Chapter XXXVI: Tea Machinery (3)

It will be observed that by this custom the advantage, as regards
the duty of 6_d._ per lb., is on the side of the payee, but none the
less is it to the loss of the producer. The case quoted above is,
of course, an extreme one, but in practice I believe the loss of
Tea on Indian packages, including the trade allowance, is not much
under 2 lbs. In the case of our ordinary Indian packages, if we could
regulate our tares exactly, so as to make the gross weight only one
ounce above the whole number, and the tare one ounce below the whole
number, the loss would necessarily be much decreased. This, however,
is impossible, for, as a rule, the tares are one or two pounds less
when they arrive in England than when they left the garden, owing to
the wood drying in transit; and thus it is quite a chance what the
real tares come out here.

But, with the tin boxes in question, the tares, that is their weight,
being fixed and equal, and not liable to change, we can so arrange
the weights that the loss will be very trifling, thus:--

lbs. ozs.

The box weighs 3 15-1/2
We put in Tea 20 2
--------
Gross Weight 24 1-1/2
--------

In the Customs the gross is written 24 lbs.
And the tare is written 4 „
------
The Tea paid for will be 20 lbs.

that is a loss of only 2 ounces, or not much above half per cent.,
instead of three per cent., as shown in the old packages.

Shortly, to conclude this point. In the case of the old packages by
no means can we help ourselves; but, as shown, with the tin boxes,
the loss need be very little.

Roughly, the cost of using these tin boxes would be, all told, from
1-1/2_d._ to 1-3/4_d._ per lb., and with our lead-lined boxes it
averages perhaps per penny. The difference of a halfpenny, or even
three farthings, one pound would not be much for the advantages
detailed.

One point I have forgotten. If 500 boxes are ordered, the plantation
mark is put on the ends of the boxes gratis. If less than 500 are
ordered, the additional cost for this would be about £5.

I hope the Syndicate in Calcutta will try these boxes. I shall
certainly do so.

I enclose the directions for making up the tins, and hope you will
insert them at the foot of this letter.

Reading over the above, there is one point I find not observed on
as regards the loss of Tea at the Custom House. By the mode of
weighing, as explained, the producer often loses 2 or 3 per cent.,
but still, strange to say, in practice, this loss is sometimes more
than counterbalanced by the increased weight of the Tea due to the
moisture imbibed while exposed (if boxes are broken in the transit)
anyhow at the Custom House. But I need not point out that this gain
is dearly bought by the deterioration of the Tea. The Custom House
procedure is bad in every way. More on this subject later.

EDWARD MONEY.

The following is also from the _Tea Gazette_, and is much in favour of the boxes:--

PACKING OF TEA IN TIN BOXES.

In our issue of November 7th, 1881, we inserted a short editorial
note questioning, on the authority of certain correspondents, the
advisability of using tin Tea boxes for the packing of Tea, at the
same time asking our readers to favour us with their opinions on
the subject, in case we were misinformed. Our invitation has met
with a response from several quarters, and the correspondence we
have received leads us to alter the opinion we formerly held on
the subject. A gentleman largely interested in Tea, but in no way
connected with the manufacturers of the patent tin boxes, writes to
us from England:--

“I made enquiries as to the condition in which Tea packed in Messrs.
Harvey Brothers and Tyler’s lacquered tin boxes is turned out in
London. I found that the Tea was not at all injured by this method
of packing, but that its condition is quite as good as that of Tea
packed in chests. Messrs. W. J. and H. Thompson assured me that you
were entirely mistaken in your remarks as to the contamination,
but they thought that an objection to the packing in the lacquered
tin boxes was the labour of putting up in these boxes. Catalogues
were shown me in which I saw that the Teas in the lacquered tin
boxes fetched higher rates than the same Teas packed in chests, the
difference being in one case 3_d._ per lb.”

This is certainly a most favourable testimony, and coming as it does
from a disinterested party, who writes simply in defence of what he
considers the right, we cannot but accept of his statement in its
entirety.

Another correspondent writes:--

“I now give you a few of the sales of these boxes made at public
auction during the last month, shewing the preference of the trade
for Tea so packed, and the higher prices realised.

_Public Sale 3rd November._ _s._ _d._

Koliabar. {28 chests Pekoe 1 10-1/2 per lb.
K. Assam. {28 cases, each 4 tin boxes 2 3/4 „

_Public Sale 16th November._

M.L.B.D.S.A. {30 chests Pekoe 2 1/4 „
{30 cases, each 4 tin boxes 2 2-1/2 „

„ {20 chests Souchong 1 3-1/2 „
{20 cases, each 4 tin boxes 1 4-3/4 „

_Public Sale 23rd November._

M.L.B.L.P. {20 chests Pekoe 1 6-3/4 „
{19 cases, each 4 tin boxes 1 9-3/4 „

“In every case the above Teas were packed out of the same heap
in India, and the difference in the selling price arises chiefly
from the _better condition_ of the Tea on arrival, and the growing
preference of the country trade for Teas so packed.”

The following is worth notice:--

HOOP IRON.

The _Ceylon Observer_ says: “The planters should note the following
(writes to us a London firm)--From quotations lying before us the
prices of 22 gauge iron hooping are as follows: 1/2in., 165_s._
per ton; 5/8in., 110_s._ per ton; 3/4in., 70_s._; 7/8in., 60_s._;
1in., 50_s._ Thus by using one inch hooping, less than one-third the
price is paid. The narrower the hooping, the more difficult is it to
manufacture.”

It is also not so strong.

FOOTNOTES:

[94] “Nil Desperandum” evidently foresees what must be sooner or later. All interested in Tea, owners, planters, and inventors, should aid to achieve the result.

[95] “Nil Desperandum” takes up three spaces--one bullock in each outside space and the hoe in the centre. I don’t like the plan. It _could not_ be done where the tea plants are high.

[96] In wet weather especially the warm air generated in the factory by the fires in it helps the process.

[97] This, after the previous sentence, is obscure.--E. M.

[98] I agree with “Enquirer” in this.--E. M.

[99] They are still higher now. The last three months they have averaged five millions.--E. M.

[100] I should be glad to be set right if I have not rightly calculated the price of coke.--(_Writer of the letter._)

[101] I advise only these four kinds. When the trader becomes more sensible, three or even two would be better, but as it is now four are necessary.

[102] With a driving belt from the engine shafting.

[103] Heating before packing has to be done on a large scale. None of the Dryers notified are large enough. A special machine should be devised.

[104] Top is “The Tea Garden;” front, “Weighing Leaf;” back, “Packing;” ends, “Elephant with Howdah,” or, if desired, the plantation mark.

[105] The following are the numbers to be opened by the Custom House regulations:--

From 1 to 5 1 to be turned out.
„ 6 „ 40 3 „ „
„ 41 „ 80 4 „ „
„ 81 „ 120 5 „ „
„ 121 „ 200 6 „ „
„ 201 „ 300 8 „ „
„ 301 „ 500 10 „ „
„ 501 „ 800 12 „ „
„ 801 and upwards 16 „ „

This applies to packages of all sizes and kinds, if the tares are equal or nearly so. If the difference in the tares are not great, an average is struck. If tares are various all are turned out!