276 CULTIVATION AND MANUFACTURE OF TEA. 



make it heavier. I therefore beg the question that it is a 

 fixed quantity, for it must be so if well packed. 



We have therefore only to consider the gross and the 

 tare, and, as shown, the loss in Tea, varying from 2 ounces 

 to i pound 14 ounces, depends entirely on the weights these 

 are found to be at the Custom House. In other words, if 

 we can insure the gross there being but little over any even 

 number of pounds, and the tare there being but little below 

 any other even number of pounds, we attain (approximately) 

 the least loss we can be mulcted in. 



Begging the question that we can add to, or detract 

 from, the gross weight of each chest in the Custom House 

 (before it is put into the scales by the officer there) by the 

 addition or subtraction of a few nails if the weight is nearly 

 what we want, or pieces of hoop iron if the actual varies 

 much from the desired weight I say, if we can do this, we 

 can insure approximately the minimum of loss. I go to 

 show how this is to be done. 



Pack the Tea in the usual way, but whatever the quantity 

 it is desired to put into the chest (it can be varied with each 

 class, for it matters not what the weight is in pounds) add 

 to it 4 ounces, and be very careful that the whole weight of 

 Tea is exactly the number of pounds required, plus 4 ounces 

 for the whole success of the plan depends on this weight 

 being exact. Nothing more is required to be done at the 

 Factory than has been done hitherto, for it matters not one 

 straw, as regards the success of the plan, what the gross 

 and tare of each package is, nor what the weight of Tea is, 

 as long as exactly 4 ounces above an even number of pounds 

 is there ; neither does it signify how much the wood lightens 

 in transit, and thus decreases the weights which were found 

 at Factory for gross and tare. 



The next step must be taken at the Custom House in 

 London. Let the importer or the producer's agent attend 



