FINAL DESICCATION OF BLACK TEA. 



135 



At the expiration of this time, they are again 

 taken out of the drying-tube, and rubbed and 



■JZ^*^s-i 



twisted between the hands. * A great change has 

 now taken place in the colour of the leaves. They 



leaves are allowed to fall loosely and gently down on the sieve. 

 An aperture of about an inch in diameter is made in the centre 

 of each parcel, and the heaps or half balls are thus placed round 

 the extreme edge of the sieve ; about fourteen of such parcels 

 thus occupying that space. Then a second row is placed within, 

 consisting of about ten heaps, which further admits of about 

 four or five more, forming a third circle ; and finally, an open 

 space is left in the centre of about four inches in diameter. 

 When the drying-tube is removed from the fire, it must be 

 placed on a tray. In turning the parcels the dryer turns the 

 drying-tube round, bringing each parcel in succession before 

 him, that they may all be turned in due order, but the sieve is 

 not removed from the drying-tube. As the leaves dry, it 

 becomes desirable to mix the leaves of two of the drying- 

 tubes together : this is done by pouring the contents of one 

 drying-tube on to those of another, and not by taking the 

 leaves out with the hand. The charcoal is well covered with 

 ash throughout the entire process of drying. 



* The mode of rubbing and twisting the leaves between the 

 hands is rather difficult to explain. About a handful of leaves 



k 4 



