Proceedings of the Farmers' Club. 595 



estate, and engao;ed for a term of not less than five years. Families 

 containing from two to three children are the most desirable, as the 

 children are of more nse than the adults ai pluchi7ig\QQ.i^ and women 

 next. The adult males may find plenty of employment as enumer- 

 ated further on in these 



Casual Laborers. 

 Casual laborers could find work in plenty in the dry season, after 

 the plucking season is over, in brick-making, hoeing, burning char- 

 coal, cutting fire-wood, &c., &c.,but they ouglit never to be employed 

 in any of the following works, viz. : Prunhig, jy^wc/^i/jy/, rolling^ 

 roasting ox iHicking teas, as this is the work of those who by practice 

 become adepts, and can be trusted when not under the immediate 

 supervision of the manager or his subordinates. 



Water Power. 

 As California abounds with water powers, there would be but little 

 use for steam, as the rolling hy machinery would require but small 

 power for a large factory, and most of the power could be used up by 

 diverting it to saw-mills, for cutting up box timber, as also for the 

 working of dovetailing machines and irrigation. The paper used 

 for covering the boxes ought to be sufficiently strong to hold the boxes 

 together under any usage, and could be made at but little cost on the 

 estates, from bark or coarse fibre, such as the " esparto grass " or oak 

 bark. Covering the boxes with gunny bags is quite superfluous, 

 unless fur the choicest teas, which should never be packed in large 

 boxes, but in half chests, containing about thirty-five pounds. 



Russian Brick Tea. 

 The choicest teas sent to Russia are made up into bricks of about 

 six pounds weight, and are done up in this manner to preserve the 

 fiavor, as much as for easy transit across the mountains and through 

 Thibet. If this mode of manufacture were once introduced into 

 America, there would be less expense attending the packing, and a 

 better description of tea drank ; for it stands to reason that teas con- 

 fined by pressure into the form of a brick, must preserve their flavor 

 and aroma better than loosely packed teas. 



Selection of Site, Soil and Climate. 

 First — Site. — The best site for a tea garden or phmtation is that 

 commanding water carriage, or that is in good communication with 



