MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRT DISTRICT. 545 



less space in the binSj but vvliore ample space for all operations CH. XXIX, 

 is provided, I prefer the former course. To repeat what I have rp^,^ 

 said elsewhere, — 



" One of the reasons for storing the tea in bulk is, tliat in no two 

 consecutive da3's can one depend upon the tea manufactured being of 

 the same quality and value ; and if the daily teas turned out were 

 sifted and packed separately, the quality of the teas packed in the 

 several boxes might be found to differ materially. Sifting therefore 

 just previous to despatch, and mixing in one heap all the tea according 

 to its class, obviates this difficulty." 



" Up to the present time our teas, both black and green, have 

 been stored in the bins in the same state as they were at the end of 

 the drying process. We now come to the business of assorting them 

 for the London market. This is done, as a rale, by means of brass 

 wire sieves of standard mesh, or, in large concerns, by machinery. 

 I have seen planters in Southern India use bamboo sieves of native 

 make, but these are always irregular in mesh, and stand bat a small 

 amount of work. The best sieves are those procured from P. Jonas, 

 Esq., 155, Fanwork Street, London, E.G. A full set will consist of 

 Nos. 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14. The namber of the sieve represents the 

 number of spaces to the square inch. No. 4, the largest size, will 

 only be required in case the planter manufactures the coarser leaves. 

 No. 6 is the most useful all round. The tea that passes through this 

 will, if well made, turn out a good pekoe, worth from 2s. to 3s. per lb., 

 or at the worst a pekoe souchong worth from Is. lOd. to 2s. '6d. per 

 lb. If he sells his tea in this country, I advise the planter to use this 

 sieve only. If no coarse leaf has been picked, and the rolling has 

 been done properly, the tea that passes through this sieve may be 

 classed as good pekoe, while that which remains will be a fair 

 souchong. The dust, broken flat leaf, and tips will be subsequently 

 winnowed out with a common bamboo rice fan, and be added to that 

 which fell through from the trays in the process of drying. 



" If, however, the planter means to sell his produce in London, he 

 will find it advisable to assort it to a greater extent. He should 

 begin with the finer sieves, and go on to the coarser. Thus : 



Sieves 12-10 will turn out fine orange pekoes- 

 Sieve 8 do. pekoe- 

 Sieve 6 do. pekoe or pekoe souchong. 

 That which is left forms No. 6, souchong or congou. 



" If he passed the dust, &c. through a No. 14, he may send this home 

 as broken orange pekoe, but it is better perhaps not to do this, but 

 to send the dust, tips, and broken flat leaf as broken pekoe. When 

 there is much broken or flat leaf a decline of 2cl. to M. per lb. in the 

 value must be expected. 



" The whole of the tea for despatch should be sifted out at once, 

 and each quality kept separate until the whole is done, when packing 



(39 



