The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-06-05
Progress of Ten Culture i'm the
United States.

Progress of Tea Culture i'm the
United States.
Our fair readers will be much ex-
hiarnted by the following letter, show
ing, apparently, the entire success Of
the experiments made in South Carroll
nn, by Dr.. Junius Smith, formerly OF
this city, in the cultivation OF the tea
plant. 1t would appear, also, that there
is prospect Of obtaining a much more
delightful tea on this our republican
soil, than ever has been or can be,
brought from Imperial China. Que
thing, though, is indispensable, if We
would enjoy this pleasure, viz: we must
hold fast TO The Union; otherwise none
cf the choicest teas will be permitted
TO cross Mason and Dixon's line. N
Y. Jonraai Of Commerce.
"GREENvILLE, S. c. May l, 1850.
"DEAR Sir: Although the winter has
been rather severe, and the spring re.
markabiy cold and wet, and pro,racted
Q month later than it was last year, yet
! am happy to say the tea plant main.
tains its original physiology. The
same laws which govern the plant in
China, Java, and India, govern it here
Not single deficiency in my small
garden. Every plant has taken etiec.
tive root, and early in April the leaf
buds came out in great profusion, all
starting from the foo, Of the old leaf
stulk. About the 2o,h April, the buds
influenced by increased temperature,
followed their Chinese paternity, and
began 10 develop an abundance Of the
most delicate leaves in regular season
for the first gathering for the manufnc-
lurc of the choicest quality Of tea
We're it prudcn. TO relax in the slight
est degree the reciprocal action Of root
and branch, and thus delay the vigor,
growth, blossom and fruiting oflhe ma.
tured plant, could now gather suffi-
cient quantity of leaves TO make small
supply Of first-rate tea. But compel
myself to iorbear the indulgence OF u
curiosity dear 10 my heart.
"rhe fact that the foliage puts out a,
the same time that it does in China, af.
fords another practical evidence Of the a.
daptation oflhe American climate 10 the
growth ofthe plant, and demonstrates
the physiolos ical fitness Of plant ind.
genous to ChHa 10 the culture Of our
own country. The final result depends
upon our own industry, and we have
no more ground for fear or apprehen.,
sion Of failure than we have in trans.
planting a peach tree from France to
America. The leaf is now Of u light
pea-grcen color, and nothing can be
imagined more tender and delicate. |
can now understand why il is that we
cannot obtain the first quality Of ten
from China. The frs! growth Of the
last leaf is so delicate that it is quite i'm.
possible to divcst it Of humidity by fir.
ing or roasting to sustain SO long vov.
age, besides the almost certainty Of ut.
terly destroying its rich and precious
aroma. can now understand why il
is that Chinese official Of wealth and
dignity will pay hundred dollars u
pound for tea grown in his own country.
The quality Of buds aud early leaves,
compared with q general gathering Of
leaves fully grown, must be small in.
deed, and the value enhanced in pro.
portion to the scarcity.
"Wo have yet to learn The effects Of
different soils, climate, and locality, in
the various tea-growing districts Of our
own country, both upon the growth OF
the plant and tho quality of,hc 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 cultiyators in Chi.
ma, Java, and India, think we have nc
occasion to caltivate poor soil in a
tropical climate, or one bordering upon
it, and thus produce an inferior quality
of ten. We certainly ought to produce
the best, and none of the inferior quail.
ties grown in China. In many res.
poets we possess natural and peculiar