TEA DRYING MACHINERY _v._ CHARCOAL. Dear Sir,--Tea drying by machinery _versus_ Tea drying by charcoal fires over choolahs is, I believe, still discussed as to the relative merits of each. I will try and give you a fair estimate of cost, and speak from experience as far as I know relative to the merits, ills, &c., &c., of both modes of firing. _1st. Charcoal firing and its merits._--Except for those who persist that the fumes of charcoal are necessary to make good Tea, I can see no merit whatever in charcoal drying, either in cost, quality, rapidity, saving of labour, or anything else, over machine-dried Tea. _Cost per maund Tea of Tea dried over choolahs by charcoal._ R. A. P. Charcoal at 8 annas per maund, 1-1/2 maunds = 0 12 0 1 Battiwallah at annas 4-6, kutcha firing = 0 4 6 Do. pucka firing, say = 0 0 6 --------- Cost of firing by charcoal Rs. 1 1 0 N.B.--Notice the labour staff required for three months in the year to make charcoal; the immense space (and heat) taken up by choolahs; cost of timber used for charcoal; the number of trays, gauze, iron, &c., &c., required; the masonry and carpenter’s work always more or less out of repair; loss of small tea falling through trays, &c., &c. Now let us take _Cost of machine-dried Tea per maund._ R. A. P. 1st. Those machines which dry by coke, say cost of coke = 0 8 0 3 men at annas 4-6 per 5 maunds Tea = about 0 2 8 --------- Cost of drying per maund Tea for a machine, drying by coke 5 maunds in 10 hours 0 10 8 I now give an estimate of cost of 1 maund Tea dried by a machine of similar capabilities, but drying with any sort of fuel--coal, wood, grass, bamboo, &c., say 2 maunds of firewood at 6 pie per maund = 1 anna per 1 maund Tea. N.B.--Price of firewood at 3 pie per maund should be nearer the mark. 3 men’s pay, annas 4-6 for 5 maunds in 10 hours = annas 2-8 per maund. The analysis of the above comes to this-- R. A. P. Charcoal drying = 1 1 0 Coke „ = 0 10 8[100] Wood fire „ = 0 3 8 We read of machines drying with any fuel, and doing double the Tea of what I have estimated above, and how people can still stick to charcoal beats me.--(No signature.)