineer1 and ,mr4 ,pillans1 manager at ,phoolbarry7 have been carried out4 ,the machine is now very perfect1 and ,i consider it the best ,dryer at present in the market4 ,mr4 ,kinmond has invented quite lately a coke-burning ,dryer4 ,he is now taking this with him to ,india to try it1 and has sent me the following prospectus of it3-- ,the ,coke ,burning ,tea ,dryer has been made to meet the want of ,tea districts where wood fuel is scarce1 and coke can be obtained at a reasonable price4 ,the upper part of the ,coke ,burning ,tea ,dryer is exactly the same as the ,no4 #b ,wood ,burning ,dryer1 which is adapted to burn any kind of fuel1 but its capacity is a little more1 being from #b-a_/d to #b-a_/b maunds pucka ,tea per hour4 ,one maund of pucka ,tea can be dried with the consumption of about #a_/d maund of coke4 ,besides its large capacity for doing work1 and its small consumption of coke1 the ,coke ,burning ,dryer has other advantages4 ,it is nearly one-half less in weight than the ,wood ,burning ,dryer1 which means one-half saving in freight4 ,it requires no foundation or brickwork of any kind2 and taking into consideration the quantity of work it does1 it is the cheapest ,dryer in the market--costing only #ahj1 f4o4b4 in ,england4 ,i know nothing of this ,coke ,dryer4 ,its price compares favourably with his other ,dryers4 ,in ,april1 #ahha1 the following leader1 written by me1 appeared in the ,calcutta ,statesman4 ,though other ,tea matters are included 7all of interest71 ,i give it here as further testimony to the merits of ,kinmond's ,dryer3-- ,the days are passed when ,tea planters hoped to make a fortune in a few years4 ,there are mainly two reasons for this4 ,firstly1 the prices of ,tea have fallen greatly1 in many cases #cj and #dj per cent4 ,this is due to the fact that supply1 in the case of ,indian ,tea1 has overtaken demand4 ,still1 there is some comfort to all interested in the industry to be derived from the low prices which have ruled during the last two years4 ,so cheap have ,indian ,teas been that the attention of the trade has thereby been directed to them1 and consequently the deliveries of the last few months have exceeded any known previously4#ii ,it is calculated by those best able to judge1 that if the present rate of deliveries in ,london continues1 the stock in ,june next will not exceed twelve million pounds1 and the truth is1 strange as it may appear1 that below this point it is not well that the stock in hand should fall1 because1 if it does1 dealers will not be able to meet their requirements1 and will then perforce buy more ,china4 ,low as prices are1 we therefore1 nevertheless1 consider the statistical position of ,tea to-day as good4 ,there is another point which should give comfort and hope to the ,indian planter1 in spite of the fact that we are heavily handicapped in our race with ,china1 inasmuch as owing to more expensive labour our cost of production must exceed theirs4 ,this source of hope is the great point now generally admitted1 that ,indian ,tea is better and goes further than ,china ,tea4 ,the experience of each of us can quote instances of individuals dropping ,china ,tea1 and taking to ,india2 who knows of anyone doing the reverse8 ,we admit the taste for ,indian ,tea is more or less an acquired one4 ,still1 the public at home have already been educated to the taste by the yearly increasing proportion of ,indian mixed with ,china ,tea4 ,speaking generally 7though the exceptions are many and increase yearly71 it is true that ,indian ,tea is not obtainable pure1 but no more is ,china4 ,the bulk of the ,tea now sold to the public in the ,united ,kingdom is a mixture1 three parts ,china and one ,indian1 and all points to the fact that in a few more years the general mixture will be half-and-half4 ,we are thus surely paving the way1 in other words1 teaching the ,english public to like ,indian ,tea1 and the broad fact that1 once used1 it is never abandoned for its rival is surely a very hopeful feature4 ,the truth is that were it possible to make the population of ,england1 ,australia1 and ,america drink ,indian ,tea for one week only1 the demand after that week would be enormous1 and we should hear no more of 8supply exceeding demand20 nay1 more1 many thousands of1 acres would at once be added to the present cultivation in ,india4 ,but we have somewhat wandered from the question we set out with1 viz41 why ,tea does not pay now as it once did4 ,the first reason we have given2 the second is that there is now no market for ,tea seed4 ,this last reason is little dwelt on1 but it is a very important factor4 ,the days were when ,rs4 #cjj per maund1 and even more1 were paid for ,tea seed1 and though this did not last long1 the price for many years up to #ahgh was about ,rs4 #ajj4 ,now it is simply unsaleable4 ,the receipts for ,tea seed1 during all these years1 formed a large part of mature garden earnings1 and1 to quote one instance1 thereto in a great measure were due the big dividends paid by the ,assam ,company4 ,but though ,tea prices may1 and we think will1 improve1 it is not likely we shall ever again see the rates obtainable formerly4 ,this being so1 it is probable that only those plantations in the future will pay that produce ,tea cheaply4 ,how is this to be done8 ,those gardens that are heavily weighted by unsuitable climates1 by a bad class of plant1 by slopes which are too steep1 by inordinately expensive labour1 or other causes1 will have a hard time of it1 but plantations with natural advantages need in no way despair4 ,though1 as we said above1 we cannot1 in the matter of cheap labour1 vie with ,china1 we have a great advantage over the ,flowery ,land as regards economy of production in another respect4 ,we allude to the use of machinery1 which does much now1 and will do more and more as each year passes1 to reduce the cost of production4 ,machinery in the manufacture of ,tea is1 we believe1 almost unknown in ,china4 ,there each and every operation is performed by hand2 here in ,india many now do1 and eventually all will1 wither1 roll1 fire1 and sort by the help of machines4 ,it says not a little for the enterprise and the inventive genius of the ,anglo-,saxon race that1 while in ,china the manufacture of ,tea dates back many centuries1 and yet all the ,tea is still made by hand1 we in ,india1 who have only planted ,tea some forty years1 have invented machines and use them to-day for each and every operation in manufacture4 ,it is but as yesterday that we imported ,chinamen to teach us the modus operandi4 ,we now know far more than they do on the subject1 and verily the pupil has beaten his master4 ,though machinery reduces the cost of production1 and in more than one case improves the quality of ,tea1 and planters know it1 the difficulty before them to-day is to know which is the best machine for each operation4 ,unanimity on this point is not to be expected yet4 ,one swears by ,jackson1 another by ,kinmond1 others by ,ansell1 ,barry1 ,lyle1 the inventor of the ,sirocco1 and so on4 ,the machines and names of inventors are many1 and each has its disciples4 ,perhaps the most favourite rolling machines are ,jackson's and ,kinmond's1 but we see the latter has just produced what he calls a 8,centrifugal ,rolling ,machine0 which he thinks will supersede all others4 ,we have not seen it1 though it is at work on several gardens1 and so can give no opinion about it2 but another of ,kinmond's machines1 his ,dryer1 we know well4 ,it was long a moot point if ,tea could be efficiently fired by any other agent than charcoal4 ,many affirmed that the fumes of charcoal were necessary2 and when1 years ago1 ,colonel ,money1 so well known by his writings in ,tea matters1 affirmed from experiments that charcoal was not necessary1 but that any fuel would do the work1 few believed him1 for people said it was impossible to credit that the ,chinese would have gone on using charcoal 7so much more expensive than other fuel7 for centuries1 were it not a necessity4 ,what ,colonel ,money then predicted has already come to pass4 ,much of the ,tea now produced in ,india never sees charcoal at all1 and it is very certain that in two or three years all ,indian ,tea will be fired by machinery4 ,we say this is certain simply because1 apart from the saving effected by using other fuel1 the value of ,teas fired by machinery is increased4 ,it is natural it should be so because1 by the use of the best machines invented for that purpose1 the heat can be regulated to a nicety1 an impossibility by the old mode of charcoal firing4 ,kinmond's ,dryer is1 in our opinion1 the best ,tea ,dryer machine yet invented4 ,space forbids our describing it minutely 7besides1 only those1 and they are few1 who understand ,tea machinery would appreciate our description71 but its general features we will shortly touch on4 ,in the comparatively small space it occupies in a factory1 and in the large quantity of work it does in a given time1 we think it unrivalled4 ,this last feature does away with the necessity of night-work1 which1 apart from other drawbacks1 is prejudicial to the excellence of ,tea1 because1 among other reasons1 its colour cannot then be appreciated in its several stages4 ,tea made at night is never very good4 ,with sufficient motive power1 sufficient rolling machinery1 and ,kinmond's ,dryers1 the factory 7let the leaf gathered be what it may7 can be shut up at dark4 ,kinmond's ,dryer may yet be improved upon by himself or by others1 but as it now stands it possesses a feature peculiar to itself1 and all important4 ,the hot air1 driven by a fan 7the speed of which1 under control1 regulates the temperature71 does not pass successively through the different trays1 for the hot air1 drying the ,tea in each tray1 has a separate inlet and outlet4 ,by this means is avoided the objection of carrying the moisture absorbed by the hot air from one tray to the other4 ,another peculiarity in the machine is1 that the same air is used again and again1 being re-dried and re-heated each time4 ,by this two advantages are obtained3 7#a7 fuel is saved1 it is easier to heat air which still retains caloric than fresh air2 7#b7 the aroma of ,tea is very volatile1 and when hot air1 which dries it1 passes away1 some of the essence and strength of the ,tea goes with it4 ,but here the same air being used again and again1 the volatile essence 7how much who can say87 is returned to the ,tea4 ,it is reasonable to suppose that this will increase the value of the ,tea2 indeed1 we know it did so materially in one garden last season4 ,we do not doubt that the unanimity wanting at present amongst planters as regards machinery will more or less come with time1 but only long experience can settle the merits of rival machinery4 ,one thing1 however1 is very certain--if the exports of ,indian ,tea ever vie in quantity with ,china1 it will be due to the use of machinery in manufacture4 ,i may state that ,kinmond and some other inventors of ,dryers claim for them that in wet weather green leaf may be withered by their means4 ,but1 as ,i stated some pages back1 ,i do not think any ,dryers suitable for withering4 ,that machine has yet to be invented4 ,to conclude my remarks on dryers1 ,i give 7again from the ,tea ,gazette7 an estimate of the cost of drying by the old primitive mode with charcoal1 and with machines4 ,there was no signature to the letter4 ,i cannot say if the figures assumed are quite correct1 but in any case the machines have much the best of it3-- ,,tea ,,drying ,,machinery v4 ,,charcoal4 ,dear ,sir1--,tea drying by machinery versus ,tea drying by charcoal fires over choolahs is1 ,i believe1 still discussed as to the relative merits of each4 ,i will try and give you a fair estimate of cost1 and speak from experience as far as ,i know relative to the merits1 ills1 c41 c41 of both modes of firing4 #ast4 ,charcoal firing and its merits4--,except for those who persist that the fumes of charcoal are necessary to make good ,tea1 ,i can see no merit whatever in charcoal drying1 either in cost1 quality1 rapidity1 saving of labour1 or anything else1 over machine-dried ,tea4 ,cost per maund ,tea of ,tea dried over choolahs by charcoal4 ,r4 ,a4 ,p4 ,charcoal at #h annas per maund1 #a-a_/b maunds #j #ab #j #a ,battiwallah at annas #d-f1 kutcha firing #j #d #f ,do4 pucka firing1 say #j #j #f --------- ,cost of firing by charcoal ,rs4 #a #a #j ,n4,b4--,notice the labour staff required for three months in the year to make charcoal2 the immense space 7and heat7 taken up by choolahs2 cost of timber used for charcoal2 the number of trays1 gauze1 iron1 c41 c41 required2 the masonry and carpenter's work always more or less out of repair2 loss of small tea falling through trays1 c41 c4 ,now let us take ,cost of machine-dried ,tea per maund4 ,r4 ,a4 ,p4 #ast4 ,those machines which dry by coke1 say cost of coke #j #h #j #c men at annas #d-f per #e maunds ,tea about #j #b #h --------- ,cost of drying per maund ,tea for a machine1 drying by coke #e maunds in #aj hours #j #aj #h ,i now give an estimate of cost of #a maund ,tea dried by a machine of similar capabilities1 but drying with any sort of fuel--coal1 wood1 grass1 bamboo1 c41 say #b maunds of firewood at #f pie per maund #a anna per #a maund ,tea4 ,n4,b4--,price of firewood at #c pie per maund should be nearer the mark4 #c men's pay1 annas #d-f for #e maunds in #aj hours annas #b-h per maund4 ,the analysis of the above comes to this-- ,r4 ,a4 ,p4 ,charcoal drying #a #a #j ,coke #j #aj #hajj ,wood fire #j #c #h ,we read of machines drying with any fuel1 and doing double the ,tea of what ,i have estimated above1 and how people can still stick to charcoal beats me4--7,no signature47 ,sorting or ,sifting is the next process--that is to say1 dividing the ,tea 7by passing it through sieves7 into different kinds1 as ,pekoe1 ,broken ,pekoe1 ,pekoe ,souchong1 and ,broken ,tea4 ,all do not divide it thus1 for some make other kinds also4 ,in the body of this ,essay 7page #abb7 ,i say1 8,i do not believe in any present or future machine for sifting ,tea40 ,i did not then2 that was in the early days of ,tea2 but ,i was wrong4 ,a sifting machine1 on the large scale on which ,tea is now made1 is essential for every garden4 ,jackson's ,sifter4--,i have seen this1 and heard it well spoken of1 but ,i have no experience of it4 ,greig's ,sifter4--,this ,i have not seen1 but from the drawing ,i have ,i should doubt if it would sift enough per day for a large garden4 ,pridham's ,sifter4--,this is quite a new thing4 ,i know nothing of it4 ,the fact is1 the manager at ,phoolbarry and ,i have been so thoroughly satisfied with the ,sifter we use there 7,ansell's7 ,i could conceive nothing better1 and ,i have not therefore looked into the matter of ,sifters4 ,in ,january1 #ahha1 ,i sent an article to the ,tea ,gazette describing ,ansell's ,sifter1 and as ,i thought then ,i think now4 ,i believe it is by far the best ,tea ,sifter yet invented4 ,many are the testimonials1 too1 in its favour4 ,the price1 #hj1 is too high2 but the manufacturers 7,ransomes1 ,head and ,jeffries1 of ,ipswich7 advise me they propose reducing it to #gj4 ,even that1 ,i think1 is too much2 but there can be no question the use of it effects a great saving in a factory4 ,this is my article3-- ,,ansell',s ,,sifting1 ,,sorting1 ,,and ,,fanning ,,machine4 ,january #bg1 #ahha4 ,in the days gone by1 ,tea cultivation was1 to those commencing a ,tea career1 the thing to study4 ,those days are passed4 ,none are embarking in new gardens1 and but few are extending existing cultivation4 ,prices have fallen so wofully that all that ,tea planters think of to-day is how to make what they have pay4 ,i believe in ,tea still4 ,i think the present low range of prices cannot last1 and ,i think so simply because ,i know ,tea will not be cultivated year after year at a loss4 ,but the present crisis is very serious3 it means1 in five words1 8the survival of the fittest10 and even the fittest will not succeed1 unless every advantage is taken of all existing ,tea knowledge4 ,tea manufacture is now the most important branch in the industry4 ,we have advanced greatly in the last few years2 but ,tea manufacture1 as regards economy in doing it1 is yet comparatively in its infancy4 ,still we have done a great deal since the indigenous plant was discovered in the jungles of ,assam1 now nearly fifty years ago2 we have advanced more in ,tea manufacture than the ,chinese1 who have been making ,tea many centuries4 ,that is to say1 ,i affirm that the ,indian ,tea planter of ordinary intelligence knows more of both ,tea cultivation and ,tea manufacture to-day than any of his ,chinese contemporaries4 ,the ,chinaman grows ,tea1 and makes ,tea1 as he taught us to do it twenty to thirty years ago4 ,the pupil in this case has certainly beaten his master4 ,we have made some improvements in ,tea planting and ,tea cultivation1 but where we have left our teachers far behind is in manufacture4 8,johnny0 makes his ,tea as his father made it before him1 taught by his grandfather who made it the same way2 and1 for aught we know1 no improvements1 in that way1 have taken place in the course of many centuries4 ,all is hand labour2 machinery to them is unknown4 ,the most primitive ideas in ,tea manufacture are still adhered to4 ,in support of the latter1 ,i will quote one instance3 ,tea1 from time immemorial1 has always been dried by charcoal in ,china2 no other way is known there now4 ,how is it here in ,india8 ,a large proportion of the produce is fired with other fuel1 aided by machinery2 and it is only a question of time 7and a very short time7 when the whole of it will be thus prepared4 ,i could quote other instances3 let this suffice1 for no comparison can be drawn between ,tea manufacture as followed out in ,china and ,india in this year #ahha4 ,the former is as crude as it was two or five hundred years ago3 the latter 7though still far from perfection7 in its many details1 in its numerous machines cleverly contrived to save labour and better the ,teas1 is a striking illustration of the activity1 the energy1 the inventive genius of the ,anglo-,saxon race6 ,an ,indian ,tea factory1 well set up with machinery--that is to say with a green-leaf drying apparatus1 rolling machines1 ,tea dryers1 equalisers1 and sifting and sorting machines1 all driven by an engine of #ae-;horse power--offers a wonderful contrast to a ,chinese ,tea factory1 where all is handwork4 ,but more strange still is the comparison alongside of the fact1 that in the former case the industry dates back only some thirty years2 in the latter many centuries4 ,tea machinery is destined to work great results in ,india4 ,when brought to perfection 7it is far on the road now71 it will so cheapen the cost of manufacture that1 though labour is dearer with us than in ,china1 we shall1 thanks thereto1 be able to lay down our ,teas at cheaper rates than the produce of the ,flowery ,land4 ,if ,indian ,tea ever vies in quantity with ,china in the ,tea-consuming countries of the world1 it will be due entirely to the economy effected by our machinery4 ,i do not myself anticipate that ,indian ,teas will ever beat ,china out of the field1 but1 inasmuch as our ,teas are better1 because the taste for ,indian ,tea is growing apace1 ,i do believe the day will come 7it will scarcely be in our time7 that the ,tea exports from ,india will equal those from ,china2 and1 as ,i said before1 to machinery1 far more than to anything else1 will that end be due4 ,there is therefore no question of more importance to the ,indian planter to-day than ,tea machinery4 ,it is a difficult question too1 because so many machines1 for each of the different necessary processes1 are vieing in competition for public favour4 8,which is the best machine to buy80 is the question one hears asked daily4 ,i propose1 with your leave1 to write a series of articles on ,tea machinery1 pointing out1 as far as in me lies1 the advantages and defects of those which commend themselves most to me1 for ,i wish to give planters1 through your paper1 the advantage of my experience2 and as my expressing an opinion in no way precludes others from doing the same1 and ,i know your columns are open to all1 ,i would invite discussion on rival merits1 and thus certainly benefit the ,tea industry4 ,i will to-day describe what1 ,i think1 is the best ,tea sifting and fanning machine extant4 ,it is true it is the last machine used in manufacture1 but that does not signify2 ,i will take all the others in turn4 ,the said machine is the invention of an able man and engineer1 ,mr4 ,c4 ,w4 ,ansell1 well known in the ,darjeeling district for his knowledge of ,tea machinery4 ,he has been for many years employed as an engineer in ,tea factories4 ,i heard of his machine when ,i was lately in ,england1 and went down to ,ipswich to the manufactory of ,messrs4 ,ransomes1 ,sims1 and ,head to see it4 ,though difficult to judge of it1 as there was no ,tea wherewith to test it1 ,i was so pleased with the principle that ,i ordered one4 ,the cost was #hj4 ,it has now been working on one of my gardens some thirteen months1 and in every way it has proved a great success4 ,but to describe it1 as far as ,i can1 in a few words3-- ,its length is #ai feet1 its breadth #e feet4 ,the ,tea1 in bulk1 is delivered through a hopper from an upper floor1 on what ,i will call the ,a end of the machine1 to distinguish it from the other end1 which ,i will name ,b4 ,the principle of all other sifters 7except ,jackson's71 as far as ,i know1 is1 that the succeeding trays of differing wire mesh are arranged one below the other1 the slope all being the same way1 that is--from ,a to ,b4 ,this plan is objectionable in the following way3 if the ,tea has been well rolled and clings together1 a good deal of the fine ,teas that are in the mass or bulk often passes some distance down1 perhaps over half the tray or wire-mesh length1 before falling through4 ,if they do so1 and the object is to sift out any particular class on the next succeeding tray1 there is only half the length of mesh left to traverse to effect the object1 instead of the whole length of the tray4 ,this is obviated in practice by pushing the ,teas continually back up the inclined tray2 but this is done at the expense of extra labour and making the ,teas dusty and grey4 ,the above objection is obviated in ,ansell's machine4 ,it consists of four slopes1 but each of these incline downwards1 alternately1 different ways--viz41 ,no4 #a 7the upper71 from ,a to ,b2 ,no4 #b1 from ,b to ,a2 ,no4 #c1 from ,a to ,b2 ,no4 #d1 from ,b to ,a1 and below the mesh of each slope is a carrying tin tray1 sloping the same way1 which carries all the ,tea which falls through each mesh down to the head of the succeeding slope1 while in each case the ,tea which will not pass through the mesh is delivered separately4 ,the above arrangement1 however1 does not hold with the upper or ,no4 #a slope4 ,this consists of two wire trays or meshes1 with the carrying tray below the lower one4 ,such of the bulk as will not pass through the upper tray is delivered on the head of ,no4 #b slope1 at the ,b end of the machine4 ,what passes through the upper tray1 but will not pass through the lower1 is delivered by a side shoot at the ,b end of the machine1 and is 8,no4 #a ,pekoe40 ,what passes through both sieves on to the carrying tray is also delivered by an opposite side shoot from the ,b end of the machine1 and is 8,broken ,pekoe40 ,between ,nos4 #a and #b slopes is an air chamber1 which1 as the bulk left on the upper sieve of ,no4 #a slope falls on the head of slope ,no4 #b 7a blast being sent through it by a fan at the ,a end of the machine71 drives out of the said falling bulk all red leaf1 stalks1 fannings1 c4 ,no4 #b slope receives the bulk at the ,b end of the machine1 after the red leaf and fannings are taken out as stated above1 and what will not pass through the mesh is delivered at the back of the ,a end of the machine1 and is 8,congou20 while what does fall through the mesh into the carrying tray below it 7which is still bulk1 consisting of 8,pekoe10 8,pekoe ,souchong10 and 8,souchong0 mixed7 is delivered at the ,a end of the machine on to the head of ,no4 #c slope4 ,what will not pass through the mesh of ,no4 #c slope is delivered at the ,b end of the machine in front1 and is 8,souchong20 while what does pass through the mesh of ,no4 #c slope on to the carrying tray below 7still bulk1 consisting of 8,pekoe0 and 8,pekoe ,souchong07 is delivered on to the head of ,no4 #d slope at the ,b end of the machine4 ,no4 #d slope has no carrying tray3 it would be useless4 ,what will not pass through the mesh is delivered at the ,a end of the machine1 and is 8,pekoe ,souchong20 while what does pass through the mesh falls on the floor of the factory and is the remaining 8,pekoe10 that is1 8,pekoe ,no4 #b40 ,the sorting is so far finished1 and the results are the following ,teas1 placed round the machine thus3--8,pekoe ,no4 #a10 at the left side of ,b end2 8,broken ,pekoe10 at right side of ,b end2 8,red ,leaf and ,fannings10 some distance in front of ,b end2 8,souchong10 also in front of ,b end1 but nearer to the machine2 8,congou10 at back of ,a end2 8,pekoe ,souchong10 also at back of ,a end1 but nearer the machine2 8,pekoe ,no4 #b10 on the floor below the machine4 ,with ,teas thus minutely sorted1 all possible requirements are provided for1 and the planter can1 by mixing or otherwise1 make any number of classes he may choose4 ,it will be observed that 8,pekoe0 is taken out twice1 resulting in 8,nos4 #a and #b ,pekoe40 ,these differ slightly1 but are better mixed together4 8,why take them out separately10 some exclaim1 8to mix them together again80 ,but there are three very good reasons3 firstly1 the 8,pekoe0 is taken out at the commencement1 previous to fanning1 to prevent the small or broken ,pekoe tips being blown out in that process2 secondly1 the 8#ast ,pekoe0 being taken out thus early1 its appearance is not injured by passing over a large amount of sieve-mesh area2 and thirdly1 all the 8,pekoe0 is thus extracted1 which it could not be1 as far as ,i can see1 by any other process4 ,from all the kinds detailed above1 ,i make only four--viz41 8,pekoe10 8,broken ,pekoe10 8,pekoe ,souchong10 and 8,broken ,tea20 but others can do as they will4#aja ,the machine is of course driven by steam4#ajb ,the movement of all the trays is a backward and forward one of #c inches longitudinal semi-circular motion1 the latter movement being imparted by the steel spring hangers4 ,only a small amount of power is required to drive the machine1 viz41 under half horse4 ,i must here conclude my description4 ,now as to the amount of work the machine will do4 ,i speak from actual experience when ,i state what follows3-- ,it will sift and fan seven maunds of ,tea per hour4 ,the only hand labour required to supplement it is a few 7a very few7 women to pick out any foreign substances out of the 8,congou40 ,at our garden in ,western ,dooars1 #a1bfj maunds of ,tea were made in #ahhj1 and all sifted by this machine1 the hand labour besides being only #dd women during the whole season1 or about one-fifth of a woman per day4 ,the machine requires only two men to work it continually1 and one boy to feed it from the upper floor4 ,i can think of no possible objection to this machine1 or even of any possible improvement4 ,i believe1 in the case of a #cjj-;acre garden with a decent amount of produce1 the machine1 in its saving of hand labour1 pays for itself in one year1 whilst the ,teas are much improved in appearance by its use1 and fetch higher prices4 ,,edward ,,money4 ,i add two more letters in favour of the machine from the same paper3-- ,,ansell',s ,,patent ,,tea ,,sorting ,,and ,,winnowing ,,machine4 ,sir1--,in respond to your call for information regarding ,tea machinery1 ,i am happy to supply you with my experience of ,ansell's ,patent ,tea ,sorting and ,winnowing ,machine4 ,i have been sifting the whole of my ,teas1 through it this season1 and am therefore in a position to state what ,i think of it4 ,i consider it a most useful machine1 and a great saver of labour4 ,with four men1 ,i do with it in one day an amount of work which without it ,i would have to employ from twenty to twenty-five men to accomplish4--,yours1 c41 8,,sifter40 ,,ansell',s ,,sifting ,,machine4 ,a correspondent writes from ,london to the ,ceylon ,observer as follows3--,ansell's ,patent ,tea ,sorter seems to be an article which will later be much used in ,ceylon4 ,in a memo4 before me there is an extract from ,messrs4 ,george ,williamson and ,co41 who say3--8,the manager of our ,majilighur ,garden writes3--#8,i have now had sufficient experience of ,ansell's ,sifter to be able to report very favourably upon it4 ,it does its work thoroughly and cleanly1 and1 owing to the comparatively small space it occupies1 little or no loss occurs even of the finest dust4 ,sixteen maunds in nine hours is what ,i find to be about its capabilities1 and four boys do all the work connected with it4 ,it has effected a great saving in the ,tea house this year1 and has quite done away with hand-sieving1 except equalizing the broken ,pekoe and broken ,tea--a very trivial operation4'0 ,packing4--,this is the final process4 ,unless ,teas are packed directly they are made1 they require to be heated once more to drive off any moisture imbibed4 ,this can be done in a way in most of the dryers described1 perhaps in ,kinmond's best of all4#ajc ,this concludes my remarks on ,tea machinery2 but ,i shall not have a more appropriate place than this to mention the ornamental tin boxes devised by ,messrs4 ,harvey ,bros4 and ,tyler1 as a new mode of packing ,teas4 ,the following is an article of mine on the subject to the ,tea ,gazette1 written in #ahhj3-- ,i saw lately tin ,tea boxes made to hold #bj lbs41 which are manufactured by ,messrs4 ,harvey ,brothers and ,tyler1 #ba1 ,mincing ,lane4 ,i was much pleased with them1 for ,i foresaw that by their use great good to the ,indian ,tea industry would accrue4 ,i went to ,mincing ,lane1 and had a long talk with the firm1 and came away convinced that the fact of the said boxes should be known far and wide in ,india4 ,the boxes measure #ae-c_/d by #aj #ae_/afths by #aj #e_/afths4 ,they are handsomely illustrated with ,indian ,tea plantation subjects4#ajd ,each piece runs into a groove in the adjoining one1 so that one minute will put a box together1 and a touch of solder here and there completes it2 they are then perfectly air-tight4 ,the boxes are very sightly4 ,price is now #bs4 #e;d4 per box4 ,boxes sent to ,calcutta up to this have been charged #bs4 #g;d4 ,the price is dependent on the fluctuating price of tin1 which is somewhat lower now4 ,of course they are sent out in pieces4 ,cases holding pieces for #ajj boxes weigh #d cwt4 ,the firm tell me that ,messrs4 ,schne1 ,kilburn and ,co41 and ,messrs4 ,begg1 ,dunlop and ,co41 in ,calcutta1 have consignments of the boxes1 so any of your readers can see them4 ,in my opinion there are several advantages1 to be derived from their use3-- #a4 ,they will help to open up new markets4 ,the ungainly1 unwieldly packages we have used hitherto are certainly detrimental1 at least where ,indian ,teas are not known4 ,by the use of these tin boxes the sale of our ,teas would1 ,i am sure1 be extended at home1 and they would also give great facilities for successfully introducing ,indian ,tea into ,australia1 ,canada1 the ,united ,states1 the ,cape1 c4 ,it seems some ,indian ,tea has already been sent home in these tins1 and ,i am told it met with a ready sale1 quite to #h;d4 per lb4 over what it would have brought in chests4 ,this is1 of course1 too good to last1 but less than one penny a lb4 increase would pay for their use4 #b4 ,the sale of ,indian ,tea in ,india would be developed by using them4 #c4 ,the tares of these boxes is and must be exact1 viz41 #c lbs4 #ae-a_/b oz41 so only a few would be opened at the ,custom ,house1#aje and the great loss by the deterioration of ,tea being exposed 7few know how great it is7 would be avoided4 #d4 ,there is no doubt ,tea will keep better in transit in these boxes than in our old packages4 ,how often are the latter broken and the lead torn6 ,this evil would be quite avoided4 ,there seems to me to be but one doubtful point4 ,the boxes cannot be sent loose on board ship3 how then are they to be packed8 ,chests holding four tin boxes were recommended1 but they do not smile on me4 ,true1 they might be made very light3 still they would add to the size1 weight1 and cost considerably4 ,i think crates of strong light battens would answer perfectly1 and six1 or perhaps eight boxes might then be placed in each4 ,however1 this is a matter of detail1 which experience would quickly decide4 ,to continue the advantages3 #e4 ,teas packed in these boxes1 and so sold1 would not be used for bolstering up ,china rubbish4 ,they would be drunk pure1 and thus the great desideratum of teaching the public1 both here and abroad1 to use ,indian ,tea by itself1 would be1 in a measure1 attained4 ,i do not say that any planter should pack all his ,teas in this new way4 ,the mass of ,indian ,tea1 do what we may1 will still be used to mix with ,china4 ,again1 the highest class of ,indian ,teas are not the ones to commence with4 ,as a rule they are too expensive for the public to use them alone4 ,ordinary ,teas1 or perhaps a mixture which could be sold cheaply1 and would be a good household ,tea1 is what ,i should recommend4 ,it is just this kind which is now such a drug in the market1 and necessarily the diversion of some of this into other channels would help us greatly4 #f4 ,a considerable saving in the loss of ,tea at the ,custom ,house would result by the use of these boxes1 as the following figures will show4 ,to begin with1 the trade allowance of #a lb4 per package which is now allowed the buyer1 and which is of course a loss to the producer1 would be avoided2 for this allowance does not apply to any package under a gross weight of #bh lbs41 and these tins with #bj lb4 #b oz4 of ,tea in them1 will weigh gross only #bd lbs4 #a-a_/b oz4 ,to make the figures below clear1 ,i must state that the rule of the ,custom ,house is to discard fractions of a pound both in the gross and the tare4 ,but in the gross the number below is written1 in the