MANUFACTURE. 125 



object is generally attained. In this and every thing else in 

 Tea manufacture, give different men different departments, 

 and make them answerable. Much trouble to the manager, 

 who should supervise all, and much loss to the proprietor 

 from bad Tea, will then be avoided. 



Rolling. This is a simple operation enough when the 

 men have got the knack of it. Some planters advocate a 

 circular motion of the hands when rolling, under the 

 impression it gives the leaf a better twist. Some like 

 rolling it forward, but bringing it back without letting it 

 turn during the backward motion. I believe in neither way, 

 for it appears to me to be rolled no better, or no worse, by 

 these plans than by the ordinary and quicker mode of simply 

 rolling it any way. The forward and backward motion is 

 the simplest and quickest, and the way all rollers adopt, 

 who are given a certain quantity of leaf (say 30 Ibs. a fair 

 amount) to roll for their day's work. In this ordinary roll- 

 ing the ball in the hand, 'tis true, does not turn much in the 

 backward motion, for 'tis more or less pulled back, but 

 whether it turns or not does not, I believe, signify the least. 



Rolling in hot pans was formerly extensively practised. 

 It is not much done now. I have tried the plan, but found 

 no advantage in it. 



Rolling on coarse mats, placed on the floor, might be 

 seen also. When I visited the Assam Company's gardens 

 near Nazerah, in Assam, I saw it done there. It is a great 

 mistake. The coarse bamboo mat breaks the leaf sadly, 

 and much of the sap or juice from the leaf, which adds 

 much to the strength of the Tea, runs through the coarse 

 mat, and is lost. 



One and the principal reason why Indian Tea is stronger 

 than Chinese is that in India the sap or juice is generally 

 retained, while in China it is, strange to say, purposely 

 wasted ! 



