October i, 1883.] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 



27s 



The yield last year was 7? maunds or 580 lb. per acre. 

 This and a few other gardens of specially fine character 

 apart, 3, 4 and b maunds per acre represent the yield of the 

 bulk of the good Assam plantations, say fi'om 240 to 400 lb. 

 (p. 297, /. T. G.) From my experience of the Ceylon low- 

 countiy, I feel convinced that a yield as high if not higher 

 than the exceptional one previously mentioned will be vei-y 

 generally got on good gardens, the average being much 

 higher than that of Assam. But our more inmiediate sub- 

 ject is a compai-ison of hill-tea in the two countries, and 

 on this poiut there can by no possibility be a difference of 

 opinion. The ordinai-y yi^ld in Darjiling is between 2 and 

 4 maunds per acre, the latter amount being considered re- 

 markably good. There can be no question from the results 

 already obtained that this wUl be very considerably ex- 

 ceeded in Ceylon, and we are all aware of nimierous in- 

 stances to show this. I need here merely refer you to the 

 figures brought forwai-d by Mr. Armstrong in support of 

 this statement, which shew conclusively that Ms estimate 

 of 400 lb. per acre for hill gardens is by no means an over- 

 sanguine one. I think this estimate of yield, judging from 

 your soil and climate and in respect of the results 

 actually obtained elsewhere, is a very reasonable one and 

 not likely to prove misleading. Actual figures and results 

 apart, a visit to the Indian tea gardens is quite sufficient 

 to show i:;lainly their inferiority to ours ; the period of 

 growth during the year is very short, and at a high ele- 

 vation is insufficient to force out any considerable quantity 

 of leaf. 



Eegarding Quality of tea, there is little to be said 

 in view of the very fine prices now being obtained by all 

 properly managed estates. To anyone compariug Ceylon 

 hill and low country teas with those from the various 

 Indian districts, it is evident that ours possess a character 

 of their own and that they are not altogether comparable 

 to Indian. Our low-country teas have not the rasping 

 pungency of Assams, and this difference is more marked 

 in the coarser qualities than in the finer. Our hill-teas 

 also have none of them the Darjiling flavor, but are char- 

 acterized by a distinct hill-flavor jjecuhar to them. It is 

 a peculiarity of Ceylon teas that those gi-own in the low- 

 country possess a flavor combined with their strength 

 which Assams lack. Tliere is one fact very generally lost 

 sight of in comparing the prices of Indian and Ceylon teas, 

 and that is that most of the best marks are sold locally 

 in Calcutta and do not of necessity appear at pubUc 

 auction in the London market at all. Though, therefore, 

 the position aii-eady taken by Ceylon tea must be a source 

 of satisfaction to all interested, we must not supi)Ose that 

 we have attained perfection by any means, nor must we 

 imagine that India is ah'eady beliind us in the racefor quaUty 

 (/. T. G. p. :j03.) That there is in reaUty not much 

 we have to learn is the conclusion forced on mc by 

 visits to numerous factories, in various localities, 

 but yet there is something ; and there were few 

 gardens where something to improve or something to avoid 

 was not noticeable, And ht-re I must put on record and 

 mention the excessive kindness and hospitality which is to 

 be met with everywhere in India ; not one single garden did I 

 visit where everything was notthrownopcn to my inspection 

 and where every information was not given. 



I wjll now say a few words on JI.\NUFAcrtrKE, as tar as Mr. 

 Armstrong's paper leaves me the opportunity. The sys- 

 tem of mauufacture as described by him and practised 

 by us agrees very closely with that in India. Falling trays 

 for withering a^e not generally in use. lu Assam large 

 temporary iron-roofed sheds arc erected, consisting of 2 

 or 3 stories, and in them the leaf is thrown. In Darjiling 

 more permanent buildings are erected, and the leaf spread 

 on flat round bamboo baskets, which are roughly made 

 and ranged in tiers on racks to support them. 1 think our 

 system is pieierahle, as being an economy of space, but I 

 would advise that a portion of the withering-house he left 

 free, and thit here a number of loose bamboo trays be 

 stocked, in which sun-witheiing when necessary can be 

 arranged. In om- damp climate it frequently happens that 

 by the morning the leaf is still unwithcred, and half-an- 

 hour's e.\posure to sun or light will finish it off and save 

 time. Hand-rolling is unknown in India, as far as my 

 experience goes, and even for the second rolling after fer- 

 mentation a machine is employed. Regarding so called 

 fermentation — for I believe this to be a mis-nomer and that 

 oiidatiou would be a more correct krm— it J6 a good plau 



to mix the roll several times during the process, as this 

 makes the colour much more even. In fact, in a hot 

 climate, I would employ boys in tiu-niug the roll over con- 

 stantly, and I have seeu some of the best mauufactm-ed teas 

 in Assam and the Terai made this way. It is not a bad 

 plan, after machine-rolling, to sift the roll through a No. 4 

 sieve and ferment the small and big leaf separately ; this 

 well enable you to colour your coarse souchong leaf without 

 overdoing the pekoe and broken. "Where roil is constantly 

 turned however (anditis quite practicable where colour is 

 obtained in an hour or so) this sifting is unnecessary, an 

 even coloin being obtained without it. 