tare the number above4 ,thus1 if the gross weight of a package is #acb-a_/b lbs41 the gross is written #acb4 ,if the tare of a package is #cg-a_/d lbs41 it is written #ch4 ,now to take one extreme case1 to show the loss on our ordinary ,indian packages3 a chest weighs gross1 say1 #acb lbs4 #ae oz42 it is still written #acb lbs4 ,the tare of the said package weighs1 say1 #cg lbs4 #a oz43 it is written #ch4 ,the tare deducted from the gross gives the net weight of ,tea4 ,in this case #acb minus #ch equals #id lbs41 which is all the producer is paid for4 ,but the net weight of ,tea in the box is #acb lbs4 #ae ozs41 minus #cg lbs4 #a oz41 equals #ie lbs4 #ad ozs41 and thus on such a package there is a loss of exactly #a lb4 #ad ozs4 ,add to this the trade allowance of one pound1 and the whole loss is #b lbs4 #ad ozs41 which is about #c per cent4 ,it will be observed that by this custom the advantage1 as regards the duty of #f;d4 per lb41 is on the side of the payee1 but none the less is it to the loss of the producer4 ,the case quoted above is1 of course1 an extreme one1 but in practice ,i believe the loss of ,tea on ,indian packages1 including the trade allowance1 is not much under #b lbs4 ,in the case of our ordinary ,indian packages1 if we could regulate our tares exactly1 so as to make the gross weight only one ounce above the whole number1 and the tare one ounce below the whole number1 the loss would necessarily be much decreased4 ,this1 however1 is impossible1 for1 as a rule1 the tares are one or two pounds less when they arrive in ,england than when they left the garden1 owing to the wood drying in transit2 and thus it is quite a chance what the real tares come out here4 ,but1 with the tin boxes in question1 the tares1 that is their weight1 being fixed and equal1 and not liable to change1 we can so arrange the weights that the loss will be very trifling1 thus3-- lbs4 ozs4 ,the box weighs #c #ae-a_/b ,we put in ,tea #bj #b -------- ,gross ,weight #bd #a-a_/b -------- ,in the ,customs the gross is written #bd lbs4 ,and the tare is written #d ------ ,the ,tea paid for will be #bj lbs4 that is a loss of only #b ounces1 or not much above half per cent41 instead of three per cent41 as shown in the old packages4 ,shortly1 to conclude this point4 ,in the case of the old packages by no means can we help ourselves2 but1 as shown1 with the tin boxes1 the loss need be very little4 ,roughly1 the cost of using these tin boxes would be1 all told1 from #a-a_/b;d4 to #a-c_/d;d4 per lb41 and with our lead-lined boxes it averages perhaps per penny4 ,the difference of a halfpenny1 or even three farthings1 one pound would not be much for the advantages detailed4 ,one point ,i have forgotten4 ,if #ejj boxes are ordered1 the plantation mark is put on the ends of the boxes gratis4 ,if less than #ejj are ordered1 the additional cost for this would be about #e4 ,i hope the ,syndicate in ,calcutta will try these boxes4 ,i shall certainly do so4 ,i enclose the directions for making up the tins1 and hope you will insert them at the foot of this letter4 ,reading over the above1 there is one point ,i find not observed on as regards the loss of ,tea at the ,custom ,house4 ,by the mode of weighing1 as explained1 the producer often loses #b or #c per cent41 but still1 strange to say1 in practice1 this loss is sometimes more than counterbalanced by the increased weight of the ,tea due to the moisture imbibed while exposed 7if boxes are broken in the transit7 anyhow at the ,custom ,house4 ,but ,i need not point out that this gain is dearly bought by the deterioration of the ,tea4 ,the ,custom ,house procedure is bad in every way4 ,more on this subject later4 ,,edward ,,money4 ,the following is also from the ,tea ,gazette1 and is much in favour of the boxes3-- ,,packing ,,of ,,tea ,,in ,,tin ,,boxes4 ,in our issue of ,november #gth1 #ahha1 we inserted a short editorial note questioning1 on the authority of certain correspondents1 the advisability of using tin ,tea boxes for the packing of ,tea1 at the same time asking our readers to favour us with their opinions on the subject1 in case we were misinformed4 ,our invitation has met with a response from several quarters1 and the correspondence we have received leads us to alter the opinion we formerly held on the subject4 ,a gentleman largely interested in ,tea1 but in no way connected with the manufacturers of the patent tin boxes1 writes to us from ,england3-- 8,i made enquiries as to the condition in which ,tea packed in ,messrs4 ,harvey ,brothers and ,tyler's lacquered tin boxes is turned out in ,london4 ,i found that the ,tea was not at all injured by this method of packing1 but that its condition is quite as good as that of ,tea packed in chests4 ,messrs4 ,w4 ,j4 and ,h4 ,thompson assured me that you were entirely mistaken in your remarks as to the contamination1 but they thought that an objection to the packing in the lacquered tin boxes was the labour of putting up in these boxes4 ,catalogues were shown me in which ,i saw that the ,teas in the lacquered tin boxes fetched higher rates than the same ,teas packed in chests1 the difference being in one case #c;d4 per lb40 ,this is certainly a most favourable testimony1 and coming as it does from a disinterested party1 who writes simply in defence of what he considers the right1 we cannot but accept of his statement in its entirety4 ,another correspondent writes3-- 8,i now give you a few of the sales of these boxes made at public auction during the last month1 shewing the preference of the trade for ,tea so packed1 and the higher prices realised4 ,public ,sale #crd ,november4 s4 d4 ,koliabar4 #bh chests ,pekoe #a #aj-a_/b per lb4 ,k4 ,assam4 #bh cases1 each #d tin boxes #b #c_/d ,public ,sale #afth ,november4 ,m4,l4,b4,d4,s4,a4 #cj chests ,pekoe #b #a_/d #cj cases1 each #d tin boxes #b #b-a_/b #bj chests ,souchong #a #c-a_/b #bj cases1 each #d tin boxes #a #d-c_/d ,public ,sale #bcrd ,november4 ,m4,l4,b4,l4,p4 #bj chests ,pekoe #a #f-c_/d #ai cases1 each #d tin boxes #a #i-c_/d 8,in every case the above ,teas were packed out of the same heap in ,india1 and the difference in the selling price arises chiefly from the better condition of the ,tea on arrival1 and the growing preference of the country trade for ,teas so packed40 ,the following is worth notice3-- ,,hoop ,,iron4 ,the ,ceylon ,observer says3 8,the planters should note the following 7writes to us a ,london firm7--,from quotations lying before us the prices of #bb gauge iron hooping are as follows3 #a_/b;in41 #afes4 per ton2 #e_/h;in41 #aajs4 per ton2 #c_/d;in41 #gjs42 #g_/h;in41 #fjs42 #a;in41 #ejs4 ,thus by using one inch hooping1 less than one-third the price is paid4 ,the narrower the hooping1 the more difficult is it to manufacture40 ,it is also not so strong4 ,,footnotes3 #id 8,nil ,desperandum0 evidently foresees what must be sooner or later4 ,all interested in ,tea1 owners1 planters1 and inventors1 should aid to achieve the result4 #ie 8,nil ,desperandum0 takes up three spaces--one bullock in each outside space and the hoe in the centre4 ,i don't like the plan4 ,it could not be done where the tea plants are high4 #if ,in wet weather especially the warm air generated in the factory by the fires in it helps the process4 #ig ,this1 after the previous sentence1 is obscure4--,e4 ,m4 #ih ,i agree with 8,enquirer0 in this4--,e4 ,m4 #ii ,they are still higher now4 ,the last three months they have averaged five millions4--,e4 ,m4 #ajj ,i should be glad to be set right if ,i have not rightly calculated the price of coke4--7,writer of the letter47 #aja ,i advise only these four kinds4 ,when the trader becomes more sensible1 three or even two would be better1 but as it is now four are necessary4 #ajb ,with a driving belt from the engine shafting4 #ajc ,heating before packing has to be done on a large scale4 ,none of the ,dryers notified are large enough4 ,a special machine should be devised4 #ajd ,top is 8,the ,tea ,garden20 front1 8,weighing ,leaf20 back1 8,packing20 ends1 8,elephant with ,howdah10 or1 if desired1 the plantation mark4 #aje ,the following are the numbers to be opened by the ,custom ,house regulations3-- ,from #a to #e #a to be turned out4 #f #dj #c #da #hj #d #ha #abj #e #aba #bjj #f #bja #cjj #h #cja #ejj #aj #eja #hjj #ab #hja and upwards #af ,this applies to packages of all sizes and kinds1 if the tares are equal or nearly so4 ,if the difference in the tares are not great1 an average is struck4 ,if tares are various all are turned out6 ,,chapter ,,xxxvii4 ,,weighing ,,and ,,bulking ,,of ,,indian ,,teas ,,at ,,custom ,,house4 ,one misapprehension with some exists on this head4 ,the weighing is done by the ,customs to ascertain the amount for duty4 ,the bulking is done at the request of the vendor1 the broker who is to sell it1 or the purchaser1 and it has to be paid for4 ,two distinct injuries are inflicted on the producer by the present ,custom ,house system-- #a4 ,the ,tea is much damaged by exposure4 #b4 ,the quantity found is always less than the actual4 ,now as to ,no4 #a4 ,when we consider how damp the ,london atmosphere is at the best1 how in foggy days it teems with moisture1 is it not very certain that ,teas exposed to it1 often for days1 deteriorate8 ,what care we take in ,india heating before packing--carefully with lead and solder1 excluding all air--and then the ,teas on arrival here are treated as above6 ,it is simply monstrous4 ,the following extract from a letter to ,home and ,colonial ,mail sets out the case forcibly3-- ,the blame ought not entirely to be laid upon the planter1 however1 for certain facts have come to our knowledge during the present week as regards the manner in which ,indian ,teas are bulked at some of the ,london warehouses1 which somewhat explains how depreciation in quality comes about4 ,we bought several breaks of ,tea in the sales this week1 which were stated to be bulked and ready for sampling six days before the sale2 and yet we know for a fact that some of those very ,teas were not put back into the chest till the day after the sale1 if even then4 ,more or less moisture is always to be found in the ,london atmosphere1 particularly in rainy weather1 and there can be no question that incalculable injury would be done to a fine ,tea by seven days' exposure on the floor of a warehouse4 ,the damage and loss falls entirely on the buyer4 ,the effects of it are not seen at once1 but there can be little doubt that a gradual depreciation sets in1 consequent on the absorption of moisture4 ,no redrying process follows2 the ,tea is simply filled back into the chests when seven days of neglect have done what mischief is possible4 ,is it to be wondered at that samples drawn from such a break of ,tea a few months after it has been bulked in ,london will have lost all their freshness and malty smell8 ,j4 ,c4 ,,taylor ,,and ,,colman4 ,i have no reason to think the delay above is very unusual1 and ,i must add to the above1 that when the chests are closed no attempt is made even to cover the top with lead1 much less to resolder it4 ,some paper on top is all attempted4 ,i need say no more to prove that the quality of ,indian ,teas is most seriously damaged at the ,custom ,house4 ,now as to ,no4 #b4 ,the loss in quantity to producer4 ,the following article1 which ,i wrote to the ,indian ,tea ,gazette in #ahha1 shows how invariable the loss must be3-- ,the loss of ,tea by the mode adopted at the ,custom ,house in ,england is great4 ,when ,teas are sold at ,calcutta1 though the ,english ,custom ,house regulations do not then affect us immediately1 they do so indirectly4 ,if purchasers in ,calcutta gain by our ,teas1 they will bid more2 if they lose1 they will bid less4 ,besides1 many ,teas are sold in ,london4 ,to understand what follows1 it is necessary to remember that-- ,garden ,invoices never go to ,custom ,house4 ,custom ,house arrives at weight of ,tea by weighing the package for 8gross10 and then turning out ,tea1 weighing box1 lead1 nails1 iron hooping1 in fact all but ,tea1 for 8tare20 gross weight1 minus tare1 is the weight of ,tea they demand duty on1 and the weight so found by ,custom ,house is all the producer or importer gets paid for4#ajf ,it follows1 therefore1 that the less ,tea declared by ,customs means a loss to producer and a gain to buyer4 ,to the latter in two ways1 viz41 less ,tea to pay for than is really there1 and a saving of #f;d4 per lb4 duty6 ,but to show1 now1 how the loss occurs4 ,when weighing for gross1 the fractions of a pound are discarded2 when weighing for tares1 the pounds above the actual weight are written4 ,the greatest loss that can occur by this method1 on one package1 is #a pound #ad ounces of ,tea4 ,it 7this greatest loss7 must always occur when the gross is #a ounce short of a pound1 and the tare #a ounce more than the pound4 ,,no4 #a ,,example4 ,gross and tare can be put at any figures as to pounds4 ,it will always come out the same4 ,say1 therefore1 lbs4 oz4 ,gross #acb #ae actual weights taken at ,tare 7deducted7 #cg #a ,custom ,house4 ---------- ,actual ,tea in chest #ie #ad ,by rule quoted the gross and tare weights are set down at ,custom ,house-- lbs4 ,gross #acb ,tare 7deducted7 #ch ----- ,actual ,tea thus paid for #id pounds--on which duty is also paid4 ,therefore the loss on the chest is #a pound #ad ounces4 ,the least loss that can take place 7when ounces occur in gross and tare7 is #b ounces4 ,to insure this the gross must be #a ounce more than the pound1 and the tare #a ounce below4 ,,no4 #b ,,example4 ,say any figures in pounds4 lbs4 oz4 ,gross #acc #a actual weights taken at ,tare 7deducted7 #cf #ae ,custom ,house4 -------- ,actual ,tea in chest #if #b ,but again1 by rule quoted1 it is written by ,customs-- lbs4 ,gross #acc ,tare 7deducted7 #cg ----- ,actual ,tea paid for #if pounds1 on which duty is also paid4 ,therefore the loss on chest is #b ounces only4 ,now did weights turn out the same in ,london that they were on the garden1 we could1 by doing as in last example1 insure only the above trifling #b ounce loss4 ,but it is not so4 ,the wood dries and thus makes both the gross and tare less4 ,the loss then comes out anything between #b ounces and #a pound #ad ounces4 ,i find the following simple rule will give the exact loss on each and every weight of both gross and tare4 ,rule4--,add the ounces above a pound in the gross to the ounces short of a pound in the tare4 ,the sum of the two1 in ounces1 will be the loss of ,tea on the package4 ,this is only part of the article4 ,i break off here to add a few remarks more appropriate now than what ,i then wrote4 ,there are means by which this varying loss1 of which the maximum is #a pound #ad ounces1 can be reduced to #d ounces only on each and every chest4 ,i admit the procedure is scarcely practical1 but as nothing can demonstrate better the absurdity of the system as pursued at the ,customs1 ,i give it here4 ,how can we insure the least loss1 taking into consideration the fact that the weights of both the gross and tare1 because of the wood drying and lightening in transit1 can never come out the same at the ,custom ,house in ,london as they were on the garden4 ,we can do it thus3 the ,tea if well packed in a chest in no way alters in weight during transit4 ,if dry1 when put up1 it cannot become lighter2 if the leaden covering is air-tight1 it can absorb no moisture1 which would of course make it heavier4 ,i therefore beg the question that it is a fixed quantity1 for it must be so if well packed4 ,we have therefore only to consider the gross and the tare1 and1 as shown1 the loss in ,tea1 varying from #b ounces to #a pound #ad ounces1 depends entirely on the weights these are found to be at the ,custom ,house4 ,in other words1 if we can insure the gross there being but little over any even number of pounds1 and the tare there being but little below any other even number of pounds1 we attain 7approximately7 the least loss we can be mulcted in4 ,begging the question that we can add to1 or detract from1 the gross weight of each chest in the ,custom ,house 7before it is put into the scales by the officer there7 by the addition or subtraction of a few nails if the weight is nearly what we want1 or pieces of hoop iron if the actual varies much from the desired weight--,i say1 if we can do this1 we can insure approximately the minimum of loss4 ,i go to show how this is to be done4 ,pack the ,tea in the usual way1 but whatever the quantity it is desired to put into the chest 7it can be varied with each class1 for it matters not what the weight is in pounds7 add to it #d ounces1 and be very careful that the whole weight of ,tea is exactly the number of pounds required1 plus #d ounces--for the whole success of the plan depends on this weight being exact4 ,nothing more is required to be done at the ,factory than has been done hitherto1 for it matters not one straw1 as regards the success of the plan1 what the gross and tare of each package is1 nor what the weight of ,tea is1 as long as exactly #d ounces above an even number of pounds is there2 neither does it signify how much the wood lightens in transit1 and thus decreases the weights which were found at ,factory for gross and tare4 ,the next step must be taken at the ,custom ,house in ,london4 ,let the importer or the producer's agent attend and weigh each package himself nicely1 any time before the weights are to be taken by the ,customs4 ,then let him make each package #b ounces above the even number of pounds4 ,this will be easy enough1 by the addition or subtraction of a few nails or hoop iron4 ,for instance1 suppose the chest to weigh #adj pounds #f ounces1 he would take away nails or hoop iron weighing #d ounces4 ,if it weighed #adj pounds #ac ounces1 he would1 by adding #e ounces more nails or hoop iron1 make it #ada pounds #b ounces4 ,all would then be finished1 and each and every package so treated would give a loss in ,tea of #d ounces only4 ,if my plan could be carried out 7as the minimum loss otherwise is #b ounces1 and the maximum #a pound #ad ounces the mean is one pound71 we save a loss of the said pound on each chest1 minus the loss we compound for1 viz41 #d ounces4 ,that is to say1 we gain #ab ounces on each package which1 in a break of #b or #c hundred chests1 means a good deal to the producer or ,customs6 ,i will give one example in figures4 ,any other possible figures can be tried3 it will always come out the same1 if the weight of ,tea is exactly #d ounces above any given number of pounds4 ,,no4 #c4 ,,example4 lbs4 oz4 ,results at ,garden4 ,tea1 any number of pounds with #d ounces added 7say7 #ajj #d ,tare 7any figure7 7say7 #dc #f ------- ,gross at ,garden #adc #aj ------- ,the wood lightens in transit any amount 7it is immaterial71 say #ae ounces4 lbs4 oz4 ,the weights at the ,custom ,house ,gross #adb #aa then become ,tare #db #g ------- ,weight ,tea as before #ajj #d ------- ,at ,custom ,house 7as detailed7 by adding #g ounces of nails or hoop iron make lbs4 oz4 ,gross #adc #b ,the tare will thereby necessarily be increased #g oz4 and become ,tare #db #ad ------- ,weight tea as before #ajj #d ------- lbs4 ,these weights are written at ,gross #adc ,custom ,house ,tare #dc ---- ,weight of ,tea found by ,customs is #ajj pounds which is a loss of #d ounces only as stated4 ,were the plan feasible1 the gain to the ,indian planters would be large4 ,say this year 7#ahhc71 fifty-seven million pounds are imported1 and ninety pounds per chest is taken as the average1 this gives over #fjj1jjj chests1 and #ab ounces saved on each #dej1jjj pounds1 of ,tea1 which at #ab annas per pound1 ,rs4 #c1cg1jjj4 ,the gain to the ,customs would be #dej1jjj sixpences #aa1bej4 ,this increase to the ,customs would be attained by simply 7though still keeping under the actual weight of ,tea in each chest7 taking the contents more correctly4 ,the above shows1 if figures will show anything1 that a great loss to both the producer and ,customs takes place by the system in vogue4 ,as the only object of the ,customs should be to arrive at the true weight of ,tea in the most expeditious and simple way1 how very absurd is the system pursued6 ,what the tare is can in no way signify to them2 all they really want is the weight of the ,tea4 ,the absurdity of the system is proved by the fact 7demonstrated7 that the results to both producer and ,customs can be altered by the addition or subtraction in the ,custom-house of a few nails6 ,how easy to weigh the ,tea itself6 ,what possible objection can exist8 ,the ,indian ,tea ,districts ,association having failed to move the ,customs1 have quite lately addressed the following ,memorial to the ,secretary of ,state for ,india3-- ,,to ,,the ,,right ,,honourable ,,the ,,earl ,,of ,,kimberley1 ,,her ,,majesty',s ,,secretary ,,of ,,state ,,for ,,india4 ,the ,petition of the ,indian ,tea ,districts ,association sheweth-- ,that your ,petitioners are a body representing the interests connected with the cultivation of ,tea in ,british ,india1 in which enterprise ,british capital to the extent of over fifteen millions sterling has been invested4 ,that the industry dates from the year #ahch1 when the first consignment of ,indian ,tea1 consisting of #def lbs41 reached the ,london market4 ,that the imports of ,indian ,tea for the year ending #cjth ,june1 #ahhb1 were #di1ejc1jjj lbs41 having a value of more than #c1cjj1jjj sterling2 while the estimated importation for the current season is upwards of #ee1jjj1jjj lbs41 or fully one-third of the entire consumption of the ,united ,kingdom for the year4 ,that the contribution to the ,revenue accruing from ,customs' import duty on the above quantity of ,tea will exceed a million and a quarter sterling4 ,that the whole of this large quantity is manufactured and packed on between #b1gjj and #b1hjj separate estates1 situated on various parts of ,h4,m4's ,indian dominions4 ,that the boxes in which the ,teas are packed are in great part made of such wood as can be obtained on the several estates1 or purchased from the neighbouring ,forest ,department1 and it is very important on economic grounds1 as also in the manifest interests of the districts1 that this should be exclusively the case4 ,that it has been found1 under these conditions1 practically impossible to meet the imperative ,custom-house standard of close uniformity of tare weight when the chests reach the ,bonded ,warehouses here4 ,that your ,petitioners have reason to complain of the system of weighing the ,teas in the said warehouses for the purpose of levying the duty4 ,that the present system of weighing is to weigh each package in the gross1 then to turn out the contents1 weigh the empty case1 and thus arrive at the nett weight of the contents4 ,that the only exception to this rule is when the package1 i4e41 the empty cases1 in a ,break closely approximate in weight4 ,that by the said system of weighing1 two serious injuries are inflicted on the grower and importer of ,indian ,tea1 viz43-- ,in the first place1 a loss of weight is sustained by the fractions over the even pound in both gross and tare being given against the seller1 and in favour of the buyer1 amounting1 it may be1 to #a lb4 #ae oz41 or an average of about #a lb4 in every package weighing over #bh lbs4 gross1 in addition to the usual trade allowance of #a lb4 per package4 ,secondly1 and by far the more serious grievance1 very great injury is caused to the ,teas by the process of turning them out of the packages1 in which they arrive hermetically sealed1 for the purpose of weighing the empty packages4 ,the ,teas are thus exposed to the atmosphere1 the humidity of which they readily absorb1 and sustain further serious injury and depreciation by breakage from rough handling in the process of repacking3 the lead linings also are so torn in the process as to be rendered comparatively useless for the purpose for which they were intended1 eliciting loud complaints from the trade of the rapid loss of condition of the ,teas4 ,that the concession of this ,petition1 by rendering it unnecessary to turn out more than a small percentage of the chests to test the correct weight of contents1 would admit of the ,teas being bulked in ,india2 and while it would free the industry from an injurious and vexatious restriction1 and admit of the ,teas reaching the consumer in a purer and sounder condition1 it would also greatly simplify and reduce the work of the ,customs4 ,that the foregoing statistics significantly demonstrate the importance of the ,indian ,tea industry to both ,england and ,india1 and constitute a claim to the favourable consideration of both ,governments1 especially that of ,india1 on the ground of the benefit accruing to the districts in which it is conducted1 and the increment of ,state revenue to which it has directly and indirectly conduced4 ,that having regard to the existing close and hardening competition with ,china1 ,japan1 and other ,tea producing countries1 your ,petitioners naturally feel aggrieved that the important industry they represent should be hampered in the contest by the restrictive and superfluous impediment forming the subject of their petition4 ,that your ,petitioners have unsuccessfully urged on the ,commissioners of ,her ,majesty's ,customs the adoption of this change of system1 and therefore venture to address your ,lordship4 ,that your ,petitioners beg to refer to the accompanying copies of correspondence between the ,association and the ,commissioners of ,her ,majesty's ,customs annexed to this ,petition4 ,that the accompanying ,memorial signed by the leading mercantile firms and others in ,calcutta1 interested in the growth and export of ,indian ,tea1 is an illustration of the feeling in ,india on the subject of this ,petition4 ,your ,petitioners therefore pray-- ,that your ,lordship will kindly take such steps as may be necessary to secure for your ,petitioners the relief sought for4 ,and your ,petitioners will ever pray1 c4 ,t4 ,d4 ,,forsyth1 ,chairman of the ,association4 ,,ernest ,,tye1 ,secretary4 ,the following reply was received3-- ,,india ,,office1 ,s4,w41 #bhth ,february1 #ahhc4 ,,sir1--,i am directed by the ,secretary of ,state for ,india in ,council to acknowledge the receipt of the ,memorial addressed to the ,,earl ,,of ,,kimberley by the ,indian ,tea ,districts ,association1 respecting the method of weighing ,indian ,tea at the ,custom ,house4 ,in reply1 ,i am to inform you that the ,memorial has been forwarded to the ,lords ,commissioners of ,her ,majesty's ,treasury1 with the expression of ,,lord ,,kimberley',s hope that whatever is practicable may be done to remedy the grievance complained of by the memorialists in the interests of the ,indian ,tea trade4 ,i am1 ,sir1 your obedient servant1 7,signed7 ,j4 ,k4 ,,cross4 ,the ,secretary1 ,indian ,tea ,districts ,association4 ,it is possible1 therefore1 that some improvement will now be accomplished4#ajg ,but at the ,,crutched ,,friars ,warehouse 7belonging to the ,east and ,west ,india ,docks7 a great advance has already been made4 ,the ,tea there is now bulked1 and re-packed by machinery4 ,the ,directors most kindly invited me to come and witness the process4 ,i went1 and was more than pleased with what ,i saw4 ,the machinery1 and all connected with the process1 is so well described in an article in the ,home and ,colonial ,mail1 ,i cannot do better than give it here3-- ,,tea ,,bulking ,,at ,,the ,,east ,,and ,,west ,,india ,,dock ,,company',s ,,warehouses1 ,,in ,,crutched ,,friars4 ,it is not a little strange that the importance of effecting improvements in the present system of ,tea bulking1 which has exercised the minds of ,tea growers and importers so much of late1 should have hitherto been neglected or ignored by the proprietors of the various bonded warehouses in ,london wherein the ,tea is bulked and stored4 ,that ,tea may be1 and only too commonly is1 bulked by an antiquated and unsatisfactory process is a fact which is well known to all who are interested in the matter4 ,how this result is arrived at will be seen later on2 at present we desire to show that at least at one warehouse the question has received the attention which it deserves1 and to explain1 so far as may be possible1 the steps which have been taken in the matter4 ,it is1 then1 that old and powerful body1 the ,east and ,west ,india ,dock ,company1 who have taken up the matter4 ,at the instance of ,mr4 ,du ,plat ,taylor1 the able and energetic secretary of the company1 supported by the equally energetic warehouse superintendent1 ,mr4 ,robert ,adams1 the arrangements for bulking ,tea at the warehouse of the ,company have been very greatly improved4 ,more than this2 there has been invented and set up a special and very ingenious machine for the bulking of ,tea in a manner which avoids all the failings of the old system4 ,what this machine is1 and what its peculiar merits are1 will best1 and perhaps only1 be clearly understood by a brief description of the two systems as we lately saw them in operation at the warehouses of the company in ,crutched ,friars1 which we may mention are nearer than any others to ,mincing-lane1 an advantage securing to planters and importers the certainty that their ,teas will be sampled by the trade generally4 ,under the old system1 then1 each chest of a break1 after having been subjected to certain preliminary formalities1 is opened1 and the ,tea turned out in a heap on the floor of the warehouse4 ,when this is done the ,tea is bulked by means of wooden spades1 each spadeful being thrown to the top of the central heap1 so that it falls over and on all sides4 ,here the ,tea lies until it is placed back again in the chests after they are tared1 there being a considerable interval at some of the ,london warehouses between the bulking and refilling4 ,the refilling is thus accomplished4 ,the ,tea is first put into bags and weighed on a machine at the side of the bulk4 ,the bag and chest are then taken off the weighing machine and the contents of the bag are emptied into the chest4 ,the ,tea1 however1 requires some pressure to force it into the chest1 and this pressure is obtained by an expedient of a very primitive kind4 ,when the chest is partly filled a man gets in and presses down the ,tea by treading on it4 ,so soon as the ,tea is all in the chest the package is properly secured1 and the operation is completed4 ,now the serious faults of this plan are at once apparent4 ,in the first place the ,tea1 being in heaps on the floor of the warehouse with a large surface exposed to the atmosphere1 runs the risk of losing a great deal of its freshness and aroma1 this risk being largely increased by the doors of the warehouse being kept open in order to discharge or to receive merchandise in all weathers4 ,no atmospheric influences are calculated to benefit ,tea4 ,then1 again1 the shovelling of the ,tea by means of wooden spades1 and the treading into the chests1 can hardly do otherwise than injure the ,tea--the filling in a minor degree and the treading to a more serious extent1 the result being1 of course1 that the ,tea is depreciated4 ,the ,east and ,west ,india ,dock ,company have made the best of this primitive method of ,tea bulking4 ,in the first place it is insisted on in their warehouses that previous to trampling the ,tea into the chests1 a cloth shall be placed over it to preserve it from the dirt of the man's boots1 and to some extent from injury--a precaution which1 strange as it may seem1 is not taken in every bonded warehouse4 ,then1 again1 ,mr4 ,adams1 the warehouse superintendent--who could hardly have the interests of planters and importers more at heart were he 8in ,tea0 himself--uses his best endeavours to refill the boxes with as little delay as possible1 and thus to prevent it from being injured by undue exposure to the atmosphere4 ,he also keeps the floors of the warehouse as clean as practicable4 ,but feeling that the best efforts1 however well devised1 and however strenuously carried out1 must necessarily be attended with but partial success1 the ,east and ,west ,india ,dock ,company have erected--as has already been mentioned--a ,tea bulking machine1 a device which is ingenious and meritorious1 and which seems to be1 so far as it has been tried1 a great success4 ,this machine1 designed by ,mr4 ,tydeman1 of the company's engineering staff1 and constructed under his supervision1 consists1 firstly1 of a large hollow revolving drum weighing nearly two and a-half tons1 and of sufficient capacity to thoroughly bulk about #ej chests of ,tea4 ,the drum is made to hold about #ajj chests of ,tea1 which leaves ample space for the bulking of the above quantity4 ,inside this drum are frames fitted at intervals with iron rods1 and extending at varying angles from the axle of the drum to its extremity4 ,externally the drum has two openings for the reception of the ,tea1 and two smaller ones for its discharge4 ,in a line with the axle of the drum1 some height from the floor1 is a platform to which the chests are conveyed by a double lift which simultaneously ascends with a full chest and brings down an empty one4 ,adjuncts to the machine are a weighing machine1 a presser1 and four beaters--of the two latter the nature and object will be immediately apparent4 ,the process of bulking as effected by this machine is briefly as follows3 ,the drum being revolved till its receiving openings are level with the platform1 a chest of ,tea is raised1 as before explained1 and the contents examined on the door of the drum1 which falls back into a horizontal position for that purpose1 then by closing the tray or door the ,tea is passed into the drum4 ,the lift then brings up another full chest and takes down the emptied one1 which is at once taken to a scale for taring purposes1 and so the process is continued till the break is exhausted4 ,this filling process can be carried on at both sides of a drum at once1 as there are two openings and two lifts4 ,the ,tea being in1 the drum is made to revolve1 when the iron frames thoroughly mix the ,tea in a very few revolutions--three would suffice4 ,the drum has now to be emptied1 and this operation is effected in the following manner3--,the revolution of the drum is stopped when the openings through which the ,tea is released are brought over the weighing machines--there are two for greater expedition--on which are placed