396 THE TEOPICAl. AGRICULTUEIST. [Dec. 1, 1902. 
how best to frame a statement, write a telling 
letter or make a taking speech, in oi'der to 
win America to the drinking of our fragrant 
beverage: but when we coutrastrwhat he 
has done and at so high a figure, with what 
Pinehurst has accomplished — and for nothing 
— through the press especially, it is rather 
a humbling affair. It makes us think that 
although we are the people, —wisdom, after 
all, does not dwell with us. 
However, Pinehurst is not likely to disturb 
the eqiianimity of the Ceylon tea-grower, with 
its pickanniny labour force, and a total 
tea outturn which would hardly affect the 
dividend of ajjy decent-sized property in 
Ceylon, were the whole handed over to it 
as a gift. But the Americans are an in- 
genious and clever people, and it is not at 
all unlikely that when they take to train- 
ing their brains on the mechanical appliances 
needed for tea manufacture that the el¥ort 
will result in a good shot. For black teas, 
there is now really no necessity for any- 
thing new in the way of machines, the 
market being fully supplied. It is to perfect 
the manufacture of green tea, that the 
chances of today lie. Neither India nor Ceylon 
really need mechanical assistance from any 
one, there being plenty of local talent about. 
But now that South Carolina has taken to 
green tea manufacture, and has to model and 
make its own machinery, it is quite on the 
cards that the Premier Green Tea Apparatus 
may yet be of Western manufacture, and the 
product of the American brain ! 
PATENT GREEN TEA FISHING 
MACHINE. 
In a couple of days more, Mr. Alleyn and 
his Agents, Messrs. Brown & Co., will come before 
the public with an invention in a new machine 
which, it is claimed, will produce true finished 
green teas, with<>ut the use of pans or other 
hot air .apparatus, — teas wliich can compete 
witli the best greens of China and Japan. This 
is important news for the Planting Community, 
more especially as the time taken— .3| hours— to 
turn uncoloured teas into true greens, is so 
moderate, and since no colouring or extraneous 
matter, whatever, is used. Considering what it can 
do, ths price of the machine, Rl,500, is by no means 
heavy ; for, finished green teas fetch a good 
deal more than the ordinary raw greens. We 
congratulate Mr. Alleyn on bringing his inven- 
tion to a successful issue, and we hope he and hi;s 
agents may be well patronised. 
— ■ 
USEFUL NOTES ON GREEN TEA 
MANUFACTUKE. 
To the Editor, Indian Gardeuing and Planting. 
Sir, — I have much pleasure in giving you what 
information I can in reply to your correspondent's 
following queries: — 
(a) Wi'at produce a metallic, steely taste in the 
cup, and how is this to be avoided ? 
Without personally witnessing the whole process 
of manufacture in your correspondent's factory, it 
is not easy to locate the exact cause of this 
objectionable flavour, as many things may produce 
it. However, if the following coarse is followed 
this defect should not be noticeable. The green leaf 
should be perfectly fresh, without any signs of 
natural withering, when it is first steamed or 
roasted into a flaccid conditioa for rolling. All 
external moisture from steam, dew, rain etc., 
should be dried off before tha rolling commences. 
The steam should not be carried through rusted 
pipes, or allowed to come in contact with any 
rusty ironwork before it reaches the leaf. The 
pans should be made of hard cast-iron, not wrougtit- 
iron ; and always kept scrupulously clean and dry. 
When the leaf is in the pan, it should not be 
stirred about with any metallic implement, bub 
with a smooth fiat round-edged piece of wood, and 
a cotton cloth pad. 
{b) How to avoid too green'a eoloar, and obtain 
a uniform grey green, without artificial colouring ? 
The Diummond Deane system has a tendency to 
produce a rathe.- greenish tint. But a thorough 
pannins, with the precautions previou.sly men- 
tioned, ought to modify the colours naturally to a 
grey-green. Tlie panning is at fault somewhere, 
(c) Eow is a prey colour produced with artificial 
colouring matter ? 
Such a shade can easily be brought on by putting 
a teaspoonful or so of fine pulverized soapstone 
(steatite) in four or five pounds of tea during the 
last panning, which should be carried on till all the 
soapstone has been taken up, and the leaf has 
assumed a glazed grey appearance. All artificial 
colouring should however be avoided, unless it is 
especially demanded as in the Asiatic markets. 
The vernacular name for soapstones is sailkhari. 
(a) How is gunpowder tea manufactured ? 
The round gunpowder tea cannot easily be pro- 
duced with any of the ordinary roiling machines. 
The roundness is the natural result of special 
hand rolling, and also rolling the leaf separately 
with little flat hoards in a circular figure of-eight 
way on a flat surface. The Chinese recommend 
the addition of a little guar during this process. 
This class of green tea may be considered a by- 
product of Young Hyson and H^son, and I do 
not think it worth the trouble of manufacturing. 
But if it is desired tor any special reason, then 
all the coarser leaves shouk' be sifted out after 
the first ordinary light rolling, and hand-rolled 
in the above described way. 1 once made a simple 
wooden rolling apparatus for this purpose, which 
did very effective work. But I consider it a 
mistake to multiply grades. Young Hyson, Hyson, 
and a little Du.st atid Broken Leaf, called Samut 
and Sikkin, respectively, by the natives, are the 
most paying kinds of green tea. 
I hope in the above I have given all the in- 
formation your correspondent requires; but without 
actually seeing the manufacture at any given 
place or time, T cannot be as exact in my replies 
as I would like to. I shall, however, always be 
most happy to help in all such cases to the_best 
of my ability. 
J B Leslie PiOgers, 
Amballa, Punjab. 
Indian Gardening and Planting, Oct 23, 
THE GREEN TEA OF BENGAL. 
REPORT BY MR. J. B. LESLIE ROGERS. 
A3 desired, I have much pleasure in submitting 
the foUowine; report on tv/o samples of Bengal green 
tea, lately forwarded to me. 
No. 1. The "Deane-JadgQ " (coloured or finished) 
pui-e green tea : — Appoarauce approaching Hyaon 
quality. Leaf well rolled and fauly even. Colour 
very fair, but not of one uuiform tint, which should 
be a good grey-green throughout. Aroma, good but 
requires bringing out more. Infusion :— Leaf, a paJe 
