IV TEA 131 



possible, with the result that the tea leaves brought fresh 

 from the fields of the extensive tea gardens in these countries, 

 are converted, in a short time, into the various grades of tea 

 entirely by mechanical contrivances. 



Packing. — The bulkin-r and sorting should be done as Teat© be 



* ° . packed with- 



soon as possible after the tea has been manufactured, and it out delay. 

 should be packed before it has had a chance to absorb any 

 moisture. When, however, this cannot be done, the tea 

 should be slightly fired before packing to ensure its perfect 

 dryness. It is usually packed in chests lined with lead, great Tea chests. 

 care being taken that there are no holes in the lead lining, 

 and that the top is soldered down so as to exclude all air. 

 The tea is not to be thrown into the box anyhow, but every- 

 thing is to be done with deliberate care. About a fourth of Packing to 



. be done 



the quantity of tea is put in and pressed down with a board carefully. 

 until it is quite firm, another fourth is then put in with the 

 same precautions, and so on until the box is filled. 



The packages used commonly in India and Ceylon are Sizes of 

 square and of three sizes, namely, chests which contain Solbs. ^^^ ^'^^''' 

 of tea as near as possible, half-chests which contain from 40 

 to 45lbs., and boxes which contain 2olbs. A break of tea 

 consists of ten chests, that is about Soolbs., and it has been 

 advised by London merchants that no smaller quantity 

 should be shipped at one time. Latterly, tin and iron boxes 

 have been used for shipping teas, as there is less chance of 

 injury to the contents. These boxes are supplied in sheets, |^ietallic 

 grooved at the edges, so that they can be easily put together, 

 but it is necessary to solder the joints ; and, when iron boxes 

 are used, it is advisable to line them with paper so as to pre- 

 vent rust injuring the tea. One of the 2olb. tin boxes used 

 in India measures 165 ins. by 11 ins, by \o\ ins., and costs A break of 

 half-a-crown. Four of these boxes may be packed in a '^^" 

 wooden case, or in a crate made of battens, and forty boxes 

 will make a break of tea. 



K 2 