the chests ready to receive it4 ,the delivery doors 7worked by levers7 being opened1 the ,tea is allowed to descend till the chest is about half full1 when the presser and beaters are brought into play by hydraulic pressure4 ,the presser is a piece of flat iron about an inch in thickness1 removable at pleasure1 and varies in size to fit either a chest or a box4 ,the beaters are four pieces of the same metal1 which support the chest so soon as it is on the weighing machine4 ,when the chest is partly filled1 the beaters are released1 and1 by the action of a wheel1 are made to strike all four sides of the chest1 and thus shake the ,tea down4 ,the presser is also brought down to press the ,tea in4 ,the action of both of these agents can be regulated to any required degree of force4 ,thus by degrees the chest is filled1 and 7the supporting beaters having been released and the presser raised7 is weighed and ultimately removed4 ,such1 in brief1 is the action of the new ,tea bulking machine4 ,one or two points1 however1 remain to be mentioned4 ,the power by which the machine is actuated is hydraulic4 ,the presser will not injure the ,tea4 ,the beaters serve the triple purpose of holding the chest in position on the weighing machine1 of supporting it should it be of weak construction1 and of materially assisting the repacking of the ,tea4 ,the beating action does not in any way injure the chests4 ,our readers will also be pleased to know that certain very marked improvements even upon the above described are already in hand by this ,dock ,company--improvements which will greatly increase the value and usefulness of their machinery for bulking ,teas4 ,to descant on the advantages over the old system of bulking which are possessed by the machine which has been described would be little better than a waste of time4 ,yet some few points may be briefly referred to4 ,first1 cleanliness is secured1 for from first to last the ,tea is never touched by hand or foot4 ,again1 the ,tea cannot be injured1 nor can it lose its aroma1 for it is never exposed to the atmosphere at all4 ,instead of being allowed to lie on the floor of the warehouse for any period1 the entire process of bulking is completed without break or delay4 ,the ,directors of the ,east and ,west ,india ,dock ,company are not1 of course1 so sanguine as to imagine that the old system of bulking will be at once abandoned2 indeed1 they have1 as has been mentioned1 taken steps to improve that system2 they do1 however1 think that it should be abandoned1 and to that end have adopted the ,tea ,bulking ,machinery as an alternative1 and an immeasurably superior process4 ,that they are justified in this view there can be no doubt in the minds of those who have witnessed both the systems in operation4 ,the said machinery is at the ,,crutched ,,friars ,warehouse alone1 and it is1 of course1 very desirable the machinery should be adopted in all ,tea warehouses4 ,this end will be quickly brought about if those who send their ,tea home1 and the importers here1 insist on their ,tea being sent to this one warehouse that has the machinery4 ,what an advantage to owners and managers of ,tea estates is the fact that ,tea bulked by machinery at ,,crutched ,,friars is not exposed to the changeable ,english atmosphere1 or at least not for more than a few minutes1 and consequently is not so likely to be classed as 8flat40 ,how many planters are there who1 after taking especial care in the manufacture of their crop1 find to their chagrin that on arrival in ,london 7and after exposure probably for some days71 the shipment is described as 8flat10 and worth so many pence per lb4 less than if the atmospheric exposure had not occurred4 ,it appears to me that very little1 added to the help this new machinery gives1 would now do away with all the injury the producer and the ,tea has hitherto borne in the ,customs4 ,so much has now been accomplished by this machinery1 the ,tea is well bulked1 and receives no injury whatever thereby4 ,but two further improvements are required3-- #a4 ,that the actual weight of ,tea in each chest 7discarding ounces7 be recorded1 and that thus the loss to the producer and the ,customs1 detailed above1 be avoided4 #b4 ,that the lead at top of the ,tea be carefully replaced and resoldered1 so that every chest shall leave the ,custom ,house in as good condition as it entered it4 ,very little addition to the machinery detailed above would accomplish the first4 ,the chest ready to receive the ,tea1 plus the lid and top lead 7which should have been carefully removed71 might be weighed on the platform at the side of the big drum 7by simply making the said platform a weighing machine7 and weighed again when filled1 with the lid and lead laid on it4 ,the difference of the two weights would1 of course1 be the weight of the ,tea4 ,the second is a question of expense2 it would not be great if done systematically4 ,the chest should be carefully opened1 and the top lead removed in a square piece nearly the size of the box4 ,when replaced1 a narrow strip of lead1 soldered down on either side1 would make the covering complete4 ,justice will not be done to ,indian ,teas till this last is accomplished4 ,who should bear the expense8 ,the chests are received into the ,customs for the benefit of the ,revenue1 and who can doubt1 were the question tried in a ,court of ,law1 that they are bound to return them in as good condition as they were received4 ,they do not1 and have never done so1 and ,i only wonder the trade has stood it so long1 and has not sued them4 ,were the course ,i advise followed out1 there would remain no cause of complaint1 and the trifling cost of soldering on the lid again should doubtless1 therefore1 be borne by the ,customs4 ,but in reality the ,customs would sustain no loss--in fact1 the other way4 ,i have shown clearly at page #bgh that were the weight of ,tea correctly recorded1 the ,customs would receive in duty upwards of #aa1jjj each year from ,indian ,tea more than it does now4 ,to re-solder the lids on the boxes would cost nothing like that2 and highly as ,indian ,tea is thought of now1 how much higher still would it stand were it not injured to the frightful extent it is in passing through the ,customs4 ,,conclusion4 ,i lit on the following in the ,home and ,colonial ,mail just before going to press1 and it is too pertinent to much in preceding pages to omit3-- ,,the ,,china ,,tea ,,trade4 ,the influence of the expansion of the ,indian ,tea enterprise on the trade in ,china is being felt4 ,we have more than once adverted to the fact that the growing use of the well-flavoured ,teas of ,india would diminish the consumption of the better grades of ,china ,tea1 and that the effect of the competition between the two countries would be first seen in the falling off in the demand for so-called fine ,china ,tea4 ,the following letter1 which appeared in the ,times ,money article lately1 confirms this view1 and refers to the present unsound condition of the ,china ,tea trade3-- 8,sir1--,in view of the opening of the ,tea season in ,china1 a few remarks upon the present position and future prospects of this important trade may not be inopportune4 8,it is no secret that for some years past the losses of merchants have been serious1 and that while most of the wealthy firms so long known as connected with ,china have either entirely ceased to import ,tea1 or have reduced their operations to a very small compass1 the trade has been carried on by new houses possessing but little capital1 who are enabled1 by the competition of the banks1 to do a large business by drawing bills on ,china1 not only for the whole cost of the ,teas purchased1 but also for their commissions on these purchases--that is to say1 for an unrivalled profit of #c per cent4 ,the question1 ,who has so far paid the losses of the past two years8 is one that greatly exercises the minds of the trade4 ,many suppose that large balances are being carried over in the books of some of the banks1 or by the ,chinese1 and that it is the hope of recouping a portion of this loss that induces the banks or the ,chinamen to support those who would otherwise be obliged to relinquish the trade4 ,the ,chinese have also a further inducement to support such firms1 since it is partly through them that those high prices are established in ,china at the opening of the season which entail so much loss afterwards4 ,as a result of these prices1 about #cj per cent4 more fine ,congou is produced than 7on account of the competition of the ,indian growth7 can be consumed except at the price of medium ,tea4 ,how large the excess is may be gathered from the fact that1 although #e1jjj1jjj lbs4 of this class of ,tea was lost last ,july in the #8,moskwa' and the #8,fleurs ,castle1' yet stocks in ,russia have increased by about #cj1jjj half-chests1 and there is still so large a quantity on this market that it can only be realized at a loss of from #e;d4 to #f;d4 per lb4 on the ,china cost2 thus some ,teas1 said to have cost in ,hankow #as4 #h;d4 to #as4 #i;d41 have been recently sold as low as #as4 #c;d41 and others costing #as4 #g;d4 in ,foochow1 have been sold at #as4 #a;d4 per lb4 8,it is evident from the above that merchants as a rule do not realize the immense change that has been brought about in the conditions of the trade by the enormous increase in the use of ,indian ,tea1 which now forms about one-third of the entire home consumption1 and competes mostly with the finer qualities of ,china congou2 nor the fact that all engaged in the trade are becoming year by year more averse to holding stock on account of the heavy charges involved1 and the risk of deterioration in quality4 ,yet1 as the whole twelve months' supply of first crop ,tea arrives within three months of the opening of the season1 it is plain that some one must hold the balance1 which can only be done with safety if the ,tea be bought at a very low price4 8,the one remedy for the present condition of things is that the great bulk of the so-called fine ,teas should be bought in ,china at their present value on this market--viz41 at about #e;d4 to #f;d4 below the prices given for them in recent years4 ,with the large accumulated stocks in ,russia1 and consequently reduced orders from that country1 the yearly-increasing supply of ,indian ,tea1 and the present prices here1 one would think that such a course would at once be adopted4 ,unfortunately1 however1 so much of the ,tea is bought on commission1 and the ,russian agents seem so reckless as to the prices which they give1 that any such prudent action can hardly be hoped for4 ,it would1 therefore1 be wise for holders of shares in ,eastern banks1 as well as all who have been in the habit of intrusting orders to buying agents in ,china1 to ponder the foregoing facts1 which can be easily verified by a reference to any of the trade circulars lest their money should be lost in the crash which must certainly take place if the past policy of ,tea buyers in ,china be continued4--,i am1 c41 8,a4 ,b40 ,will those warned be wise in time1 and not swamp the ,home ,market with ,china ,teas certain to be sold at a loss8 ,who can say8 ,but 8,a4 ,b40 is evidently master of the subject1 and if his advice in not taken1 the ,china ,tea 8crash0 he predicts will not be a small one4 ,when ,china ,teas are not sent home to realise a certain loss1 our ,indian ,teas will have fairer play4 ,i cannot conclude without acknowledging the great help ,i have derived from the pages of the ,tea ,gazette in writing these additions to my ,fourth ,edition4 99 99 99 99 99 ,since my remarks on ,ceylon were printed1 ,i have acquired much further information regarding the ,tea industry in that island1 and the prospects certainly seem very favourable4 ,anyhow1 there seems to be no doubt that ,ceylon for ,tea offers quite as good a field as any part of ,india1 always supposing that good sites are selected and the area to choose from is large4 ,the future market for ,tea is really1 as regards ,ceylon1 the only doubtful point1 and consequently 7as at page #ahc7 ,i advise the planters there to act with caution4 ,where it is proposed to put coffee lands under ,tea1 of course one great advantage in economy will be gained1 inasmuch as there will be no jungle clearing or previous cultivation4 ,but here again caution is necessary4 ,make sure the soil is not worn out1 for ,tea1 though it will grow1 will not yield largely on such4 99 99 99 99 99 ,june1 #ahhc4 ,p4,s4--,the following are the new rules lately issued by the ,customs regarding the future treatment of ,indian ,teas4 ,the weight of ,indian ,tea for duty may1 if desired by the importers1 be ascertained under the following regulations3-- #a4 ,the ,tea on arrival to be weighed to ascertain the gross weight of each package4 #b4 ,with each entry the importer to give an endorsement of the net contents of each package4 #c4 ,to test the accuracy of this endorsement1 #aj per cent4 of each break to be turned out and weighed net4 #d4 ,if the difference between the weight given of any package and the weight found exceeds or is less than #c lbs41 the whole parcel should be weighed net4 #e4 ,duty to be charged on the average weight of the packages weighed net1 unless the importer elects to weigh the whole parcel in the usual way4 #f4 ,when the average of the packages weighed net amounts to so many pounds and a-half1 an additional pound will be charged on each of the whole parcel2 when the fraction is less than half a pound it is to be rejected4 #g4 ,the new system to come into operation on ,july the #ast next4 ,,footnotes3 #ajf ,if tares are nearly equal1 and if ,teas are well bulked in ,india1 only some packages 7about #aj per cent47 are opened1 and an average tare struck4 ,but this in no way saves the loss in quantity of ,tea1 though1 of course1 less ,tea is thus injured4 #ajg ,since ,i wrote the above the ,customs have framed new rules for ,indian ,teas4 ,the absurd tare system is done away with4 ,,addenda ,,to ,,the ,,third ,,edition4 ,the following from the ,indian ,economist1 regarding ,indian ,teas in general and ,neilgherry ,teas in particular1 is not out of place here4 ,at the same time ,i do not agree with the writer1 for ,i believe that in the strength and pungency of ,indian ,teas consists their value3-- ,,indian ,,tea4 8,that the ,teas of ,india have at length come to be fully appreciated in ,england may be taken1 we presume1 as an admitted fact2 and it is of importance that planters should direct their attention to modifying their methods of manufacture so as to suit the public taste1 and1 if possible1 turn out an article free from the objections still advanced against the ,indian leaf as a daily beverage4 ,there are1 we know1 those who argue that enough has been done1 and that consumers will acquire a taste for the produce of our gardens in time2 but we have daily evidence that in the most trivial matters there is no greater tyrant than the public4 ,it behoves those then who cater for this tyrant to consult its taste and satisfy its demands1 however exacting and capricious they may be4 ,the remarks we are about to make are based on experiments and enquiries extending over some years in this country and in ,england1 and we leave those engaged in the enterprise to estimate their value4 ,all ,teas grown in the plains of ,india are known to the trade in ,london under the general name of ,assam1 and are chiefly used for mixing1 seldom reaching the consumer in a pure state4 ,when they do1 the objections raised are that the leaf is too pungent and rough for most palates2 and purchasers are in the habit of mixing it with ,chinese to tone down those astringent qualities4 ,in other words1 it wants the delicacy of flavour which is the chief characteristic of the ,chinese leaf1 meaning of course that vended by respectable houses1 not the abominable trash that formed part of the cargoes of the ,lalla ,rookh and ,sarpedon1 containing1 according to ,dr ,letheby's ,analysis1 #8#dj to #de per cent4 of iron filings and #ai per cent4 of silica4' ,nor is this lack of delicacy of flavour to be lightly regarded1 for the efforts of our manufacturers have been directed unwittingly and indirectly to foster the peculiarity1 as the test of ,indian ,tea has hitherto been its strength and pungency1 to fit it for salting weak1 thin1 inferior sorts of ,chinese4 ,this is what the dealers have demanded1 and what1 consequently1 brokers in their turn have insisted on1 with the result that the out-turn of our ,assam and ,cachar plantations is now1 if anything1 too powerful to suit public taste4 ,whether means of manipulation may be hit upon by which aroma can be retained without sacrificing strength1 we leave those most interested to determine2 but it is worthy of note that this objection to strength and roughness is almost confined to women1 the sterner sex preferring ,assam unmixed1 while the working classes of both sexes are unanimous in favour of the unadulterated ,indian article4 ,experiments were further tried by substituting ,neilgherry ,tea1 and after a short interval the verdict of the majority was in its favour4 ,we need now only point out the