As to Firing. A machiue-dryer being generally pmxhased 

 after the roller, tho method of performing this work by hand 

 is of some importance. The stoves recommended by Mr. 

 Armstrong are better than the long open troughs some- 

 times used. But the system of firing in India is better than 

 that that recommended by him. The shape and dimensions 

 of the stove are similar, but tho opening at the bottom is 

 bigger, about 15 in. square. The air-hole, not alluded to by 

 him, is a most important point, and on its size the efficient 

 consumption of the charcoal depends. It should be about 

 9 in. high and 6 in. broad, and no grate whatever should be 

 used. The whole bottom of the stove sliould be filled with 

 charcoal and kindled xmtd the mass is in a glow ; theu — and 

 here comes the secret — the fire is masked by a thick layer 

 of ashes, a stock of which is always kept on hand. In using 

 a grate, the charcoal has to bo lighted outside and brought 

 to the stove glowiug, to prevent the possibility of smoke 

 from ill-burnt fuel, and a gi'eat loss of heat is entailed by 

 this. 1 lb, of charcoal docs 1 lb. tea by the Indian method, 

 as against a bushel of charcoal to from S to 10 lb. by the 

 latter system. Again, U'4 and 26 mesh-firing sieves as re- 

 commciidcd by Mr. Armstrong have been given up in 

 favour of 12 to 16 meshes. The larger meshes allow the tea 

 to fire quicker, and very commonly the broken pekoe is 

 sieved out through them permanently, thus saving sub- 

 sequent labour and the use of sieves during firing, at all 

 times a troublesome method. I was told also, but cannot 

 vouch for the fact, that bm-ning was less common with a 

 large than with a small mesh ..sieve, scorching being due to 

 the wire getting too hot in the case of the latter. One 

 man to six trays is the usual allowance, and each firer's tea 

 is kept separate till the next day and weighed and even 

 tasted separately sometimes. Au Indian tea-house assistant 

 can always point out his best fircrs. 



Sorting is very commonly done by hand. With a China 

 sieve (made of tine bamboo), I have seen a good man sift a 

 whole bulk of teas through with a No. 10 oulj', all done 

 by altering the angle of iuclination of the sieve. In fact, 

 much depends on the degree to which sieving is done, and 

 work done with the same sieve by different coolies is not 

 always similar. Much variety can be introduced into this 

 work, but the great principle is to sift into as few 

 qualities as possible. 



Eegarding Packing. In chests, split canes are an admir- 

 able substitute for hoop-iron, or small clips which just 

 embrace the corners. With this substitute for hoop-iron, 

 I certainly think factories near a cart-road ought to use 

 chests, and .so effect the saving in lead, cost of packing and 

 draft which this means. As to wood for tea boxes. 

 In India, Burmah teak is generally used ; and out of all the 

 numeroxis species growing locally, none is yet in common 

 use. In Ceylon, I have always used Mallebodde, that des- 

 pised tre(! which every one condemns. If seasoned pro- 

 perly and used soon, it is suitable in every way, being 

 light, free from smell, and holding a uaU well. It must not 

 be kept too long however, or insects will attack it. 



The arrangement of the Factory m.iy well be left to the 

 ingenuity of the manager, as it is generally a converted 

 cofito store. The great points to beboLno in mind are, that 

 the withering-room should be iintnediately under the roof, 

 and above all heat-creating machinery and stoves ; that 

 the engine-room or water wheel should be cut off as 

 nmch as possible from the rest of the building; also that 

 ample /'///'( should be provided for, everywhere. 



In Tasting, all defects in manufacture become apjjarent, 

 and by means of samples the work being done in any 

 factory can be checked. I have here the Awisawolla estate 

 samples which gained the silver medal in Colombo, and 

 of which the bulk averaged Is 7jd at the last sales, the 

 brokeu pekoe fetching 2s 7|d. ; tb>>> >vas mad^ uud«r tUe 



