710 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
[April i, 1892^’ 
attempt in America and on the Oontinent o( Europe 
to promote the uso ot Indian teae. Mr. Davideon, 
as you know, paid a visit of several months’ 
duration last year to the Indian tea districts. This 
was mainly in oonneotion with the interests of a 
tea company commanding an annual output of prob- 
ably about ton million lb of tea. Ue had to deal riot 
with one central factory, but with several factories 
in advising and directing the re- arrangement and 
simplification of the working and machinery, so 
that now the chief factories referred to are among 
the most admirable and complete in this tea- 
growing world. It is true that some time ago 
the company decided on amplifying their drying 
power by a large addition of the well-known 
••Down-Draft Siroccos;” but it is not true that any 
of these ‘ ‘Siroccos' ' have sinoe been discarded and 
replaced by other Driers. What happened was 
this ; Mr. Davidson went out with full power 
to place the factories in a stats of proper eqnip- 
ment and working, and in doing so had to arrange 
for new steam engines, shafting, &o , including an 
additional supply of Jackson’s ' Hollers.” He 
found, moreover, that notwithstanding all the 
•• Siroccos” at work there was a deficiency in drying 
capacity, and he himself arranged for a majority 
of the other •■Driers” being again utilized, in 
new and more conveniont positions, by no means 
as substitutes, but as additions to the •• Siroccos.” 
It is obvious that the story ot the large expenditure 
incurred would have a very different appearance 
if it were known that new steam engines, shafting, 
rollers, Blackman fans, as well as other machinery 
and a large amount of now work and re-arrangement 
were included. 
But there is more to explain and correct : the 
statement of an average falling-off of -td in the value 
of the tee turned out by tho •• Siroooos” is entirely 
a mistake. In the first place, the •• Siroccos” had 
nothing to do with a novel experiment made by the 
company at the instance of Mr. Davidson, in 
preparing tho teas referred to, and the result was not 
a falling-off on tho usual average in Loudon. This 
experiment was based on a now machine entirely 
distinct from the •‘Siroccos” and in fact operating 
more in oonneotion with the •' rolling” and •• for- 
menting” departments of preparation. The object 
indeed is to check " fermentation." Well, a con- 
siderable number of these new machines had been 
put in use, and the result was most satisfactory 
according to the judgment of Calcutta tea experts 
insomuch as they valued the teae so turned out 
for their improved flavour, at 2d to 4d per lb. above 
the teas prepared in the old fashion ; but when 
these teas prepared of a new fashion and with a 
rather novel preparation got to London, the 
experts and trade here were not prepared to eub- 
Btantiste the Calcutta valuation, — that in fact 
they only realized much the same average as 
the ordinary teas, and that it was at once recog- 
nised, a new article, as this preparation amounted 
to, must only be introduced gradually to tho trade 
and not all at once in large quantities. It is 
clear, however, that there has been no falling-ofl 
Of 4d on tho ordinary averages, but only as 00 m 
pared with tho enhanced Calcutta valuation— a 
very different thing. However, the company 
decided not to go on with the new preparation for 
about two-thirds of their tea ; but in respect of 
the rest it is still being tried and the maobines 
are at work. By degrees, therefore, the new system 
will have a fair trial and the teas so prepared 
can be more thoroughly tested, according to the 
VB^ing taste of tho trade and oon'umers. 
So much for the true aocouit of Mr Davidson’s 
.mission and its resulta so far, to the factories 
Of one of the largest tea eompanies in India, 
A Nbw Tax Machinebv Darfir in Colombo. 
But you and the tea planters of Ceylon will bo 
further glad to learn that Mr. Davidson, 
having decided during his visit to the island 
to open a Machinery Dopfit and show-room on 
an adequate scale in Colombo, has pur- 
chased for this purpose the Buduwella Mills 
from Messrs. Mackwood & Co. There planters 
and marchauts will soon be able to see for them- 
selves the various machines with which Mr. Da- 
vidson’s name is identified, in every size and 
variety and in working order. These, I under- 
stand, will include a very admirable and econo- 
mical sorting machine. Bepairs wilt also be 
promptly attended to at the same dep6t — I was 
going to add “ renewals” as well, but have been 
reminded that the word would bo out of the place, 
after tho exhibition of the •' stove” of tho 
Elbedde Down-Draft machine — the first ever erected 
in Colombo after three years’ service, without 
the least of wear and tear visible, beyond the soot. 
New •' Price LI^T.” 
Finally Mr. Davidson has placed at our service 
copies of his latest eirculsr-cataloguo (one o 
which I send you) very nicely got up with illus- 
trations of the various forms of “ Sirocco” manufac- 
tured by him in his Belfast Engineering Estab- 
lishment, Prioi-s and testimonials and descriptive 
details are given, as also, in a supplement, a 
series of latest improvements easily applicable to 
machines already in use, such as •• Damper Valve 
in Fan Exhaust;” ‘‘Bailie Plate in Air Duct;” and 
•• Wire Web Horoen.” One of the most interesting 
engravings in the catalogue is from a sketch by 
Mr, Davidson himself and exhibits the ■• Old 
(Chinese) methods of drying tea over charcoal fires,” 
the coolies and ohulas being conspicuous. A -pray 
of the tea bush, leaves, flush and flower fotm a 
border. It speaks volumes lor the esteem in which 
'• Biroocos” are held that this list is able to report 
over 2.600 now in use. 
It is evident from all here recorded that if there 
be enterprise evident in other direoiions among tea 
maohinisls — as 1 mentioned in my letter of the 
4lh — there is not the least abatement, but rather 
an advance on the part of the gentleman of 
'* Sirocco” and Belfast fame ; and it is ve.'y satis- 
factory to find the growing importance of the Ciylon 
tea industry so fully rrcognized. 
PERU AND THE “COMMISSIONERS.” 
IN TUB WBBI INPIEB S JXMAIOA, GRENADA AND 
TRINIDAD. 
In ray last I omittted to give you the nows 
brought back by Messrs. Sinclair and Boss from 
the Far W^et and Souih. 1 was only able to see 
the letter after the previous mail had left and was 
sorry to find him enduring the tail-end of a cold 
and ague attack which developed after a very 
severe fashion in the West Indies. On the other 
hand Mr. Sinclair, whom I mot the same night 
at King’s Cross, en route from Southampton to 
Scotland (Mr. Boss had landed at Plymouth), 
looked very well and not at all the emaciated 
invalid I had anticipated. Indeed, the '■ corpora- 
tion” was almost intact and the little difference I 
saw was ell in favour of activity and vigour. It 
is strange that while one Commissionei should 
suffer Oh the Andes, the attack on the latter 
should only come on severely in passing from 
Jamaica or Barbadoes to Grenada and Trinidad. 
About the results of their mission to Peru, both 
Commissioners are properly reticent until their 
reports are formally presented at headquarters. 
This will probably take p ace early in Fabruary ; 
but meantime enough is known to show that both 
gentlemen think yery highly el large estenta of 
