Dec.  I,  1896.] 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
42.; 
of  the  even  and  thin  laying  so  much  withering 
space  is  required,  The  process  is  a quick  one,  as 
indeed  the  whole  of  the  tea  gathered  in  one  day, 
should  within  24  hours  bo  withered,  dried,  rolled, 
and  manufactured  into  tea  ready  for  disposal 
and  distribution  anywhere  and  everywhere.  This 
is  the  rule  which  obtains.  On  the  seven 
floors  in  the  new  mill,  if  all  were  laid,  there 
would  bo  suffloiont  leaf  for  o,0l)0  lb.  of  tea  and  this 
process  continues  from  the  middle  of  September  to 
the  middle  of  ,Tune.  Then  commences  the  xiruning 
and  gem  ral  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  the 
iplants.  iliroi.'gh  all  the  floors  in  the  mills  is  com- 
munication with  the  ground  room,  where  ahutes,  .-on- 
voying  the  duly  withered  leaf,  pour  it  iid  > the 
rolling  machines,  whose  work  it  is  to  brctik  the 
juice-cells.  Five  hundred  men  a day  would  not  roll 
out,  as  much  tea  as  c.an  the  four  machines  (.Jack- 
sons’s  rapid  rollers)  in  the  corner  of  the  room 
referred  to.  These  were  the  machines  that  were 
cabled  for  at  once  on  the  night  of  the  tire.  The 
length  of  time  occupied  in  rolling  dejjends  upon  the 
condition  of  the  leaf  ; it  may  be  20  or  90  minutes. 
The  ne.\t  machine  to  which  the  tea  is  taken  is  the 
breaker  and  cooler,  for  the  pur^rose  of  separating  the 
fine  leaf  from  the  coarse.  This  machine  divides  the 
leaf  into  “ fine  ” and  “ medium,”  and  the  latter  is  init 
back  into  the  roller.  The  tine  finished  leaf  is  removed 
and  laid  on  the  floor  to  ferment.  Fermentation 
actually  begins  when  the  rolling  commences,  but  the 
leaf  is  left  on  the  floor  till  such  time  as  it  changes 
colour  sufficiently  to  trass  through  the  driers.  Thus  we 
pass  into  the  diwing  room,  a large  and  lofty  room, 
with  concrete  floor  whereby  all  chance  of  fire  out- 
break again  is,  it  is  hoped,  obviated.  Here  are  four 
of  Davidson’s  down  draughts,  one  of  Davidson’s  up- 
rights, and  one  of  Gibb’s  latest  patent,  a cylindrical 
machine.  The  furnaces  are  of  a patent  chii’acter, 
consuming  their  own  smoke,  and  daring  the  after- 
noon an  experiment  was  made  in  the  use  of  St.  Lucia 
coal,  of  which  so  much  has  been  heard  in  connection 
with  the  Natal-Zululand  Kailway.  St.  Lucia  coal  is 
considered  to  be  of  special  value  for  furnace  purposes, 
being  almost  smokeless.  Indeed,  says  Mr.  Hulett, 
in  this  respect  there  is  no  comparison  with  it  and 
Natal  coal,  which  h.vs  been  tried.  Continuing  our 
survey  of  the  works,  the  next  department  encountered 
was  the  carpenters'  and  engineers’  .“hop  (all  repairs 
having  to  bo  executed  on  the  premises),  the 
engine  rooms  (containing  between  them  20 
horse  x>ow'er)  b uler  shed,  a room  in  which  the 
tea  boxes  are  lead-lined  and  soldered.  In  connection 
with  the  latter,  it  is  interesting  to  note  th.xt  it  is  ex- 
pected GO  tons  of  sheet  Fad  will  he  required  this 
year,  and  wdiich,  like  the  timber  for  the  boxes,  has 
to  be  imported.  In  the  latter  respect  supplies  are 
also  largely  drawn  from  Durb.in  firms.  Again  w* 
have  to  hark  back  to  the  machinery.  When  the  tea 
comes  out  of  the  drier  it  h is  still  more  processes  to 
undergo,  and  is  next  passed  through  the  sorter,  which 
returns  it  in  various  grades.  Still  another  sorting 
machine  deals  with  a certain  proportion  of  the  tea, 
which  is  now  in  condition  to  be  jilaced  in  the  large 
bins  made  for  its  storage,  to  be  drawn  therefrom  as 
required.  Anent  complaints  of  variation  in  quality 
of  the  same  brand  of  tea,  it  may  be  mentioned  that, 
in  order  to  maintain  as  even  a quality  as  possible,  as 
the  tea  is  drawn  from  the  bins,  it  is  taken  from  the 
bottom,  and  then,  when  extracted,  is  thoroughly 
mixed,  so  that  one  day’s  manufacture  is  not  sent  out  by 
itself,  but  several  days’  teas  are  mingled.  Tlie  bins  ar« 
capable  of  holding  from  .S0,000lb.  to  90,0-'t)lb.  Next 
comes  the  packing, .and  exceedingly  intere.sting  it  was 
to  watch  theludian  children  making  up  pound  packets. 
It  was  very  quickly  done,  and  by  a simple  contrivance 
hit  u|)on  by  Messrs.  Hulett,  which  they  find  far  more 
satisfactory  and  exp<‘ditioua  tliahm.iny  patent  methods 
they  have  tried,  lead-piper  is  wrapii?.d  round  an 
oblong  box  into  a capacious  saucer,  on  which  the 
weighed-off  tea  is  poured.  The  wooden  b -x  fits  into 
a receptacle  in  the  table,  a wco  len  hand  lever  forces 
mid  packs  the  tea  through  the  box,  which  is  then 
withdrawn  fio.n  the  lead-paper,  the  package  is  sealed 
and  relieved  from  under  the  table,  coming  out  neatly 
made-up.  The  process  is  very  rapidly  executed,  some 
IG  or  17  children  being  able  to  pack  4,000  1b.  in  the 
course  of  a day,  and  up  to  G,U00  !b.  of  'fine  tea 
The  weakest  feature  at  xu'cseut  is  the  weighing  tlic, 
scales  employed  not  being  “atisfa.ctory  in  the 'inter- 
ests of  the  firm,  though  the  imblic  will  not  gnu.ihie. 
