MANUFACTURE. 113 



separately and differently, that is rolled very little and very 

 lightly, not allowed to ferment at all, but sunned at once after 

 rolling, and, if there is sun enough, finished in the sun, other- 

 wise by a very light and gradual heat best placed above the 

 drawers in the Dhole-house ; if this is done, I say, these will 

 come out perfect ' Pekoe tips ' of a white colour, which is the 

 best. 



If not separated from the other leaf, but manufactured 

 with it, the sap from the other leaves, expressed in the rolling, 

 stains these said leaves, which are covered with a fine white 

 silk down, and makes them black like all the rest of the Tea ; 

 the whole of which is then valued lower, because there are no 

 ' Pekoe tips.' 



Now in the latter case ' the Pekoe tips ' are there all the 

 same, only they don't show. The Tea is really just as good, 

 in fact a shade better with black than with white or orange 

 tips, 1 but it does not sell so well, and as we cannot argue the 

 brokers or dealers into a rational view of the case, we must 

 humour their fancy (they are virtually our masters) and give 

 them the Pekoe tips, if we can. 



How are we to do it ? The plan of picking these small 

 leaves separately, in order to manufacture them separately, 

 does not answer. It is too expensive ; it diminishes the 

 yield of a garden, and labour for it fails. All this is shown at 

 pages 105 and 128. Is there any other way? 



It may be done during some periods of the season when 

 there is not leaf enough on the garden to employ all the leaf- 

 pickers, by setting a number of them to separate the said 

 two leaves from the others after the whole leaf is brought to 

 the factory. This is expensive, but it pays when there is 

 labour to do it, for then the Teas can be made very showy 

 and rich with white Pekoe tips. 



An ingenious planter, a Mr. McMeekin, in Cachar, in- 



1 It is better, because the 'tips' having been hard-rolled give stronger liquor. 



I 



