MANUFACTURE. 123 



Rolling. This is a simple operation enough when the men 

 have got the knack of it. Some planters advocate a circular 

 motion of the hands when rolling, under the impression it 

 gives the leaf a better twist. Some like rolling it forward, 

 but bringing it back without letting it turn during the back- 

 ward motion. I believe in neither way, for it appears to me 

 to be rolled no better, or no worse, by these plans than by the 

 ordinary and quicker mode of simply rolling it any way. The 

 forward and backward motion is the simplest and quickest, 

 and the way all rollers adopt, who are given a certain quantity 

 of leaf (say 30 Ibs. a fair amount) to roll for their day's work. 

 In this ordinary rolling the ball in the hand, 'tis true, does 

 not turn much in the backward motion, for 'tis more or less 

 pulled back, but whether it turns or not, does not, I believe, 

 signify the least 



Rolling in hot pans was formerly extensively practised. 

 It is not much done now. I have tried the plan, but found no 

 advantage in it. 



Rolling on coarse mats, placed on the floor, might be seen 

 also. When I visited the Assam Company's gardens near 

 Nazerah in Assam, I saw it done there. It is a great mis- 

 take. The coarse bamboo mat breaks the leaf sadly, and 

 much of the sap or juice from the leaf, which adds much to 

 the strength of the Tea, runs through the coarse mat, and is 

 lost. 



One and the principal reason why Indian Tea is stronger 

 than Chinese is that in India the sap or juice is generally re- 

 tained, while in China it is, strange to say, purposely wasted ! 



A strong immovable smooth table, with the planks of which 

 it is formed well joined together, so that no apertures exist 

 for the juice of the leaf to run through, is the best thing to 

 roll on. If covered with a fine seetul pattie mat, nailed down 

 over the edges of the table, a still greater security is given 

 against the loss of any sap, and I believe the slightly rough 