An  instance  will  explain  why.  At  Port  Elizabeth 
recently,  the  Customs  authorities  weighed  a iiouiid 
packet  an.'l  found  it  half  an  ounce  too  ho.ivy,  and  a 
11  lb.  box  was  found  a little  t ;o  heavy,  wiili  the  result 
that  duty  had  to  be  paid  oii  more  tuau  was  actually 
sold  to  the  i-nporter.  Of  course  the  consumer  gets 
the  benefit. 
Conversation  with  Mr.  Hul-ott  eliciti-1  fuither  in- 
teresting information.  An  experienced  tea  planter 
from  Ceylon,  who  last  week  went  over  the  f.ictory, 
assured  Mr.  Hulett  that  then;  wa.s  not  a factory  in 
tlio  whole  of  Ceylon  capable  of  turning  out  as  much 
tea  as  Ivearsney,  whose  output  tliis  season  will  bo 
750,000  to  800,000  lb.  Towiirds  this  Kearsney  and  its 
sister  estates  will  contribute  450,000  lb.,  while  other 
estates  from  which  tea  is  purchased  will  provide  the 
balance.  The  factory,  as  a fact,  is  c-apable,  by  aiTamm- 
ment  and  with  appliances  on  Messrs.  Hulett  A Sons’ 
other  estates,  of  manufacturing  a million  and  a half 
pounds  of  tea  ; yet  the  drying  room  will  probably 
have  to  be  enlarged  next  ye.ir.  T'he  other  estates 
are  Kirkly  Vale  and  Sprowston,  the  litier  having 
been  purchased  from  the  late  Mr.  T.  Peachey 
and  the  three  are  contiguous,  and  altogether 
about  1,000  acres  are  now  planted  with  tea.  Leaf 
is  also  purchased  from  10  other  grower.s.  Messrs. 
T.  Ilindson  A’  Co.,  likewise  large  growers  au-l 
manufacturers,  whose  tea  is  also  well  known  are 
neighbours  of  Mr.  Hulett’s.  There  are  five  kinds 
of  tea  placed  on  the  market,  viz. : Souchoiiff  Pekoe 
Soucheng,  Pekoe,  Flowery  Pekoe,  and  Golden  or 
Orange  Pekoe.  The  Souchong  has  to  be  made  to 
undersell  the  lowest  and  cheapest  tea  that  can  be 
imported  into  Durban  in  bond,  but  all  Natal  teas  are 
cheaper  relatively  than  bond  teas  imported.  It  will 
probably  be  asked  as  a question  of  curiosity  how 
tea  growing  commenced  in  N.ital.  The  failure  of 
coffee  was  the  cause,  compelling  people  to  look  for 
other  means  of  living.  Tea  had  been  grovvino-  after 
a manner  in  the  Colony  for  years.  The  first  curator 
of  the  Durban  Lotanica!  Gardens  planted  it  at 
Tongaat,  and  a few  others  also  planted  it.  It  was 
known  to  grow  well,  but  thev  did  not  know  how  to 
manufacture  it.  Messrs.  Hulett  and  Sons  were  the 
fii-st  to  start  it  on  a commercial  basis,  and  Lyle  and 
Reynolds  at  Kirkly  Vale  also  entreed  upon  the 
bu,siuess.  The  first  plants  of  the  tea  now  grown 
were  obtained  from  India  in  1877,  and  from  theeedS 
Mr.  Hulett  planted  his  first  live  acres  in  1880.  seed 
was  also  obtained  from  Assam,  and  from  the  plants 
at  Kearsney  the  seed  has  gone  to  almost  all  other 
estates  in  the  Colony.  Fortunately,  so  far,  locusts 
have  not  seriously  attacked  tea,  though  they  have 
nibbled  at  it.  They  aitack  the  old  leaf  wdiich  is 
not  used  in  tea  manufacture,  but  the  trees  are  thereby 
spoiled  though  not  mateifally  injured.  The  effects 
of  locusts  round  and  about  Kearsney  are  most  in, irked 
trees  that  were  an  ornament  co  the  grounds  and 
to  the  landscape  being  stripped  of  their  foliage. 
•Ji  ViiV.  Jl  jj  1 
Wednesday  was  like  a holiday  for  Stangcr.  Mr  .and 
Mrs  Hulett  had  mvited  their  iieighboiu-.s  and  rriends 
to  be  present  at  the  opening  of  the  factory,  and  to 
rejoice  with  them  m the  achievement.  In  the  -iftpr 
noon  therelore,  a goodly  number  of  l,-,die.s‘  and 
gentlemen  arrived  at  Kearsney.  where  they  were 
warmly  welcomed,  aim  afterw.uds  adjourned  to  th. 
factorj’,  where  excellent  provision  was  made  The 
large  office  was  turned  i to  a refreshment  loom'  a-i  i ! 
portior.  of  the  main  room  was  curtained  off'  aucl  nCi 
form  erected.  Here  hs  Excelleucv  Sir  Walter  Heh"! 
Hutchinson  pcnoimel  tlie  openi  g uionv  bei  'nr 
supported  by  the  gentlemen  whoso  n mes  are  m m 
tioned  above,  while  among  those  present  weie  dressi--.- 
Geo.  H.  James,  A.  S.  L.,  E.,  and  W.  A,  Hulett', 
