258 CULTIVATION AND MANUFACTURE OF TEA. 



To conclude my remarks on dryers, I give (again from 

 the Tea Gazette) an estimate of the cost of drying by the old 

 primitive mode with charcoal, and with machines. There 

 was no signature to the letter. I cannot say if the figures 

 assumed are quite correct, but in any case the machines 

 have much the best of it : 



TEA DRYING MACHINERY v. CHARCOAL. 



Dear Sir, Tea drying by machinery versus Tea drying by charcoal 

 fires over choolahs is, I believe, still discussed as to the relative merits 

 of each. I will try and give you a fair estimate of cost, and speak 

 from experience as far as I know relative to the merits, ills, iS:c., S:c., 

 of both modes of firing. 



' ist. Charcoal firing and its merits. Except for those who persist 

 that the fumes of charcoal are necessary to make good Tea, I can see 

 no merit whatever in charcoal drying, either in cost, quality, rapidity, 

 saving of labour, or anything else, over machine-dried Tea. 



Cost per maund Tea of Tea dried over choolahs by charcoal. 



R. A. p. 

 Charcoal at 8 annas per maund, i maunds ... 0120 



i Battiwallah at annas 4-6, kutcha firing ... 046 



Do. pucka firing, say 006 



Cost of firing by charcoal Rs. i i o 



N.B. Notice the labour staff required for three months in the 

 year to make charcoal; the immense space (and heat) taken up by 

 choolahs ; cost of timber used for charcoal ; the number of trays, 

 gauze, iron, &c., &c., required ; the masonry and carpenter's work 

 always more or less out of repair ; loss of small tea falling through 

 trays, &c., &c. 



Now let us take 



Cost of machine -dried Tea per maund. 



R. A. p. 



ist. Those machines which dry by coke, say cost 



of coke ... ... ... ... ... =080 



3 men at annas 4-6 per 5 maunds Tea ^= about 028 



Cost of drying per maund Tea for a machine, 



drying by coke 5 maunds in 10 hours o 10 8 



