^m 't'MPitAL AomctJLTvnwf. 



L/ui.y I, 1886, 



suggest any metliod that will cuable us to make better 

 teas and get higher prices ? 



41. — Would you eradicate really bad jat plants and 

 trees V 



42. — Wliat do you consider the best shape and 

 material for a clioap external withering-shed or sheds ? 

 Will j-ield from inferior jat at high elevation be less 

 than yield from high class ji'it. 



From ■which caji best tea be made. 



Answers. 

 Report of Snh-Committee of MasheUi/a Planters'' 

 Associatton on 'Tea Manufacture. 

 The Sub-Committe have drawn up this Eepovt 

 from the replies of Messrs. Jas. Taylor, T. J. Grigg, 

 W. Turing Mackenzie, J. Koydon Hughes, H. Deane, 

 J. N. Campbell, T. Dickson, F. L. Clements, W. 

 Cameron, W. Eaffin, Giles F. "Walker, W. B. Hope, 

 A. Cantlay. T. W. B. Crowther, S. G. Tench, R. 

 Webster and E. Maclure, and some which were un- 

 fortunately not signed. The Committee thank these 

 gentlemen for replying to the questions and also 

 Messrs. Blacklaw, Cantlay, J. Ferguson and Ruther- 

 ford for assistance rendered. The Sub-Committee 

 regret that delay in the publication of their Eeport 

 has in some respects lessened its value. 



Questions 1-2. The definition of fine plucking 

 given was not universally accepted. The Committee 

 consider the majority of the replies sent in, advise 

 that the metliod of fine plucking, as defined, 

 should be adopted four or five months after 

 pruning in order to get the highest return 

 per acre combined with a good average price. 

 The replies lead them 'to think line plucking as 

 defined by Mr. Taylor (an extract from whose re- 

 ply is annexed) is decidedly more trying to the 

 bush than medium plucking, as the shoots are re- 

 moved before the bush benefits by them ; the 

 dilierence per acre in return is put at about 150 

 lb. per acre in favor of medium plucking the Jirst 

 year, later on perhaps more ; the diifcrence of price 

 from "id to 3d per lb. in favor of line plucking, 

 the cost of the latter system of plucking being 

 much more expensive, perhaps double. All replies 

 agree that before fine plucking can be safely 

 adopted the bushes must have a good i)lucking 

 surface and that on no account should it be com- 

 raenced until the fourth or fifth month after pruning. 

 (Extract referred to.) 

 Question not intelligible.— If the bushes be 

 allowed to get a good start after the pruning by 

 leaving three or more leaves on all primary shoots, 

 there is no apparent harm from finer plucking, that 

 is, plucking the same leaves and leaving a leaf, 

 the same as in coarser plucking, but doing it at 

 an earlier stage of growth. Nevertheless it is reason- 

 able to suppose that the finer plucking must be 

 more exhausting to both tree and soil, yield being 

 the same. Tliere is practically no difference in 

 quantity and the difference in value is fully nine- 

 pence per lb. in favor of the finer plucking which 

 costs about twice as much for plucking or nearly so. 



3. Bangy leaf below pruning level at the sides of 

 young bushes should not be plucked, but where the 

 bushes are old and cover the ground, this is not so 

 important. It is not generally considered necessary 

 to search for bangy in the centre of the tree be- 

 low plucking level; a few replies however state 

 that if bangy in the centre is plucked close during 

 drought the yield when rain comes on will be 

 greatly increased ; to pull off seed and flower though 

 beneficial is practically impossible. 



4. After pruning it is advised that for three 

 rounds 5 to G inches of primary shoots above 

 pruning level should be left, or 3 full leaves, per- 

 haps more after a heavy pruning ; after third round 

 all primary shoots may be plucked. On secondary 

 shopts it is at first well to leave 2i leaves includ- 



ing the bud leaf. Inferior jilts should be kept lower, 

 some however say prune lower and pluck the, 

 same ; the general opinion is that if thus carefully_ 

 plucked after pruning, the bush will better stand 

 hard plucking later on. 



5. Baskets are unanimously recommended. 

 For steep faces or when plucking new flush after 

 pruning, cutty-sacks may be used with ad- 

 vantage if the leaf is continually turned out. 



6. In a few cases leaf is sifted through | 

 inch mesh. The sieve can easily be attached to the 

 waterwheel, and we are .surprised it is not oftener 

 done as it certainly improves the wither and fermen- 

 tation and takes off some water from the leaf and 

 bruises it very little. 



7. By spreading wet leaf thick in the sun and 

 turning it frequently or by continual turning 

 without sun, water can be partially taken off. 



8. Hard withering is almost unanimously advised. 

 Mr. Taylor's remarks are : — " As hard as possible 

 to allow the rolling to be properly done, so that 

 no yellowish or unsquashed patches of leaf may be 

 found in outturn from the tea-pot, and so that 

 the depth of color in the liquor be not reduced. 

 With under-withering, rolling will also be im- 

 IDerfect as the mass of leaf is too soft and 

 slushy and slips about without the tissue being 

 perfectly squashed ; and depths of color of liquor 

 will also in that \\ ay be reduced. Besides a lot of 

 water must be evaporated from the leaf in with- 

 ering or else juice will drop from the machine 

 during rolling." 



9. Natural withering is undoubtedly the hest, 

 but rather than keep leaf over till the second day 

 it is advisable to utiliiie sun or artificial heat in 

 moderation {i.e. Chula or Sirocco heat). At high 

 elevations tliis is often absolutely necessary. Sun 

 withering is preferable to artificial. The result 

 of much heat in artificial withering is bad ferment- 

 ation. It is advised by some that after sun or 

 artificial withering, leaf should, be allowed to cool 

 before rolling. Artilicial withering is apt to dry 

 the leaf. 



10. Plenty of air and light are necessary for 

 withering purposes but whether the air should 

 be damp or dry is disputed. The direct rays of 

 the sun should always be excluded. The cold 

 at high elevations retards withering. Mr. Taylor 

 considers it a question whether light, except for 

 the heat connected with it, is not a disadvantage. 



11. Messrs. Fairweather's or Megginson's system 

 of Tats is recommended : one pound of green 

 leaf thin spread covers 6 sq. ft. Leaf withers 

 best on boards. 



12. For small gardens Jackson's hand-roller 

 worked hy power is highly recommended It takes 

 45 to 50 Ih. withered leaf at a fill, rolls it in 40 

 minutes, requires 1 to Ih horse power ; costs E550 

 without power fittings. This refers to the old 

 hand roller. In the new one there is no move- 

 ment of the bottom tray and it is similar in 

 action to Kerr's old roller which is also recom- 

 mended in some papers. Jackson's Universal rolls 

 120 lb. withered leaf in 1 hour, in two fills ; 

 costs £85 stg f. o. b. in England ; requires 2 

 horse power. For a large garden where thoe is 

 plenty of power, Jackson's Excelsior is unani- 

 mously recommended. It takes 300 fb withered 

 leaf at a fill, rolls it in 40 minutes, requires 4 

 horse power ; price £138 stg. in Colombo. Barber's 

 Blaclcstone I'ollers have the advantage of doing 

 much work in a short time and require little 

 Ijowcr ; there are two of them, the '' Standard " 

 takes 100 lb withered leaf at a fill, requires 20 

 minutes to complete the roll, which equals 300 lb 

 withered leaf per hour ; cost E900 in Colombo. 

 Ppiuiona ou tliie eubjccl expressed uow will prob* 



