The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-03-16
: Agricultural.
Culture Of the rca Plant.

wearc pieased to sec that the Introduction If
III plant in the United States, anu its profitable
cultivation arc 10 longer matters Of doubt. Mr..
.Iupirs Smith II Greenvillc, s G., has been en-
gagged three years in experimenting on it with the
view OF introducing it III this country, and we are
informed that the result of his ahors Is very graft
fsng. ia his early attempts he experienced great
difficulty in transmitting the Tea Nat from A-a IN
a SOUND sihte but fiuiv lac hal the good fortune
to fully succeed. The plan, buds and blossoms
here At the same times that it does III Asia. As
regards the Tea Nut he says:
The Tea seed, iss generally denomimted, is ri
the eize and eo.or OF a hazel nut. An average
sised nut equals in wright eight cotton seeds.
The bulk OF full sxei Tea nut IS in circumference,
.s-4 inches, Of middle sized nut l inches,
average. perhaps / ~ inches. Like all nuts it
contains an oily kernel covered with she'll thicker
than that ofd cotton seed but rather thinner than
that of hazel nut. The public mind Is nis'ed by
calling i, Tea seed. 1t should be called Tea nut,
dcno.ing more distinctly to those unaeauaintcd
with It's true character.
Auabundant supply Of water is necessary for
the perfect growth OF the plant; and OF the pro-
grcss he has made IN the culture, aud the character
Of the plant, he says
The Tea Plants in my garden, although they
have had 10 form both root and branch, have
grown since April from 10 IL inches, The
isage and every twig is the growth OF this season.
Many of them are covered with blossom buds 20
in number all pressing forward to their blossom
The first full blossom appeared ON the 2Dth sept.
other plants both black and green, have continued
and now continue to follow. The Tea Plant BIOS
SONS in China and India in September and october
II pleasing feature 10 observe the appearance
Of the blossoms, in this climate, at the same time
It's popularity Of the Tea Plant that il blossoms
sparingly at one time. but continues TO put out It's
blossoms until spring and pods containing theripe
Tea nut may be gathered at the same time rs the
blossoms in the autumn. The blossom Is cream
color. with delicate fragrance like a weak violet
The petals in closing the flower before its ii.i
blossom drops oft in three or four days after il is
fully developed. There are seldom more than two
blossoms at the same time upon the same plant
but other follow soon after the loss ofthe first.
This information is contained in letter TO the
Secretary of the State Agricultural Society South
Carolina, and is now published for the first time in
due fora, in the Charleston Mercury. In n sub
scquent letter, date the It'll of November, TO the
sam Society, he saws that what was true concern
iiig the blossoms, in October, is not so in Novem
Ter, and adds -
remarked that there was seldom more than
Que Blossom at a time upon my Tea Plants, and
nat lIlu not seen more tihill Two FROM tlat
lfriod to the present time, the number Of bios
-'nns has continued TO increase, so that now sever
al plants have each from six TO twelve blossoms (,
such numbers opening at tie same time, present
be- appearance Of hyacinth in full blossom. 1t
appears, therefore that noi only the time Of bios
.oming in this district corresponds with the time
IA China and india bu, the manner also in which
She blossoms appear, manifest an identity Of eli
mate and temperature, atfording pre>umptiye
evidence that the Tea Nuts will mature here
equally 10 the nature Of the plant in foreign coun
'rcs So fur as can judge from the progress
ready made, the cool and frosty nghts-the mild
nd balmy days peculiar to lhi- mountain district
perfectly congcnial to the health and vigorous
-rowth Of the Tea Plant Considering that every
branch, leaf and blossom, is the produce of this
Gears growth, deem it prudent to shelter III,
plants when appearances indicate frost at night
Otherwise they remain without shelter, and trust
another year they will not require any, whatever
ihe weather may be-
The experiments Of Mr. Smith have deep in
'crcst andhe will add new aud most valuable
dcpariciuent 81 production To tie United States
II he can demonstrate the correctness Of his rs
scrtions and realize bis prospects.