difference in the manufacture between the two ,teas1 leaving others to decide questions regarding the bearing of climate or altitude4 ,up to the time of finishing rolling1 the manipulation of the leaf is identical1 care being taken to retain the juice2 but that made on the hills instead of being almost immediately placed over choolas was spread out thinly on tables all night1 in a temperature of #ed deg41 sustaining consequent loss of strength by evaporation1 but developing an aroma that established it at once in favour4 ,so successful has this ,neilgherry ,tea been at home1 that offers are now received by plantation proprietors for their produce at half-a-crown per lb4 free on board1 in ,madras4 ,this would seem to indicate that the aroma is generated by the action of cold upon the damp leaf while in a state of #8suspended fermentation2' for1 previous to experimenting with consumers1 the samples were submitted to ,mincing ,lane brokers and pronounced sound1 in corroboration of which opinion the bulk from which they were taken sold at auction for #bs4 #b-a_/b;d41 so that fermentation 7i4e4 sourness7 had been carefully avoided4 ,we know that the climate of ,assam and temperature of the ,tea-houses render the keeping of rolled leaf even for an hour fatal to soundness2 but should the development of this aroma be really due to #8suspension of fermentation' is it not worth while adopting some contrivance for cooling down a chamber set aside for the purpose of spreading out the rolled leaf to the temperature required8 8,the question whether delicacy is due to altitude alone and not to manufacture might be ascertained by experiment4 ,let a quantity of green leaf be sent down from one of the ,neilgherry gardens1 and worked up in the plains at the foot of the hills1 and an equal quantity sent up from one of the ,assam gardens1 say to ,shillong1 and manufactured on the ,neilgherry principles there1 and the result then compared4 ,this experiment would cost little and determine a not unimportant question3 for all engaged in ,tea are interested in using their best endeavours to fit it for public consumption1 and to guard it against ,chinese in any shape or form whatever40 ,note by the ,author4--,that 8delicacy of flavour10 and 8want of strength0 with it1 is due to altitude has long ago been admitted1 and any experiments on that head would1 ,i think1 be quite unnecessary4 ,the experiments as to manufacture on the ,neilgherries are interesting1 and should be further looked into4 ,e4 ,m4 ,i have at last completed experiments with a view to do away with the use of charcoal in ,tea manufacture1 and ,i think with success4 ,the 8,furnace ,teas10 for so ,i purpose naming them1 have in most cases been pronounced by the ,calcutta brokers to be superior to similar samples of the same day's leaf1 made in the usual way over charcoal4 ,nothing but the heat generated by any fuel placed in furnaces sunk under ground outside the ,tea-house is used4 ,no motive power of any kind is employed4 ,the apparatus is very simple4 ,it is cheap to erect and very durable in character4 ,as the apparatus with which the ,teas up to the present time have been made is a rude and imperfect one1 having disadvantages which must tell more or less on the excellence of the ,teas so manufactured1 and as1 even with these disadvantages1 the ,teas are pronounced by the brokers at least equal to charcoal-dried ,teas1 it is not too much to hope that with a perfect apparatus 7one of which will be erected immediately7 ,teas will be improved in value by this new invention4 ,the following will be shortly the advantages of this new process1 even supposing the ,teas are no better3-- #a4 ,economy4--,this will possibly be even greater than what is set out in the extract of the local paper below2 for the fact that the ,tea is never placed over charcoal until the whole is ignited1 and has become 8live charcoal10 is not there recognized1 much of the caloric thus escapes4 #b4 ,cleanliness and absence of charcoal dust4 #c4 ,absence of the objectionable fumes of charcoal4 #d4 ,immunity from fire in ,tea-houses4 #e4 ,greater speed in the firing process1 and the saving of all the labour employed to make charcoal4 #f4 ,reduced temperature in ,tea-houses4 ,if all the advantages are1 as ,i expect they will be1 attained1 the life of a ,tea planter will be more pleasant than hitherto4 ,the following is the opinion of the new process expressed by the ,darjeeling ,news of #ast ,august3-- 8,it has long been a question1 which all planters were desirous to solve1 if the fumes of charcoal were necessary to make ,tea1 that is to say1 if any chemical action was produced on the ,tea by the said fumes1 and if not1 whether it would not be possible to do the firing in some other and far cheaper way4 8,the question has1 we believe1 been solved by ,colonel ,edward ,money1 and if so1 for the invention is quite a new one1 a boon of great magnitude will have been conferred on the ,tea interest of ,india4 ,we congratulate this district as being the birthplace of the improvement4 8,the apparatus at present in use at ,soom1 and which we have seen working1 is a rough and crude one made on the spot4 ,this1 and the more perfect plans from which larger and better ones are to be made1 are readily shown by ,colonel ,money to anyone visiting ,soom2 but until the invention is patented1 it is not well to describe it in print4 ,suffice if we say the invention is a remarkably simple one--cheap to erect--durable in its character1 and the working thereof unattended with any expense whatever1 beyond the cost of the fuel 7which may be of any kind71 and which of course will be many times less than charcoal4 8,if true1 as we hear1 that it takes #c-a_/b maunds of wood generally to make one maund of charcoal1 and if also true1 as ,colonel ,money suggests1 that the caloric in one maund of wood equals the caloric in two maunds of charcoal1 it then follows that each maund of wood1 put into ,colonel ,money's furnace1 equals seven maunds of wood to make charcoal4 8,of course the above are more or less random figures1 but they suffice to show that the saving of fuel will be very great--a boon of course to planters1 but a boon also to the ,forest ,department and to ,india4 8,we knew of the invention some time back1 but we forbore to notice it until the brokers' reports on the ,tea so made had been received4 ,we have now seen these4 ,samples of #8charcoal' and #8furnace' ,tea were sent down1 made from the same leaf1 the same day1 and manufactured in one up to the 8firing0 process4 ,two brokers give the higher value to the furnace ,tea1 one to the charcoal kind--but the difference is small4 8,we believe1 as one of our most experienced planters1 who has tasted the ,teas1 been to ,soom1 and seen the brokers' reports1 says1 that #8the ,tea dried by the furnace apparatus will be at least equal to that prepared over charcoal4' 8,as ,colonel ,money is already known as an authority in ,tea1 and as he has stated to us his belief that #8charcoal days' for ,tea are now at an end1 we await with confidence the ultimate success of his invention1 which even if it makes no better ,tea will certainly make it far cheaper1 while the dirt from charcoal dust will be done away with1 the temperature of the ,tea-houses much reduced1 and the deleterious fumes of charcoal1 so very objectionable from a sanitary point of view in ,tea manufacture1 will be known no more40 ,again1 #bith ,august1 a month later1 the ,darjeeling ,news further remarks3-- 8,we alluded recently to ,colonel ,money's very ingenious plan for drying ,tea without charcoal4 ,since then his apparatus has been in full work at ,soom1 and has been inspected by numbers of the ,darjeeling planters1 one and all of whom have1 we understand1 reported most favourably on its working4 ,samples of ,tea manufacture have been from time to time sent to ,calcutta brokers for their opinion1 and reports have been received from fifteen1 of whom seven are in favour of ,tea made by the old charcoal process1 seven are in favour of the new furnace process1 and one reports that the ,tea made by each process is exactly the same4 8,colonel ,money is now taking steps to erect his improved furnace1 which will be in working order by the end of ,september1 and the whole ,october crop of ,soom ,tea will be fired by the new furnace4 8,colonel ,money has applied for a patent1 and as soon as this is granted we hope to give our readers a description of the apparatus4 ,for obvious reasons it would not be advisable to do so before then4 ,we may mention here that one of the most intelligent and practical planters in this district has ordered one of ,colonel ,money's flues for his private garden4 8,of the commercial success of ,colonel ,money's apparatus we have no doubt whatever1 and we trust that ,colonel ,money will reap a handsome profit from his very ingenious invention1 which will be an undoubted boon not only to this district1 but to all the ,tea-producing districts of ,india4 8,one point which has struck us as good in ,colonel ,money's apparatus is that the temperature of the ,tea-house is considerably lowered during the firing process as compared with the open chulas1 and that there is no free carbonic acid gas allowed to escape into the ,tea-house1 so that those very unpleasant symptoms of slow poisoning which often show themselves in planters and ,tea-makers will be unknown in future4 ,at our suggestion ,colonel ,money has decided to keep a register of the maximum temperature of the ,tea-house1 whilst the open chulas continue in use1 and to compare it with the temperature when the new apparatus has superseded them1 also to test for free carbonic acid gas in the air with each process4 8,we are convinced that when the figures are available our readers will be rather astonished at the difference from a sanitary point of view4 8,on the whole1 we think that ,colonel ,money's invention is by far the most important application of common sense and scientific knowledge to ,tea manufacture that we have yet seen1 and we are almost certain that his apparatus will before long be adopted throughout the ,indian ,tea districts40#ajh ,,footnote3 #ajh ,note to ,third ,edition4--,no4 ,the furnace has been erected but on two or three gardens4 ,other inventions have since been brought forward1 and the whole matter is still in an uncertain state--,i mean as to which of the several apparatuses is the best4 ,i believe in mine still1 and intend to erect it on the ,western ,dooar ,gardens in which ,i am interested1 but1 of course1 ,i am not an impartial judge6 ,one thing1 however1 ,i lay claim to1 and that is1 that ,i was the first to show by practical results that the fumes of charcoal are in no way necessary to make ,tea4 ,note to ,fourth ,edition4--,since the above note was written 7now five years ago7 many ,tea ,drying ,machines have been invented 7see pages #bdj to #bei71 and ,i most willingly admit they are all better than my furnace apparatus4 ,the first inventor rarely attains perfection1 and as in my case1 he generally labours for the benefit of those who come after6--,,edward ,,money4 ,,index4 ,area required for a garden1 #b -- large1 a mistake1 #b ,boxes1 #adg -- cost of1 #afa ,climate1 #ad -- in each district1 #ad to #be -- wanted1 #ad -- rainfall1 #ad1 #bh -- rain table1 #bh -- temperature table1 #bf -- elevation table1 #bf -- cold1 #ad -- hot winds1 #ad -- affects flavour of tea1 #ae -- good for tea1 bad for man1 #ae1 #ce ,cultivation1 #ha -- what is it1 #ha -- when a waste of labour1 #ha -- by digging round each plant1 #hb -- weeds not to get ahead1 #hc -- ,dutch hoe for1 #hc -- cost each operation per acre1 #hd -- cost of1 to #fth year1 #hd -- cost of in full bearing1 #he ,districts1 #ac -- which best1 #cj -- rainfall in1 #bh -- cold in1 #bf -- of ,assam1 #ae -- of ,cachar1 #af -- of ,chittagong1 #af -- of ,terai below ,darjeeling1 #ah -- of ,dehra ,dhoon1 #ah -- of ,kangra1 #ai -- of ,darjeeling1 #bj -- of ,kumaon1 #bb -- of ,gurhwal1 #bd ,districts of ,hazareebaugh1 #bd -- of ,neilgherries1 #bd -- of ,western ,dooars1 #be -- meteorological table of1 #bf -- comparative advantages of1 #cj -- soil of1 #ac to #be -- jungle of1 #ac to #be -- lay of land of1 #ac to #be -- price waste lands in1 #d -- elevation of1 #bf -- temperature of1 #bf ,distances for plants1 #gb -- table of1 #gb -- regulated by class1 #gb -- best1 #gb ,flushes1 #ig -- number of1 #ig to #aja -- way formed1 #ajd -- differ in districts1 #ih -- intervals between1 #ii ,hills and ,plains-- -- comparison of1 chap4 iii4 -- high elevations bad1 do4 -- table of elevation1 #bf ,jungle1 #cd -- what best in ,himalayas1 #cd -- not of much consequence in ,bengal1 #cd ,jungle1 coarse grass1 #cd -- cutting1 #ge ,labour1 #aj -- local1 #aj1 #aa1 #ab -- imported1 #aj1 #aa1 #ab -- government action1 #aj1 #aa -- cost of imported1 #aj ,labour in tea districts1 chap4 iii4 ,laying out a garden1 #db ,lay of land and aspect1 #cg -- flat1 sloping1 steep1 #g1 #ac1 #ce -- aspect1 #ci -- valleys1 #dj -- narrow valleys1 #dj ,lay of land and selection of steep land1 #g1 #cg -- disadvantages of steep land1 #cg -- lines on steep land1 #df -- plants close on steep land1 #de ,leaf-picking1 #ajb -- principles of1 #ajb -- diagram of shoot1 #ajd -- teas made from each leaf1 #ajg -- cannot make separate teas in practice1 #ajg -- pruning connected with1 #ajb -- mistakes in1 #db -- how shoots form1 #ajd -- mode of1 #ajd ,manufacture1 #aji -- importance of good1 #aji -- old and new plan1 #aaj -- withering1 #aaj1 #aaa1 #abc -- rolling1 #aaa1 #aab -- panning1 #aji1 #aab -- sunning1 #aab1 #abh -- tea1 how judged1 #aac -- ,pekoe tips1 #aje1 #ajf1 #aad1 #aae1 #aaf1 #abb -- strong teas and ,pekoe tips incompatible1 #aaf -- fermenting or colouring1 #abg -- firing or dholing1 #abh -- of flowery ,pekoe1 #acj ,manufacture of green tea1 #acj1 #add -- sifting and sorting1 #acd1 #ace1 #acf1 #afa -- sieves1 #ace -- ,chinese sieves best1 #ace -- classes of tea1 #acg -- cost of1 #afj -- ignorance of1 #g ,manufacture1 coarse leaf1 #abf -- burntness1 #adc ,manure1 #fg -- advantages of1 #ag1 #fg -- how to apply1 #fh -- quantity1 #fi -- cost of1 #fi -- kinds of1 #fg -- results of1 #fi ,management1 accounts1 forms1 #aeb -- what qualities required for a ,manager1 #aeb -- forms1 #aec -- accounts1 #aeh ,making a garden1 #gc -- general instructions for1 #gc ,mechanical contrivances1 #aaf -- ,mc,meekin's rolling table1 #aaf -- ,kinmond's rolling machine1 #aaf -- ,nelson's rolling machine1 #aah -- ,jackson's rolling machine1 #aaf -- ,mc,meekin's drawers1 #aai -- ,money's furnace1 #aba1 #bif -- sifting machines1 #aba -- machine required to separate the leaves1 #abb -- packing machines1 #aba ,miscellaneous3-- ,transport1 chap4 iii4 -- in each district1 chap4 iii4 ,green tea1 #ba1 #acj1 #add ,stagnant water1 #dj ,inundation1 #dj ,sections1 #db ,yield1 #dc1 #agj ,lines of plants1 #de1 #df ,roads1 #de ,relative price green and black teas1 #acc ,yield first #aj years1 #agj ,necessities for tea1 #agc1 #ahj ,past1 present1 and future of ,indian tea1 #agd ,strange facts about tea1 #agd ,imports1 #agg ,annual consumption1 #agg ,collapse of tea speculation1 #agh ,share list to-day1 #agi ,money matters3 will tea pay81 #a -- why has it not paid sometimes81 #a1 #f -- cause of failures1 #a to #h -- wilful extensions1 #f -- price paid for gardens1 #h -- faulty area sold1 #h -- cost of making a #cjj-;acre garden1 #afc -- how much profit tea can give1 #afh -- table1 result #cjj acres for #ab years1 #agb ,packing1 #adg -- lead case for1 #adg -- larger each break the better1 #aea -- cost of1 #afa ,planting at stake1 #ei -- advantages of1 #eg -- disadvantages of1 #eh -- mode of1 #ei ,pruning1 #hf -- time for1 #hf -- instruments for1 #hg -- height to prune1 #hh -- cost of1 #hh ,sale ,lands1 ,waste ,lands-- -- sale waste lands1 #c -- auction system1 #c -- price waste lands1 #d -- title1 #d ,sanitation1 #ce ,seed1 #ed -- transport of1 #ee -- price of1 #g -- shade1 natural1 #fb -- do4 artificial1 #fd -- how to sow1 #eg -- when ripe1 #ed -- treatment of1 #ed ,seed as manure1 #ee -- number in #a maund1 #ef -- proportions that germinate1 #ef -- ,government gave seed1 #ea -- indigenous hybrid and ,china alike1 #ea -- how to increase1 #ee -- nurseries or stake planting best1 #eg ,soil1 #ca -- only general rules for1 #ca -- sandy1 #ca -- greasy1 #cb -- poor1 #cb -- ,ball on1 #cb -- friable and porous1 #cb -- in ,tea districts1 #ac1 #be1 #ca -- clay1 #cc -- decayed vegetation1 #cc -- for seed beds1 #fb ,transplanting1 #gf -- holes for1 #ei1 #gf -- mode of1 #gg -- results of bad1 #gg -- when to be finished1 #gh -- best days for1 #gi ,vacancies1 #ib -- difficult to fill up1 #ib -- why difficult1 #ib -- best plan to fill up1 #ib -- large proportion of1 #f ,varieties of tea plants1 #dg ,white-ants1 ,crickets1 ,blight1 #hi -- harm done by crickets1 #hi -- harm done by white-ants1 #ij -- harm done by blight1 #ia -- remedies for crickets1 #ij -- do4 white-ants1 #ia -- do4 blight1 #ia ,weeds1 #hb -- ahead of labour1 #hc ,,index ,,to ,,the ,,additions ,,in ,,fourth ,,edition4 ,agricultural machinery1 #bbc ,america1 #ahe1 #bjd1 #bje1 #bji ,amsterdam ,exhibition1 #bjb to #baa ,any