246 CULTIVATION AND MANUFACTURE OF TEA. 



As a matter of course, the Tea takes a longer time to dry than 

 when made by Siroccos, in which the temperature is maintained at 275 

 degrees, but the extent of drying surface available makes this a matter 

 of secondary importance. 



I did not mean that no care or attention is required to keep up fire 

 and supply boiling water periodically from a cistern placed over the 

 flue; but you can understand that the same care, judgment and 

 observation is not required to dry Tea at a comparatively low tem- 

 perature as at a very high one : for instance, it does not injure coffee 

 to allow it to remain on the barbacue after it is thoroughly dry ; but 

 put it in a roaster, and what care and judgment is not required to 

 perfect the roasting ! 



No doubt, by the use of Siroccos and other modern appliances, 

 the risk of fire-burning is now greatly diminished, but these still 

 require great care in shifting the trays and watching the thermometer. 

 This constant watching is obviated by the use of my machine, and all 

 the superintendent has to do is to feel when the Tea becomes crisp and 

 dry. He has the security that, if this is neglected to be done at the 

 moment it is sufficiently dry, no injury takes place by its remaining on 

 the heated surface. 



The machine is especially adapted for redrying Tea before packing, 

 this being an operation carried on at a low temperature, and requiring 

 a good deal of care. 



There are, it is well known, two difficulties connected with the 

 proper manufacture of Tea, requiring at present the constant super- 

 vision of the superintendent : these are fermentation and firing. If 

 the necessity of closely watching the latter can be dispensed with, it 

 gives the superintendents more time to direct the fermentation, on 

 which the colour of the infused leaf, and consequently the value, so 

 greatly depends. 



I have now considered all the Dryers I know of except 

 Kinmond's and Jackson's. I have purposely left these to 

 the last. While in the case of Rollers I thought Jackson 

 had done best, in Dryers I most decidedly award the first 

 place to Kinmond. 



Jackson's Dryer. A long and exhaustive report upon it 

 from Mr. Carter, of the Chandpore Garden, Chittagong, 



