The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-17
Progress OF TIE. Culture In tn. un,tsd state

Progress or Tea Culture I'm the United states.
Our fair readers will be much exharated by the
following letter, showing, apparently. the entire
success OF the experiments made in South Carolina,
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 much more
delightful tea on this republican soil than ever
has been, or can be, brought from Imperial China
One thing, though, is indispensable, if we would
enjoy this pleasure, viz: must hold fast to the
Union; otherwise Of the choicest teas will be
permitted to cross Mason and Dxon's line.-N Y
Journal Of Commerce.
"GREENvILLE, s. c., May l, 1850.
"DEAR Sra; Although the winter has been rather
severe, and the spring remarkably cold and wet,
and protracted month later than it last year,
yet am happy to say the tea plant maintains it,
original physiology. The same laws which govern
the plant in China, Java, and India, govern i here
Not single deficiency in my small garden. Eve
ry plant has taken effective root, and early in
April the leaf buds out in great profusion all
starting from the foot of the old leaf stalk About
the Goth April, the buds, influenced by increased
temperature, followed their Chinese paternity and
began to develop an abundance of the most deli
cate leaves in regular season for the first gathering
for the manufacture of the choicest quality of tea
Were 1t prudent TO relax in the slightest degree the
reciprocal action of root and branch and thus DELAY
the vigor, growth, blossom, and futing of the ma
tured plant could now gather a sufficient guam
tty Of leaves to make small supply of first-rate
tea. But compel myself to forbear the indulgence
of curiosity dear to my heart
"The fact that the foliage puts out at the same
time that it does in China affords another practi-
cal evidence Of the adaptation of the American
strates the physiological fitness of plant indigo
nous 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 apprehen-
sion OF failure, than we have in trarfgplanting a
peach tree from France TO America. The leaf now
Of light pea green color, and nothing can be inn
agined more tender and delicate. can
derstand why il is that cannot obtain the first
he fIrat orr with off e
leaf is delicate that it is quite impossible to d.
vest it of humidity by firing roasting to sustain
so long voyage, besides the almost Certainty Of
utterly destroying its rich and precious aroma. ]
can now understand why it is that Chinese official
OF wealth and dignity will pay hundred dollarsa
pound for tea grown in his own country. The
a general gathering of leaves fully grown must
be small indeed, and the value enhanced in pro-
portion TO the scarcity.
We have yet to learn the effects of different Soils
climate, and locality, in the various tea growing
distrcts Of our own county, both upon the growth
of the plant and the quality of the tea. We have
no reason to suppose that these effects viii be less
diversified here than they in China; but gather
ing instruction from the tea cultvators in China
Java and India, think have no aston to cul-
tivate poor soil in tropical climate, Dor
dering upon it, and thus produce inferior quality
OF tea. We certainly ought TO produce the best,
and none of the inferior qualities grown in China
In many respects we possess natural and peculiar
advantages, which neither China Java nor India
do or can possess. Our market, whether European
or American, lies at our door. We are spared the
expensive and injurious process 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 riv-
ers, canals, and railroads. is short 10 shipping
ports, that the actual cost will not be quarter
much as it is from the tea plantations of China to
Canton, 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 interference with his ordinary agri-
cultural pursuits. With these exclusive privileges
in our hands, if we do not cultivate our own tea,
then think we ought to be tributary to those who
call us barbarians.
"Yours, truly, JUNIUS SMITH"