fuel versus charcoal1 #bci1 #beh ,australia1 #bja1 #bjb1 #bjd1 #bje1 #bjg to #bji ,brick tea1 #bab ,calcutta ,syndicate1 #bjb1 #bjf1 #bjh1 #baj1 #baa1 #bab1 #bad ,china tea trade1 #bhh ,china1 #aid to #aih1 #bja to #bjg1 #baj to #bab1 #bhh ,consumption of ,china and ,indian ,tea1 #bja ,continent of ,europe1 #bjb1 #baa ,damage to tea by procedure in ,london1 #bgb1 #bgc ,darby's digger1 #bbe ,date of commencement of tea cultivation in each district1 #aid ,deliveries and stocks1 #aie1 #aig to #bja ,discovery of indigenous tea1 #aid ,dryers1 by ,robertson1 the ,typhoon1 #bdj1 #bda ,allen1 #bdb ,davidson1 the ,sirocco1 #bdc1 #bdd ,gibbs and ,barry1 #bdd ,shand1 #bdd1 #bde1 #bdf ,jackson1 #bdf to #bdh ,kinmond1 #bdh to #beg ,fermenting ,shelves1 #bci1 #beh ,first tea in ,india1 #aid ,greatest and least possible loss by ,custom ,house procedure1 #bgd1 #bge ,green tea1 #bjc1 #bjd ,himalayan gardens1 #bab ,hoop iron1 #bga ,how loss by ,custom ,house procedure could be avoided1 #bge to #bgh ,imports into ,great ,britain1 #aid1 #aie1 #aih to #bjj1 #bjc ,increase of ,indian ,imports into ,great ,britain1 #aie ,indian produce for #ahhc1 #aie ,indian versus ,china tea1 #bai ,jebens' transplanter1 #bbc ,local market in ,india1 #bac to #bah ,loss of tea by procedure in ,london1 #bgb1 #bgc ,loss on ,china teas1 #bhh to #bij ,machinery1 #bbb to #bga ,making ,indian tea known in ,united ,kingdom1 #bah to #bba ,manufacturing machinery1 #bca to #bga ,markets outside ,great ,britain1 #bjg to #bag ,money loss to producers and ,customs by method of weighing in vogue1 #bgh ,new mode bulking at warehouse in ,crutched ,friars1 #bhb to #bhf -- required further1 #bhg1 #bhh ,new ,zealand1 #bje ,ornamental tin boxes by ,harvey ,bros4 and ,tyler1 #bff to #bga ,petition of ,indian ,tea ,districts ,association re mode of weighing teas1 #bgi to #bha ,planting pots1 #bbc ,plantations in ,northern ,india1 #bjc ,ploughing1 #bbc to #bca ,processes of manufacture1 #bca to #bga ,rollers by ,jackson1 #bcc1 #bce1 #bcg ,kinmond1 #bcc1 #bcd1 #bce1 #bcg ,haworth1 #bce1 #bcg ,lyle1 #bcf ,greig1 #bcf ,thomson1 #bcg1 #bch ,russia1 #bjc1 #baa ,sifters1 by ,jackson1 #bei ,greig1 #bei ,pridham1 #bei ,ansell1 #bfj to #bff ,sorter for green leaf by ,greig ,co41 #bcb ,statistics of ,indian tea1 #aid to #bjf ,tea outside ,china and ,india1 #ahc to #aib ,ceylon1 #ahc ,johore1 #ahd ,japan1 #ahe to #ahh1 #bje1 #baj ,java1 #ahh ,america1 #ahh to #aij1 #bja1 #bjc1 #bje1 #bjf1 #bjh ,natal1 #aia ,fiji1 #aib ,tea consumption per head1 #bjd1 #bje ,tea ,gazette--,this is alluded to in most pages1 7see #bij7 ,thibet1 #bab ,weighing and bulking by ,customs1 #bgb to #bhh ,weighing teas by ,customs1 ,the new rules1 #bij1 #bia ,withering machine1 #bcb1 #bec1 #beg ,w4 ,b4 ,,whittingham ,,and ,,co41 ,,printers1 #ia1 ,,gracechurch ,,street1 ,,london4 ,,ransomes1 ,,head ,,jefferies1 ,,ipswich ,,london4 ,illustration ,,sole ,,manufacturers ,,of ,,ansell',s ,,patent ,,tea ,,sorter4 ,,latest ,,report4 7,from ,mr4 ,d4 ,m4 ,,lumsden1 ,manager of the ,borelli ,company's ,gardens1 through ,messrs4 ,j4 ,,williamson ,co41 ,london1 ,february #hth1 #ahhc47 8,i find that using ,,ansell',s ,sifter ,i have spent ,rs4 #ghj less on my sorting than last year1 besides sorting #ejj maunds more ,tea2 so ,i may safely calculate that last season's working paid for the machine40 ,,manufacturers ,,also ,,of ,portable and ,fixed ,engines1 for burning ,coal1 ,wood1 and ,vegetable refuse4 ,ploughs specially suited for ,indian ,agriculture4 ,catalogues and all information on application to ,,ransomes1 ,,head ,,jefferies1 #i1 ,gracechurch ,street1 ,london1 and ,orwell ,works1 ,ipswich2 ,mr4 ,c4 ,w4 ,,ansell1 ,woodcot1 ,kurseong1 ,bengal2 ,messrs4 ,,gillanders1 ,,arbuthnot ,co41 ,calcutta4 ,,british ,,india ,,steam ,,navigation ,,company1 ,,limited4 ,,fleet ,,of ,,steamers4 ,,abyssinia ,,africa ,,agra 99,,almora ,,arabia ,,arcot ,,asia ,,assyria ,,avagyee ,,baghdad ,,bancoora ,,bhundara ,,booldana 99,,bulimba ,,burmah ,,busheer ,,byculla ,,calcutta ,,canara ,,chanda ,,chilka ,,chindwara ,,chinsura ,,chupra 99,,chyebassa ,,coconada ,,colaba ,,commilla ,,culna 99,,dacca 99,,dorunda 99,,eldorado ,,ellora ,,ethiopia ,,euphrates ,,goa ,,golconda ,,goorkha 99,,goalpara ,,henzada ,,himalaya ,,huzara ,,india ,,java ,,kangra ,,kerbela ,,khandalla ,,kilwa ,,madras ,,madura ,,mahratta ,,malda ,,mecca ,,medina 99,,merkara 99,,navarino ,,nerbudda ,,nowshera ,,nuddea ,,oriental ,,pachumba ,,patna ,,pemba ,,punjaub ,,purulia 99,,quetta ,,rajpootana ,,rangoon 7,paddle7 99,,rewa 99,,roma ,,satara ,,scindia ,,secundra ,,simla ,,sirdhana ,,sirsa 99,,waroonga 7,building7 99,steamers of the ,british ,india ,association1 running on the ,trunk ,lines from ,london to ,india and ,queensland4 ,the various services of the ,company are arranged to correspond with the arrivals and departures of the ,overland ,mail ,packets4 ,london to ,colombo1 ,madras1 and ,calcutta4--,fortnightly4 ,london to ,java and ,queensland4--,every #bh days4 ,calling at ,port ,said1 ,suez1 ,aden1 ,batavia1 ,thursday ,island1 ,cooktown1 ,townsville1 ,bowen1 ,mackay1 ,rockhampton1 and ,brisbane4 ,london to ,kurrachee1 ,bombay1 and ,malabar ,coast ,ports4--,fortnightly4 ,calling at ,algiers1 ,port ,said1 ,suez1 ,aden1 ,kurrachee1 ,bombay1 and ,malabar ,coast ,ports2 and every alternate ,steamer calling at ,lisbon1 the latter connecting at ,aden with the ,company's ,east ,african ,mail ,steamers for ,zanzibar1 ,mozambique1 ,quillimane1 ,inhambane1 and ,delagoa ,bay4 ,calcutta to ,chittagong1 ,akyab1 ,kyouk ,phyoo1 and ,rangoon4--,weekly4 ,calcutta to ,rangoon and ,moulmein4--,weekly4 ,calcutta to ,rangoon1 ,moulmein1 ,penang1 ,malacca1 and ,singapore4--,fortnightly4 ,rangoon to ,penang 7,coasting74--,five-,weekly4 ,rangoon and ,moulmein4--,weekly4 ,rangoon1 ,tavoy1 and ,mergui4--,fortnightly4 ,madras and ,rangoon4--,fortnightly4 ,calcutta and ,bombay 7,coasting74--,weekly4 ,bombay and ,kurrachee4--,bi-weekly4 ,bombay and ,persian ,gulf4--,weekly4 ,the ,netherlands ,india ,steam ,navigation ,company's ,mail ,steamers for ,padang1 ,samarang1 ,sourabaya1 c41 run in connection with the ,british ,india ,company's ,steamers4 ,passengers booked through to all ,ports in ,india1 ,burmah1 the ,straits ,settlements1 the ,malay ,archipelago1 the ,soudan1 ,north and ,east ,coast of ,africa4 ,for all information apply to ,,gray1 ,,dawes ,,co41 #ac1 ,austin ,friars1 and ,,gellatly1 ,,hankey1 ,,sewell ,,co41 #aji1 ,leadenhall ,street1 and #ea1 ,pall ,mall1 ,s4,w41 ,london2 ,,binny ,,co41 ,madras2 ,,alstons1 ,,scott ,,co41 and ,,darley1 ,,butler ,,co41 ,colombo2 ,,mackinnon1 ,,mackenzie ,,co4 7,managing ,agents in ,india71 ,calcutta1 ,bombay1 and ,kurrachee4 ,,henry ,s4 ,,king ,,co41 ,,agents ,,and ,,bankers1 #fe ,,cornhill1 and #de ,,pall ,,mall1 ,,london4 ,banking and ,india ,office ,agency #de ,pall ,mall4 ,shipping and ,supply ,department #fe ,cornhill4 ,baggage ,warehouse #ad ,worship ,st41 ,finsbury4 ,branch ,firms3 ,,king1 ,,king ,,co4 ,bombay4 ,,king1 ,,hamilton ,,co4 ,calcutta4 ,,king1 ,,baillie ,,co4 ,liverpool4 ,banking ,accounts kept upon the usual terms4 ,deposits received for fixed periods at rates of interest which may be learned on application4 ,circular ,notes and ,letters of ,credit issued1 payable in all the principal cities of the world4 ,investments and ,sales effected in all ,british1 ,indian1 ,american1 and ,foreign ,securities free of charge4 ,remittances made to1 and ,drafts purchased or collected on1 any city in the world4 ,pay1 ,pensions1 c41 collected1 and ,dividends and ,coupons realised4 ,,supply ,,and ,,forwarding ,,department4 ,miscellaneous ,goods supplied on the most advantageous terms4 ,newspapers and other ,periodicals despatched with the utmost regularity4 ,berths selected and ,passages engaged by all lines of ,steamers without charge4 ,baggage collected1 shipped1 and insured4 ,passengers ,homeward met on arrival at ,london1 ,liverpool1 or ,plymouth1 and their effects cleared through the ,customs and forwarded1 or warehoused to await instructions4 ,goods and ,parcels forwarded to all parts of the world1 or received from ,abroad and forwarded to destination4 8,,the ,,overland ,,mail10 a ,summary of ,home ,intelligence for ,india1 ,china1 and the ,east1 for despatch weekly4 ,annual ,subscription1 including postage1 vi ,brindisi1 #a #abs4 #f;d41 payable in advance4 8,,the ,,homeward ,,mail ,,and ,,official ,,gazette10 a ,summary of ,intelligence from ,india1 ,china1 and the ,east1 published on the arrival of each ,mail vi ,brindisi4 ,annual ,subscription1 including postage1 #a #fs41 payable in advance4 ,w4 ,b4 ,,whittingham ,,co4',s ,,publications4 #ia1 ,,gracechurch ,,street1 ,,london4 ,agents to ,government by ,appointment for the ,sale of the ,india ,office ,publications4 ,fourth ,edition1 with important ,additional ,chapters4 ,price #ajs4 #f;d4 ,,tea--,,cultivation ,,and ,,manufacture4 ,by ,lieut4-,col4 ,,edward ,,money4 ,,opinions ,,of ,,the ,,press ,,on ,,the ,,third ,,edition4 ,the ,saturday ,review1 in the course of an extended notice1 says3--8,we think that ,col4 ,money has done good service by throwing into the form of a book an essay which gained the ,prize awarded by the ,agricultural and ,horticultural ,society of ,india1 in #ahgb4 ,the author is one of a well-known ,anglo-,indian family4444 ,he has had plenty of practical experience1 and has tested the labours of other men4444 ,col4 ,money's general rules and principles1 as far as we can form a judgment1 seem to have reason as well as experience on their side4444 ,no tea planter can afford to disregard his experience40 ,the ,indian ,agriculturist says3--8,col4 ,money has advanced with the times1 and the work under review may well be considered the standard work on the subject1 and it ought to be in every tea planter's hand in ,india1 ,ceylon1 ,java1 ,japan1 ,china or ,america2 the merit and sterling value of his essay has been universally and deservedly acknowledged4444 ,we recommend our readers who require full information and sound advice on the subject to procure ,col4 ,money's book40 ,allen's ,indian ,mail says3--8,the particulars of this great industry1 which comprises 7,tea7 ,cultivation and ,manufacture1 are given in the work of ,col4 ,money4 ,the ,third ,edition expanded from the original prize ,essay published in #ahgb1 by the results of the author's practical experience and observations up to the present time1 supplies full details of the origin and progress of an ,indian ,tea ,garden1 and that in a very lucid and readable form4444 ,the publication of so thorough1 clear and instructive a directorium as ,col4 ,money's work is in itself a proof of the attention devoted to this important industry1 which has a great future before it4 ,no one who desires to understand the condition of its development2 still more--no one who has a pecuniary interest in a ,tea ,garden1 can feel that the subject of tea is known until this work has been studied40 ,the ,china ,express says3--8,the experience gained since #ahgb is added to the work1 and it now forms a most complete guide to the tea planter4 ,the great progress the cultivation of tea is making in ,india renders a practical work of this kind very valuable2 and the method in which ,colonel ,money deals with the subject shows his thorough knowledge of it40 ,the ,scotsman says3--8,with respect to the conditions of climate and soil necessary for successful tea cultivation1 the requirements of the plant in the way of water1 c41 the varieties best suited for culture in the various districts1 the laying out of the tea garden1 and all the various details of cultivation and manufacture1 ,colonel ,money writes with the authority derived from many years of experience2 and in the present edition the fruits of his latest experience are embodied4 ,to new beginners in tea cultivation this book must be of the greatest value1 while it will be found full of interest by outsiders who may be desirous of information about the condition and prospects of an important department of agricultural industry40 ,the ,produce ,markets ,review says3--8,colonel ,money is a practical tea planter1 and his work is the standard work on the subject1 so that it should be procured by all who are interested in the subject4 ,the new edition is greatly enlarged1 and corrected by the experience of the past six years40 ,the ,planters' ,gazette says3--8,the cultivation of tea in the ,british dominions is becoming a rapidly extending industry1 and we are glad to see that ,colonel ,money's prize essay has reached a third edition1 for it is full of practical information and deserves to be studied by every tea planter40 ,the ,manchester ,examiner says3--8,during the last few years the fact that ,india is a tea-producing country has become more generally known in ,england2 but few people know that the finest ,indian teas are more expensive than the best of ,chinese growth1 and1 that the average price of the tea grown in ,india is higher than that which comes from the ,flowery ,land4 ,another piece of information given in this book is not less suggestive2 we mean that which assures us that ,india is capable of producing as much tea as would meet the wants of great ,britain and all her colonies4 ,but the culture is yet in its infancy4 ,colonel ,money's treatise is one of the most complete and exhaustive of the kind we have ever read4 ,he seems to anticipate all possible difficulties2 his warnings and his counsels embrace every branch of the subject1 and only a practical man could have written them4 ,one would think that a tea grower of common sense could scarcely make blunders with such an admirable guide before him2 and the commercial side of the enterprise is discussed in the same careful manner as the agricultural40 ,the ,broad ,arrow says3--8,in this work we have the results of eighteen years' experience of a tea planter in ,india1 and the author has so written it that the beginner will find it invaluable1 for he has had his wants specially in view4 ,it is1 so far as we know1 the best1 as it is certainly the most practical1 book about tea that has been published40 ,third ,edition4 ,crown #hvo4 ,cloth1 #cs4 #f;d4 ,,the ,,art ,,of ,,tea ,,blending4 ,a ,handbook for the ,tea ,trade2 a ,guide to ,tea ,merchants1 ,brokers1 ,dealers and ,consumers1 in the ,secret of ,successful ,tea ,mixing4 ,,opinions ,,of ,,the ,,press4 ,the ,field says3--8,this is a practical and authentic little text book on the principles involved in ,tea ,blending40 ,the ,grocer's ,chronicle says3--8,the book ought to be in the hands of every grocer of the ,united ,kingdom40 ,the ,grocer's ,journal says3--8,we cordially recommend #8,the ,art of ,tea ,blending' to our readers as giving useful instruction and guidance40 ,allen's ,indian ,mail says3--8,the author gives full technical instructions for the professional tea-blender and tea-taster2 and in doing so1 he imparts much information that will be found both valuable and interesting to the tea-drinking public40 ,broad ,arrow says3--8,a trader should be able by its aid to make a name as a teaman1 and realise the result which the housewife only needs--a gentle hint as to the opportunity of exercising real judgment and correct taste in a matter of such important family interest as tea40 ,the ,grocer says3--8,this is the third edition of a book which we have previously noticed with favour1 and which has met with considerable success4 ,although the art of successful tea-blending is not one which can well be gleaned from mere book-lore--practical experience being essential to its acquisition--there are many young beginners1 and possibly also some older hands1 who will derive a good deal of information from the work now under notice4 ,it has evidently been prepared with much care1 and in its way is a very useful handbook40 ,the ,daily ,chronicle says3--8,this capital handbook1 which will prove of great service to merchants1 brokers1 and all engaged in the tea trade1 has reached a third edition4 ,for consumers we may extract the information that water for making tea should be soft and pure2 it should be boiled quickly1 and used when at the boiling point2 the tea will be at its best in rather less than ten minutes1 losing part of its flavour if allowed to stand longer40 ,the ,grocer's ,gazette3--8,this is a work which has now reached its third edition1 and which fully bears out its claim as an excellent handbook on the subject4 ,not only is it a useful book to all professionally engaged in the trade1 but it is also calculated to educate those who have not had the benefit of a practical experience1 by teaching them how to obtain a knowledge of the different classes of teas and the proper method of mixing them4 ,to the mature grocer the work will be of interest1 while the uninitiated may by its aid learn how to select proper teas1 please his customer's palate1 and sustain his reputation by keeping up the character of his mixings40 ,price #bhs4 ,,the ,,tea ,,cyclop,,dia4 ,a ,compilation1 by the ,editor of the ,indian ,tea ,gazette1 of ,information on ,tea1 ,tea ,science and ,cultivation1 ,soils and ,manures1 ,statistics1 c41 with ,coloured ,plates on ,blights4 #cej pages4 ,the ,grocer