612 Transactions of the American Institute. 



it "svould be advisable to liave tliem constructed l,»y machinery. Saw 

 and dovetailing mills could be erected for a comparatively small out- 

 lay, and could be made a source of profit by supplying adjoining 

 estates with boxes. They are indispensable on a large ■property, 

 where the wood is at hand and the requirements are great, as the 

 same steam power would be available for other factory pui'poses. 



Packing requires much care and attention, as if negligently done 

 the tea is liable to be injured. After the tea has been finally dried 

 it should be put into the lead-lined wooden boxes previously prepared 

 for its reception ; the lining having been carefully examined to sec 

 that there are no holes in it. 



The tea should be shaken down into the box so as to make it pack 

 tight, but on no account should it be pressed down, as that would 

 crush the tea, and thereby detract from its market value. After the 

 tea has been soldered up, the lid of the box should be screwed on, not 

 nailed, as the nails are liable to penetrate the lead, and injure the tea 

 by admitting the air. The box may now be weighed, entered in the 

 factory book, marked and sent to the storehouse. 



The lead is soldered on a mould, the exact size of the interior of a 

 tea chest, after which the box is carefully placed over the mould, 

 turned over, and the mould cautiously removed, when the box is lead- 

 lined and ready for the reception of tea. 



Stamping is at present done by stencilling or painting over a per- 

 forated metallic plate, tlie required letters and numbers, defining the 

 jiame of the factory, where produced, number, and class of tea ; all 

 of which particulars are, with the date, entered in the factory book, 

 and accompany the boxes when dispatched, in the form of an invoice. 



In shipping teas by boat from the factory to the port of export, 

 care should be taken to thicken the boat at the bottom with light 

 wood ten inches high, and at the sides five inches, to preveut any 

 damage from water. The roof of the boats ought to be well covered 

 in with tarpaulins, so as to be perfectly water-tight. But it is always 

 better, where practicable, to dispatch teas, which are so valuable and 

 perishable a cargo, by steamer or rail. 



Seed, Plucking, Dkying, Packing, Transport — Bf:st Mode of 

 Preserving — Application to Economic Purposes when not Sala- 

 ble. 

 There are three descriptions of seed, namely, indigenous, hybrid 



and China, but all require the same treatment, as they are all equally 



of a perishable nature. 



