Proceedings of the Farmers' Club. G13 



The time for seed-plucking is in the months of October and IS'oveni- 

 ber, when the seed is thoroughly ripe, which is known bj the brown 

 appearance of the capsules. There are many seeds that never ripen 

 on the tree from the sun not being able to penetrate to them, and 

 these should be left to tlie last. 



After gathering the seed it should be placed on airy shelves or 

 platforms, in a cool shady place, until the capsules open, when it can 

 be shelled by the hand. On no account should seed be exposed to 

 the sun, as it causes fermentation, and its consequent destruction. 

 After being shelled, the seed should be left on platforms exposed to 

 the air, to enable it to dry, being turned over night and morning for 

 five days, when it may be packed in perforated boxes or gunnybags, 

 with small pieces of charcoal, the same size as the seed, and to half 

 its bulk. Seed packed in this manner will keep for three months, as 

 the charcoal will absorb all the moisture given otf by the seeds, and 

 thereby prevent decomposition. 



Tea seed ought to be transported with as much expedition as possi- 

 ble, since it is very delicate and liable to damage. Whether dis- 

 patched by boat or steamer it ought to be turned over every other 

 d^y for the purpose of being aired. 



The best mode of preserving tea seed, if intended for dispatch to 

 any distance, is packing in charcoal, as described above; but should 

 it be required for planting on the estate where produced, no better 

 metliod can be adopted than that already advised of depositing it in 

 damp beds until required for use, as it has been known to keep quite 

 fresh in this manner for several weeks, and even should it swell 

 and germinate a little, extra care in its removal is all that is 

 required. 



The oil expressed from tea seed is fit for all factory purposes, and 

 would no doubt become an article of commerce, if procurable in any 

 quantity, though its relative value cannot be estimated, as no export 

 of it has yet taken place. The refuse might be advantageously 

 applied as a manure placed in small quantities round the roots of the 

 tea plants, as it would return to the soil many of the properties orig- 

 inally extracted from it. Tlie oil cake might also be found useful for 

 cattle, as the ripe nut is greedily devoured by deer and wild pigs, 

 which leads to the inference that it would not be distasteful to 

 domestic cattle. 