says3--8,one of the most valuable and exhaustive contributions to tea literature which we remember to have seen4444 ,the cultivation of the plant in the different districts and provinces1 the selection of soils and manures1 and buildings for its manufacture1 c41 are all ably treated in this work2 and as it deals thoroughly with the scientific1 statistical1 and domestic branches of the subject1 it is a manual deserving the attention of the tea planter1 importer1 dealer1 and consumer4 ,the experience of practical growers and cultivators is here fully narrated1 the opinions of the most competent authorities on disputed points are clearly given and explained2 and1 in short1 every matter connected with the history of the tea trade1 as a growing industry and a widening channel of commerce1 is gone into with a completeness and precision which leave nothing to be desired40 ,the ,american ,grocer says3--8,the ,tea ,cyclopdia is one we can commend to our importers1 grocers1 and dealers1 as being the most complete work of its kind on ,indian teas1 as well as furnishing innumerable items of interest to those engaged in the sale of ,china and ,japan teas40 ,fancy boards1 price #bs4 ,cloth1 #cs4 #f;d4 ,,woman',s ,,fortitude-- ,a ,tale of the ,indian ,mutiny4 ,by ,lieut4-,col4 ,,edward ,,money4 ,,opinions ,,of ,,the ,,press4 ,public ,opinion says3--8,the author has managed to convey the characteristic tone of garrison talk in a very clear manner4444 ,there is much good narrative and brilliancy of dialogue40 ,the ,scotsman says3--8,written with much spirit 444 it will be full of interest to anybody who cares to know what ,european life and ,society were in ,india in the last days of #8,john ,company4'0 ,the ,daily ,chronicle says3--8,the horrors enacted at ,cawnpore during the ,indian ,mutiny give a tragic interest to this thrilling tale40 ,capital and ,labour says3--8,the plot of the tale is carefully constructed and well worked out1 and while the main purpose is always kept in view1 opportunity is taken to depict some of the phases of ,anglo-,indian life1 while the characters in the story are cleverly portrayed1 and the attention of the reader is never allowed to flag40 ,crown #hvo4 cloth elegant1 bevelled boards1 gilt edges4 ,price #es4 ,plain1 #cs4 #f;d4 ,,jemima4 ,a ,story of ,english ,family ,life4 ,by ,,adelaide4 ,with ,frontispiece4 ,,opinions ,,of ,,the ,,press4 ,the ,times says3--8#8,jemima1' by ,adelaide1 is another tale that girls should care to read1 with sufficient proportion of story1 and of a more original type than girls' books generally are4 ,the humour1 of which there is an unusual proportion for such works1 is not1 perhaps1 of a very subtle or rich quality1 but it is easy and simple1 and appropriate to the characters4 ,any humour1 so long as it is neither vulgar nor obscene1 is surely preferable to the long-drawn melancholy which is too apt to pervade girls' books--for what reason we could never understand2 girls are no more naturally prone to sadness than boys40 ,the ,scotsman says3--8,a better story of its kind than #8,jemima' cannot easily be met with4 ,the book is written with a freshness and exuberant buoyancy of manner that suit the subject admirably40 ,the ,academy says3--8#8,jemima' is a very natural and charming story of a very natural and charming little girl4 ,it is exactly what it pretends to be--#8a story of ,english family life'--but it has a distinctness of quality which is by no means common in stories of ,english family life40 ,the ,daily ,chronicle says3--8,the story of ,english family life told by ,adelaide1 under the title of #8,jemima1' is of a much more realistic character4 ,lively and amusing throughout1 there is also an element of good sense introduced1 which keeps the juvenile escapades within reasonable bounds1 and extracts a lesson even from naughtiness40 ,crown #hvo4 #b vols4 #ajs4 each4 ,,vocabulary ,,of ,,the ,,english-,,malay ,,languages-- ,with ,notes4 ,english-,malay ,vocal ,dialogues4 ,by ,,frank ,a4 ,,swettenham4 ,demy #hvo41 cloth1 price #gs4 #f;d4 ,,historical ,,sketches ,,of ,,savage ,,life ,,in ,,polynesia-- ,with ,illustrative ,clan ,songs4 ,by ,rev4 ,w4 ,w4 ,,gill1 ,b4,a4 ,second and ,revised ,edition4 ,crown #hvo4 cloth elegant4 ,price #bs4 ,,sermonic ,,fancy ,,work ,on the ,figures of our ,first ,acquaintances in ,literature4 ,by ,,john ,,paul ,,ritchie4 ,i4 ,little ,jack ,horner4 ,the ,spirit of ,self-,satisfaction4 ,,ii4 ,peter ,white4 ,how we are led by the ,nose4 ,,iii4 ,humpty ,dumpty4 ,the ,spirit of ,exclusiveness4 ,,iv4 ,little ,miss ,muffit4 ,the ,education of ,fear4 ,v4 ,jack ,spratt and his ,wife4 ,the ,perfect ,law of ,liberty4 ,,vi4 ,jack and ,jill4 ,the ,climbing ,spirit and its ,incumbrances4 ,,vii4 ,little ,bo-peep4 ,the ,recovery of the ,lost ,sheep4 ,,viii4 ,beauty and the ,beast4 ,the ,union of the ,strong and ,beautiful4 ,,opinions ,,of ,,the ,,press ,,on ,,the ,,first ,,edition4 ,the ,literary ,churchman says3--8,pungent1 amusing1 and replete with clever satire40 ,the ,christian says3--8,in this ingenious and novel experiment1 gravity and mirth go hand in hand4 ,the style is energetic and pointed1 and the matter pregnant and suggestive40 ,the ,sword and ,trowel says3--8,very clever40 ,the ,nonconformist says3--8,under the guise of commentary on texts from old nursery rhymes and stories1 ,mr4 ,ritchie really gives us some admirable discourses--#8,sermonic ,fancy ,work' in very deed4 ,it is astonishing how1 by the help of a slight vein of paradox and a nimble fancy1 he can pass1 almost imperceptibly1 from mild fun to very sad earnest1 touching not a few of our most ingrained faults in the most efficient way40 ,the ,scotsman says3--8,a clever1 wholesome1 readable little book40 ,the ,homilist says3--8,the sermons are really good4 ,they have satire1 but it is satire which consumes religious rubbish and nonsense4 ,they have fun and humour1 but you are made to laugh in order that you may think with more vigour and seriousness40 ,the ,freeman says3--8,the #8,familiar ,texts' are the old nursery rhymes treated homiletically4 ,in the styles adopted we fancy we can trace resemblances to those of some of the popular preachers of our day4 ,the wit is not without wisdom4 ,the satire is not destitute of sense4 ,it is the sort of book that a reader with any humour in him will find it difficult to lay down before he has read it right through40 ,capital and ,labour says3--8,a droll book and yet containing much quaint wisdom in searching out and applying principles of truth and common sense4444 ,as a whole1 and considering its healthy tone and practical scope1 we heartily commend this handsome little volume4 ,it is a fine specimen of the combined arts of the typographer and bookbinder1 and its attractive exterior ought to draw many readers1 who will then be charmed with the contents and with the unconventional method of treatment40 ,crown #hvo4 ,cloth elegant1 gilt edges1 price #es4 ,plain1 #ds4 #f;d4 ,,won ,,by ,,waiting4 ,a ,story of ,home ,life in ,france and ,england4 ,by ,,edna ,,lyall4 ,with ,frontispiece by ,,frank ,,murray4 ,,opinions ,,of ,,the ,,press4 ,the ,daily ,news says3--8,the book is full of promise1 the story soon deepens into real interest and develops considerable power of construction and character drawing40 ,the ,spectator says3--8,the characters are drawn with considerable skill1 with force1 and without exaggeration40 ,the ,academy says3--8,the ,dean's daughters are perfectly real characters--the learned ,cornelia especially2--the little impulsive ,french heroine1 who endures their cold hospitality and at last wins their affection1 is thoroughly charming2 while throughout the book there runs a golden thread of pure brotherly and sisterly love1 which pleasantly reminds us that the making and marring of marriage is not1 after all1 the sum total of real life40 ,the ,freeman says3--8,a very pleasing and well-written tale3 full of graphic descriptions of ,french and ,english life1 with incidents and characters well sustained4 ,a book with such pleasant reading1 and with such a healthy tone and influence1 is a great boon to the young people in our families40 ,cloth elegant1 #es4 ,,poems1 ,,domestic ,,and ,,miscellaneous4 ,by ,,james ,,giles4 ,the ,sheffield ,independent says3--8,very pretty poems1 full of a dainty and airy melody4 ,it is beautifully got up40 ,public ,opinion says3--8,mr4 ,giles has evidently a true poetical instinct40 ,the ,literary ,world says3--8,full of gentle human feeling1 domestic tenderness1 and patient submissive thinking40 #hvo4 cloth4 ,price #gs4 #f;d4 ,,old ,,ceylon4 ,sketches of ,ceylon ,life in the ,olden ,time4 ,by ,,john ,,capper4 ,with ,illustrations by ,ceylon ,artists4 8,readable and entertaining sketches40 ,new and ,enlarged ,edition4 ,crown #hvo4 cloth elegant4 ,price #gs4 #f;d4 ,,seats ,,and ,,saddles1 ,bits and ,bitting1 ,draught and ,harness1 and the ,prevention and ,cure of ,restiveness in ,horses4 ,by ,major ,,francis ,,dwyer4 ,,opinions ,,of ,,the ,,press ,,on ,,the ,,new ,,edition4 ,bell's ,life says3--8,the work which ,major ,dwyer has so successfully carried through the press in two former editions is1 for the third time1 presented to the public in a new and enlarged form4 ,in all the details of horse management the author is perfectly at home1 and the practical way in which he deals with his subject cannot fail to be appreciated by equestrians or those who keep studs4 ,the first portion of the volume is devoted to a lengthy dissertation on the all-important subject of ,seats and ,saddles4 ,these chapters afford much valuable information gained by a careful study1 not only of the framework of the animal considered from a mechanical point of view1 but also of the influence of the saddle in its relation to the seat of the rider4444 ,we assure our readers that the whole contents of the book are well worth perusal4 ,it may be well1 however1 to mention that the question of bits and bitting is thoroughly considered1 while ,part ,,iii4 is taken up with remarks on the true principles which should be observed in matters of draught and harness4 ,the concluding portion of the book deals with that worst of all vices in the horse1 restiveness1 its prevention and cure40 ,the ,saturday ,review says3--8,it is a book which we should recommend to the notice of young cavalry officers40 ,limp cloth1 plain1 #as4 ,cloth gilt1 gilt or red edges1 #as4 #f;d4 ,,the ,,living ,,epistle2 ,or1 ,the ,influence of ,christian ,character4 ,the ,christian says3--8,unflinching in its loyalty to the highest of all standards1 simple in its delineation of what ,christian character should be1 earnest in its appeals to the heart and to common sense1 this little book brings to its readers a draught of clear1 pure air1 and ought to send them on their way invigorated and quickened in their desires after holiness40 ,the ,freeman says3--8,a really ingenious and beautiful exposition of the inspired description of ,christian life4 ,the volume is from the pen of the late ,dr4 ,jenkyn1 formerly of ,coward ,college1 and is worthy of a place by the side of other works we owe him40 ,in ,large ,crown #hvo4 cloth elegant1 bevelled boards4 ,price #ads4 ,,perthshire ,,in ,,bygone ,,days-- ,one ,hundred ,biographical ,essays4 ,by ,p4 ,r4 ,,drummond1 ,f4,s4,a4 ,,opinions ,,of ,,the ,,press4 ,the ,nonconformist says3--8,the volume is simply full of the raciest material1 on the whole well laid out1 and cannot fail to prove of interest to many beyond the circle of ,perthshire men into whose hand it may have the good fortune to come4 ,mr4 ,drummond had no purpose to serve in writing the book beyond giving vent to his wide knowledge and his love of the subject4 ,he was a bookseller in ,perth1 and it is evident that to nothing in literature or in human life was he indifferent4 ,all the notables he knew2 and he treasured up ana year by year simply because it fell in with his tastes and enjoyments to do so4444 ,the book is full of delicious morsels40 ,the ,athenum says3--8,it contains a great deal of sound sense1 and many amusing stories40 ,price #a;d4 ,stiff ,paper1 #b;d4 ,with ,gold ,bead1 head and foot1 #d;d4 ,oak ,bead1 #f;d4 ,handsomely ,framed1 #es4 #f;d4 ,,the ,,people',s ,,political ,,almanack1 ,a ,sheet ,calendar1 edited by ,,john ,,noble1 of the ,london and ,counties ,liberal ,union4 ,the ,daily ,news says3--8,it is ornamented with an excellent engraving of the ,victoria ,tower4 ,it should hang in every ,liberal ,club in the ,kingdom40 #ajj ,copies1 post free1 #hs42 #ejj ,copies1 post free1 #a #aes42 #a1jjj ,copies1 post free1 #c4 ,if #a1jjj copies are taken1 the names of the ,officers of ,local ,societies and their ,branches are printed at foot free of charge4 ,price #cs4 #f;d4 ,,sachs',s ,,german ,,grammar-- ,a ,complete ,grammar of ,pure ,modern ,high-,german4 ,a ,new and ,practical ,method of ,learning the ,german ,language4 ,by ,h4 ,,sachs4 ,the ,daily ,telegraph says3--8,a complete introduction to pure modern ,high-,german on true principles40 ,price #f;d4 ,cloth1 #as4 ,,stray ,,hints ,,on ,,lawn ,,tennis1 ,with latest ,club ,rules4 ,by ,,nemo4 ,including ,directions for making the ,best and ,cheapest ,poles yet invented--without ,guy ,ropes4 ,price #gs4 #f;d4 ,,whittingham',s ,,skeleton ,,telegraph ,,code-- ,a ,secret ,expansive ,code for ordinary ,business ,purposes--with ,code ,words representing ,pounds ,sterling1 ,numbers1 every ,date in the ,year1 ,weights1 c41 in addition to ,words and ,spaces available for #d1ejj ,special ,messages--all ,code ,words revised under the latest ,international ,regulations4 ,the ,standard says3--8,appears to us to answer admirably the purpose for which composed40 #hvo41 roan1 price #es4 ,the 8#ahha0 ,code1 #abs4 #f;d4 ,,the ,,social ,,code3 ,compiled for ,family ,use in ,telegraphing to ,friends abroad4 8,the best of its kind40 ,price #es4 ,,the ,,premium ,,calculator-- ,an ,office ,manual1 with ,cut ,index1 for the use of ,underwriters1 c4 ,by ,c4 ,,mckay ,,smith4 ,,dr4 ,,ager',s ,,telegraph ,,codes4 ,general ,commercial1 #b #aes42 ,standard1 #ajj1jjj ,words1 #e #es42 ,shipping1 #bas42 ,skeleton1 #af1jjj ,words and ,spaces1 #abs4 #f;d42 ,corn ,merchants1 #a #aas4 #f;d4 ,w4 ,b4 ,,whittingham ,,co41 ,,manufacturing ,,and ,,export ,,stationers ,,printers1 ,booksellers and ,publishers1 and ,account ,book ,makers1 #ia1 ,,gracechurch ,,street1 ,,london4 7,works3 #d1 ,white ,hart ,court1 ,bishopsgate47 ,,stationery ,,department4 ,all ,articles of ,,commercial ,,stationery on ,export terms4 ,merchants1 ,bankers1 and ,companies' ,,ledgers and ,,account ,,books1 ,parchment1 ,vellum1 ,loan1 and all kinds of ,printing and ,writing ,papers1 ,wholesale and ,retail4 ,letter and ,note ,paper and ,envelopes of every description4 ,,designs supplied for ,bills of ,exchange1 ,bills of ,lading1 ,scrip ,certificates and ,bonds1 ,promissory ,notes1 and ,bankers' ,cheques4 ,card ,plates ,engraved1 ,dies ,cut1 and ,crest or ,monogram ,stamped4 ,,printing ,,department4 ,every ,branch of ,,letterpress ,,printing in ,latest ,styles from ,new ,types4 ,business ,circulars1 ,prices ,current1 and ,mercantile ,printing of all kinds4 ,books1 ,periodicals1 and ,pamphlets1 ,printed to ,estimate4 ,,lithographic ,,printing4 ,lithographic ,letters1 ,fac-simile or otherwise1 ,bankers and ,merchants' ,circulars1 ,auctioneer's ,estate ,plans1 ,policies and ,calendars ,designed and ,produced in every variety of ,style4 ,,book ,,department4 ,books sent ,post ,free1 on receipt of the ,published ,price1 to any part of ,england1 the ,united ,states1 ,egypt1 ,british ,india1 and ,continental ,countries within the ,postal ,union4 ,,newspapers and ,,periodicals4 ,despatched with regularity to any part of the ,world4 ,authorised ,,agents for the ,supply of the ,bills of ,lading of the 8,peninsular and ,oriental10 the 8,british ,india10 the 8,messageries ,maritimes10 and other steam ,navigation ,companies4 ,,account ,,books4 ,messrs4 ,w4 ,b4 ,whittingham ,co4 invite attention to the unsurpassed ,strength and ,finish of the ,ledgers which they ,manufacture4 ,the same ,workmanship and ,materials which for more than ,half-a-,century have established the reputation of these ,account ,books are guaranteed4 ,w4 ,b4 ,,whittingham ,,co41 #ia1 ,gracechurch-st41 ,london4 ,transcriber's ,note ,the following apparent errors have been corrected3 p4 #ad it well changed to it will p4 #id wonld changed to would p4 #ig fifteeen changed to fifteen p4 #ajg a4 changed to a1 p4 #aci leafs changed to leaves p4 #agg 7note7 was-- changed to was3-- p4 #ahg similiar changed to similar p4 #bjc considered4 changed to considered1 p4 #bdc litle changed to little p4 #bfd viz1 changed to viz41 p4 #bfd seive-mesh changed to sieve-mesh p4 #bgc loose changed to lose p4 #bgc tare4 changed to tare1 p4 #bhj he gross changed to the gross p4 #bii ,hazareebagh changed to ,hazareebaugh p4 #cjj ,transport1 chap changed to ,transport1 chap4 p4 #cja title changed to -- title ,advertisement ,chapers changed to ,chapters ,advertisement ,,periodicals changed to ,,periodicals4 ,inconsistent spelling1 hyphenation1 italics and punctuation have otherwise been kept as printed4 ,tables have been refactored for accessibility4