MANUFACTURE. 121 



Again fresh leaf, pressed together in the palm of the hand, 

 when released, springs back to nearly its original bulk, but 

 withered leaf, in like circumstances, retains the shape into 

 which it has been pressed. The stalk of withered leaf will 

 bend double, without breaking, but fresh leaf stalks, if bent 

 very little, break. Practice, though, soon gives a test 

 superior to all these, viz., the feel of the leaf. Properly 

 withered leaves are like old rags to lay hold of, and no 

 further test, after a time, than the feel of the leaf is 

 necessary. 



The agents for withering leaf are sun, light, heat, and air. 

 Of these the most powerful is sun, for it combines all the 

 others with it. Light is a powerful agent, for if some leaf 

 be placed in a partially dark room, and some in a well-lighted 

 verandah, the latter will wither in half the' time the former 

 will take. If light and moderate ventilation be present, heat 

 is a great accessory to rapid withering. 



There is often great difficulty in withering leaf in the rain. 

 It can be withered in Tea pans, but ' the out-turn ' is then more 

 or less injured, for after infusion the out-turn comes out green 

 instead of the proper 'new penny' colour. Withering in 

 dholes is also objectionable for the same reason, though if the 

 heat is moderate the green effect is less. It is further a long 

 and tedious operation. 



Space and light are the great wants for withering leaf in 

 wet weather. Bamboo mechans, tier above tier, should be 

 constructed in every available space. Large frames, covered 

 with wire mesh r may also be made (by means of weights run- 

 ning over pulleys) to run up to the roof of any Tea building. 

 The leaf withers well in such frames, for heat ascends, and 

 much heat is given out by dholes. 



It signifies not though where leaf is spread as long as there 

 is space and light. Houses made of iron and glass would be 

 far the best for withering leaf, for, if well ventilated, all the 



