2. Durability, there being nothing except the trays that can suffer from wear and tear.
3. The small quantity of fuel required—about ¼ maund of coke for kutcha firing 1 maund of Tea.
4. Ease in stoking, the furnace not requiring attention oftener than once every one and a-half to two hours.
5. Absolute and immediate control over the temperature, which can be raised or lowered instantaneously.
6. No “getting up heat” required. In fifteen minutes after beginning to light the fire the apparatus is ready for work.
7. Requires no troublesome cleaning out.
8. Quantity. The apparatus is capable of drying at least 40 lbs. an hour, and has frequently dried over 50 lbs.
9. Quality of Tea is equal to that obtained by any process hitherto introduced.
Of course all the above was very favourable, and its low price gained it many purchasers. I think, as a first success, it beat any machine yet invented. But, alas! its fall was sudden as its rise, for, judging from several letters in the Tea Gazette, the purchasers were not satisfied with its capabilities, and I doubt consequently if it is now manufactured; still I may be wrong.
Allen’s Tea Drying Apparatus.—I have never seen this, and have not heard much about it. Advantages claimed for it are—1. Quick drying. 2. Coke can be used as a drying agent, 10 seers to one maund of Tea. 3. Only manual labour required. 4. Not necessary to turn the Tea. 5. Perfect control over temperature. I have three testimonials to its merits before me, one from an engineer, and all three speak highly of it.