120 CULTIVATION AND MANUFACTURE OF TEA. 



plenty of room yet for inventors. 1 The machine, as before 

 observed most to be desired, is one to separate the small 

 Pekoe leaves from the others, ere the rolling of the leaf is 

 commenced. If such a machine existed, it would much increase 

 the value of all Indian Teas, and if the Agricultural and Hor- 

 ticultural Society are inclined to offer a prize for any machine, 

 it should be this. 



At the point where the separation should take place, the 

 stalk is much tenderer than elsewhere, and this led me to think 

 a blow or concussion on the mass of green leaf might effect 

 the object. I attached a bow by the centre to an immovable 

 board, placed at right angles to the plane of a table (like the 

 back of a dressing table) and then, causing leaf to drop from 

 above, subjected it to sharp strokes from the string of the bow. 

 It effected the object partially, for many Pekoe ends were 

 detached, but it bruised and cut the other leaf too much also. 

 I believe a revolving barrel, with blunt, but thin narrow iron 

 plates inside, which would strike the leaf placed within, as the 

 barrel was turned, would perhaps answer. I give the above 

 idea for what it is worth, for any inventive genius to improve 

 on. 



As it is impossible, as far as I can see, to construct any 

 machine, which should cut the stalk only in the right place, 

 ergo, I believe some arrangement which would take advantage 

 of the fact, that the stalk is tenderer there than elsewhere, is 

 the only one that could answer. 



Now to return to the manufacture of Tea. I will consider 

 each of the five operations detailed, which I believe are all that 

 are necessary to make good Tea, separately. 

 ~^""' Withering. There are several tests to show when leaf is 

 withered. Fresh leaf squeezed in the hand, held near the ear, 

 crackles, but no sound should be heard from withered leaf. 



1 I now believe Jackson's rolling-machine, previously alluded to, will finish 

 the rolling entirely. 



