TEA MACHINERY. 257 



those, and they are few, who understand Tea machinery would appre- 

 ciate our description), but its general features we will shortly touch on. 

 In the comparatively small space it occupies in a factory, and in the 

 large quantity of work it does in a given time, we think it unrivalled. 

 This last feature does away with the necessity of night-work, which, 

 apart from other drawbacks, is prejudicial to the excellence of Tea, 

 because, among other reasons, its colour cannot then be appreciated 

 in its several stages. Tea made at night is never very good. With 

 sufficient motive power, sufficient rolling machinery, and Kinmond's 

 Dryers, the factory (let the leaf gathered be what it may) can be shut 

 up at dark. Kinmond's Dryer may yet be improved upon by himself 

 or by others, but as it now stands it possesses a feature peculiar to 

 itself, and all important. The hot air, driven by a fan (the speed of 

 which, under control, regulates the temperature), does not pass 

 successively through the different trays, for the hot air, drying the Tea 

 in each tray, has a separate inlet and outlet. By this means is avoided 

 the objection of carrying the moisture absorbed by the hot air from 

 one tray to the other. Another peculiarity in the machine is, that the 

 same air is used again and again, being re-dried and re-heated each 

 time. By this two advantages are obtained : (i) fuel is saved, it is 

 easier to heat air which still retains caloric than fresh air ; (2) the 

 aroma of Tea is very volatile, and when hot air, which dries it, passes 

 away, some of the essence and strength of the Tea goes with it. But 

 here the same air being used again and again, the volatile essence 

 (how much who can say ?) is returned to the Tea. It is reasonable to 

 suppose that this will increase the value of the Tea ; indeed, we know 

 it did so materially in one garden last season. 



We do not doubt that the unanimity wanting at present amongst 

 planters as regards machinery will more or less come with time, but 

 only long experience can settle the merits of rival machinery. One 

 thing, however, is very certain if the exports of Indian Tea ever vie 

 in quantity with China, it will be due to the use of machinery in 

 manufacture. 



I may state that Kinmond and some other inventors of 

 Dryers claim for them that in wet weather green leaf may 

 be withered by their means. But, as I stated some pages 

 back, I do not think any Dryers suitable for withering. That 



machine has yet to be invented. 



s 



