116 



TEA. 



"WinnnTrj-ng maeldiie. Ttis is a commoii -wiimowmg macliiQe, "w-itli a box 

 2 feet 10 inches in lengtli, 1 foot 2 inclies in "breadtli, and 1 foot 3 inclies in 

 depth, attached to the bottom of the hopper, and closely ntted into the middle 

 of the eirculax apartment -vrhieh contaias the fanners. This bos is entirely 

 closed above (unless at the small opening receiying the hopper) and at the sides. 

 At the base there are t"w*o inclined boards "which project from the side of the 

 machine 6 inches, and are partly separated from each other by angular pieces 

 of -wood. The end towards the fanners is open, the other is partly closed by a 

 semicircular box ■which is moTeable. 



I shall noTT give the dimensions of the different parts of this ma-chine, ■which 

 may be useful to parties -wishing to make up similar ones to those employed in 

 the manufactories. 



External frame 7 feet 2 inches in length, IS inches in breadth, and 5 feet 

 8 inches in height. Hopper 2 feet 10 inches aboTe, and 1 foot S inches in depth. 

 Frame of box for fanners 3 feet 9 inches in diameter. Hopper frame 2 feet 

 7 inches. Semicircular box, in length 2 feet o inches and 7 inches in depth. 

 Inclined plane at base, first 15 inches, second 13 inches. 



I may briefly state how this machine acts. With the right hand the fanners 

 are propelled by the crank, and with the left hand the bottom of the hopper is 

 opened by remoTing the wood. The fiat piece of wood (the regulator) is held 

 in the hand to regulate the quantity of tea that passes down. An assistant 

 then throws a quantity of tea into the hopper which escapes through the 

 apartment, and there meets the air. The first kind of tea falls down the in- 

 clined plane into one box which has been placed to receive them, the second 

 are propelled further on, and fall into another box, and r particles are 



propelled on to the semicircular end, and fall into a thir . : 



J^'oU on tJw culture of the tea plant at Darjceling^ in 18^7. :^ Z Campbell^ 

 Super intendant. — ^About six years ago I received a few tea seeds from Dr. Wal- 

 lieh ; they were of China stock, grown in Xumaon. I planted them in my garden 

 in Xovember, 1841, and had about a dozen seedlings in the month of May 

 following, which were allowed to grow where they had come up, and rather 

 close together. The plants were healthy from the commencement, and up to 

 May, 1844. had gi'own very well ; at this period the ground passed into other 

 hands {^b:. Samuel Smith's), and I lost sight of them until last A-jt"-:. ~::en 

 Mr. Maefarlane, from Assam, who was acquainted with the tea : " :-.^t 

 proTince, arrived here. Beirig desirous of ascertaining how far the i-l:!::^:-:- .-.ni 

 soil of Daijeeling were suitable to the tea, I took bim to examine the plants, 

 and begged of him to record his opinion on their growth and qualities, with 

 reference to their age, and his experience ' of the phmt in Assam. The result 

 was quite satisfactory. Eniouraged by this result, I determined to give an ex- 

 tended trial to the plant, and through the kindness of Major .Jeriins and 

 Captain Brodie, of Assam, I procured a supply of fresh seed in October and 

 November last, which was planted in Xovember and the early part of December. 



The seed was of excellent quality. It com m enced germinating in March, a 

 few plants appeared above ground' in the early part of May, and now I have 

 upwards of 7,000 fine healthy see^ilings in the plantation. 



For the information of those who may desire to try the tea culture in this 

 soil and climate, I have to state the mode of planting pursued by me, and other 

 particulars. The ground is a gentle sloping bank, facing the north and west ; 

 the soil is a reddish clay mixed with vegetable mould. After taking up a crop 

 of potatoes, and carefully preparing the ground, I put in the seeds in rows six 

 feet apart and six feet distance in the rows. The seeds were placed about three 

 inches under the surface, five in number, at each place about four inches 

 apart — thus : . : On an average, two out of five have come up. The seed- 

 lings commenced appearing above ground early in May, and continued to show 

 until the end of July. The earliest were, therefore, six months in the ground; 

 the latest about eight months. 



The seed was of China stock, grown in Assam, and of the Assam plant 

 mixed. I am anxious to have the China stock only, and purpose separating the 

 plants of the Assam stock as soon as I can distinguish them, which Captain 

 Brodie informs me can be readily done as they grow up ; the China plants be- 

 gin of a darker color, and smalltT than the Assam ones. 



