TEA MACHINERY. 231 



discussed beforehand, so that should a series of experiments take place, 

 people would be prepared for any contingencies which might arise, and 

 perhaps be better prepared to overcome these difficulties through the 

 matter having been previously well discussed. 



It is now the season for opening out Tea gardens, and one piece of 

 advice I would give to planters that is this. It is quite possible that 

 steam ploughing for Tea cultivation is a thing of the future, or may 

 be nearer than you imagine : therefore be careful to have your lines of 

 Tea very straight, both along and across, so that there would be no 

 obstacle to the plough or cultivator working. If you object to the 

 expense of taking out stumps, they may remain in, as they could be 

 taken out afterwards. 



I trust your readers, Mr. Editor, will not view this subject with 

 indifference, but will co-operate in endeavouring to solve the problem. 

 I am yours faithfully, " TEA MACHINERY." 



Though the signatures differ, I conceive Mr. C. B. 

 Fergus, C.E., wrote the second as well as the first. He 

 has evidently pondered the matter well. Let others do so 

 too, and I foretell that the day is not far distant when flat 

 Tea gardens will, in a great measure, be cultivated by steam 

 or animal power. When this is so, even 8 annas (say lod.) 

 per Ib. for our Tea all round should pay us well. 



Tea Manufacturing Machinery. 



The processes in Tea manufacture, as generally practised 

 in India to-day, are 



1. Plucking. 5. Fermenting. 



2. Withering. 6> Dry i ng or fir i ng . 



3. Sorting green leaf in a 



measure, and separation 7- Porting. 



of Pekoe Tips. 8> Fina i heating before pack- 



4. Rolling. ing. 



No. 3 is not always done, the others invariably. 



