g leaves have appeared in April, the plucking takes
place, this being done by the Chinese, assisted by the Mallees. The
following is the method adopted:--A certain division of the
plantation is marked off, and to each man a small basket is given,
with instructions to proceed to a certain point, so that no plant
may be passed over. On the small basket being filled, the leaves are
emptied into another large one, which is put in some shady place,
and in which, when filled, they are conveyed to the manufactory. The
leaves are generally plucked with the thumb and forefinger.
Sometimes the terminal part of a branch, having four or five young
leaves attached, is plucked off. All old leaves are rejected, as
they will not curl, and therefore are of no use.

As the season advances, and manufactory and plantation works become
necessary, the Mallees are assisted in gathering leaves by Coolies.
The process is simple, and thus every man, woman, and child of
villages could be profitably employed, on the plantations being
greatly extended. Certain kinds of leaves are not selected in the
plantation, in order to make certain kinds of tea, but all new and
fresh leaves are indiscriminately collected together, and the
different kinds separated on the leaves being fired.

_Method of manufacturing black tea_.--The young and fresh leaves on
being picked (they only being used, the old ones being too hard, and
therefore unfit to curl), are carried to the manufactory, and spread
out in a large airy room to cool, and are there kept during the
night, being occasionally turned with the hand if brought in in the
afternoon; or, if brought in during the morning, they are allowed to
lie until noon. Early in the morning the manufacturers visit the
airing room, and pack up the leaves in baskets and remove them to
the manufacturing room. Each manufacturer takes a basketful, and
commences to beat them between the palms of his hands with a lateral
motion, in order to soften and make them more pliable for working,
and thus prevent them, when rolled, from breaking. This beating
process continues for about an hour, and it may either consist of
one or two processes; the Chinese sometimes finish the beating
process at once; at others, they allow the leaves, after being beat
for half an hour, to remain a time and then resume i