148 CULTIVATION AND MANUFACTURE OF TEA. 



Of course in many districts these boxes are not pro- 

 curable, and local ones must be made. If so, use hard 

 wood, and make your boxes about the size given above, for 

 small boxes add much to the cost of freight. 



Let the planks be f inch thick, for inch, that is, inch 

 boards are not strong enough, except they are of teak or 

 any other very good wood. 



Take care the joints of the several pieces composing the 

 sides and ends do not coincide at the corners, for if they do 

 the box is very apt to come asunder. 



The best way to arrange the pieces is as described above 

 in the Rangoon boxes. 



" A form " must be made on which the inner leaden case 

 shall be constructed, that is, a well-made smooth box, to fit 

 exactly into the box you pack in. It must be some 3 inches 

 higher than the interior of the original box, and have bars 

 running across inside, for handles to lift it up, and let the 

 lead case slip off it, after it (the lead case) is finished. 



Solder your lead case, over your form, in the way to 

 waste least lead. In the Rangoon boxes described, two 

 large, two small sheets,* and one piece, 22 by 9 inches (let 

 in between the two large sheets) suffices, and there is little 

 or no waste. 



The lead case ready, hold up the form by the inner rods, 

 and let the case slide off. Put it at once into the packing- 

 box, taking care no nails protrude inside, or anything else 

 which will hurt it, and thus prepare all the boxes for the 

 break of Tea you are about to pack. 



One great advantage the Rangoon boxes, and in fact all 

 machine-sawn boxes, have is their equal, or nearly equal, 

 weight. Purchasers of Teas, at the public auctions, require 

 ''the tare" of boxes to be as near the same weight as 

 possible. If the tares differ, say more than half-a-pound, 



* Large lead is 37 by 22 inches ; small lead, 25 by 19 inches. 



