TEA MACHINERY. . 249 



One of the great advantages of this Tea Dryer is the facility it 

 gives for final firing before packing. The enhanced price of Tea which 

 has been dried and final fired in this Dryer is well shewn in the high 

 average of is. 6d. per lb., which the Scottish Assam Company's Teas 

 have fetched this season. See letters annexed from their superin- 

 tendent in Assam, Mr. Cruickshanks, and their secretary in Edinburgh, 

 Mr. M off at. 



When final firing Tea with the Dryer, it is found convenient to 

 place a fine gauze cover over the top trays in each compartment, to 

 prevent any of the Tea dust being carried away with the hot air which 

 passes through the Tea. 



In order to get the maximum quantity of work from the Dryer, the 

 trays must be spread with rolled leaf twice as thick as that used 

 when Tea is dried over charcoal, where there is no forced current of 

 air, and after the Tea has been half-dried, then the Tea on two trays 

 should be spread on one tray, and the drying finished. In the Dryers 

 now in course of construction, the trays have been made one-half 

 deeper, so that the half- dried Tea on three trays should be finished in 

 one tray. The out-turn of the machine is greatly diminished when the 

 foregoing method is not observed ; and owing to its non-observance, 

 many of the Dryers in use have never been worked to their greatest 

 capacity. 



The Dryer should be lined outside with one thickness of bricks 

 they are the cheapest and best non-conductors of heat inferior or 

 badly-burned bricks may be used. Both ends of the Dryer should be 

 lined, and both sides and elbows as high as the trays. The top may 

 either have a lining of bricks, or four inches thick of sand or clay. 

 When the Dryer is lined round with bricks, it not only greatly reduces 

 the consumption of fuel, but by preventing the radiation of heat, it 

 enables the men to increase the out-turn of pucka Tea. 



The Dryer is extremely simple and compact the No. 2 size 

 occupies a space of about 7 feet long and 3 feet wide. The fan of this 

 Dryer requires about half a horse-power to drive it. 



The fan should be driven at a speed of 500 revolutions per minute. 

 The pulley on the fan spindle is 7^ inches diameter and 4 inches wide. 



Owing to the satisfaction given by these Dryers this season, an 

 exceptionally large number of orders are on hand, and although a 

 number of each size is generally kept in stock, the patentee will be 

 obliged to those requiring Dryers for next season to kindly send in their 

 orders early. 



