Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-06-06

the old leaf stalk. About the Goth April,
the buds, influenced by the increased TEN.
peraiure, followed their Chinese paternity,
and began to develope an abundance of the
most delicate leaves in regular season for
the first gathering for the manufacture O.
the choisest quality of tea. Were it pru-
dent to relax in the slightest degree the re-
ciproca. action of root and branch, and thus
delay the vigor. growth, and blossom, and
fruiting of the matured plant, could now
gather sufficient quantity ofleaves to make
small supply of first-rate tea. But COM
Ipel myself to forbear the indulgence of Gu
rioslty dear to my heart.
1.-The fact that the foliage puts out at the
same time time that it does in China, affords
another practical evidence Of the adaptation
OF the American climate to the growth of
the plant, aud demonstrates the physiologi-
Cal fitness of plant indigenous to China, to
the culture OF our own Country. The final
result depends upon our own industry, and
we have no more ground for fear of appre-
hensIon oil failure, than we have in trans
planting peach tree from France to Amer
ica. The leafs now of light pea-green
Color, and nothing can be Imagined more
tender and delicate. can now understand
who It Is that we cannot obtain the first quail
ity OF tea from ChIua. The first growth of
the leaf is so delicate that it is quite impos-
sible 10 divest II OF humidity by firing or
roasting to sustain SD long a voyage, besides
the almost Certainty of utterly destroying its
rich and precious aroma. | can now url-
derstand why it is that Chinese official of
wealth and dignity will pay hundred dol
IRIS pound Tor tea grown in his own cou,l-
Try. Tne Quantity of buds and early leaves,
compared with general gathering of leaves
fully grown, must be small indeed, and the
value enhanced in proportion to the search
ty.
We have yet to learn the effects Of DIFF
ferent Soils, climate, and locality, in the
various tea-growing districts of our own
country, both upon the growth of the plant
aud the quality of the tea. We have no
reason To suppose that these effects Will be
less diversified here than they are IN China;
but gathering instruction from the tea cuI-
iivators in China. Java aud lndii, | think
we have no occasion to cultivate poor
soil In tropical climate, or one bordering
upon it, and thus produce an inferior quail
NY oftea. We certainly ought to produce
the best, aud none of the inferior qualities
grown in China. In many respects we
possess natural ard peculiar advantages,
which neither China nor Java nor India do
or can possess. Our market, whether Eti-
ropean or American, lies at our door. We
are spared the expensive and injurious pro-
cess Of firing or roasting the tea-leaf to
prepare it for foreign markets. We have
abundance of fine cheap lands, with all the
diversity of soil, climate, and aspect that
the plant can require. Our transportation,
facilitated by rivers, canals, and railroads,
is SO short to shipping ports, that the actual
cost will not be one quarter so much as it
is from the tea-panta.lons of China TO Can
ton, the port of shipment. More than all,
every farmer, certainly in the middle and
southern States, may grow his own tea in
his own garden, without the slightest in
reference with his ordinary agricultural
pursuits. With these exclusive privileges
in our hands, if we do not Cultivate our
own tea, then think we ough, TO be tribu-
lary to those who call us bar barians
JUNiUS SMITH.