Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-06-27
M | S C E L L A N Y.
From the National Intellgencerl
THE CULTIVATION OF TEA IN AMER.
ICA.#

ICA."
In 1910 the first plants Of this exotic were
introduced at Rio de Janeiro, and its cultivation
for time was chiefly confined to the botanical
garden near the capital and 10 the Royal farm
at Santa Cruz. In order to secure the best
possible treatment for the tea, which it was an
ticipated would soon flourish so as to supply
the European market, the Count of Linhares,
Prime Minister of Portugal, procured the i'm
migration of several hundred colonists, not from
the mingled population of the coast of China,
but from the interior of the Celestial Empire
persons acquainted with the whole process of
training the tea plant and of preparing tea.
This was probably the frs. colony from Asia
that ever settled in the New World. The col
onists, however, were not contented with their
expatration they did not prosper, and they
have now disappeared. Owing, in part doubt
less, to characteristic differences in the soil Of
Brazil from that of China, and perhaps as much
to imperfect means of preparing the leaf when
grown, the Chinese themselves did not succeed
in producing the most approved specimens of
tea. The enthusiasm of anticipation, being
unsustaned by experiment, soon died away
AS government matter it was failure
but several Paulista planters took up its cul-
ture, and, though they passed through years of
Encouragement, they have lived to see it one of
the most hourishing and remunerative branches
of Brazilian agriculture. Mr. Fletcher says:
Between Santos and San Panic, near the
San Bernardo, saw large and productive tea
plantations. The manner Of its culture differs
but little from that adopted in China. Tea is
raised from the seed, which, being preserved in
brown sugar, can be transplanted to any portion
of the country. These little tea balls ale plant
ed in beds, and then transplated to the field E,
where they are placed five feet apart. The
shrubs are kept very clean by the hoe or the
plough, which, through recent introduction,
has proved eminently successful for this purpose
on some of the plantations.
"The shrubs are never allowed TO attain a
hight of more than four feet, and the third year
after planting the leaves are considered ready
for picking. The culture, the gathering, and
the preparation of tea are not difficult, and
children can be proftaby employed in the vari.
GUS processes OF its arrangement for Market
The apparatus used is very simple, consisting
of. Baskets in which the leaves are depos
tied 3 Carved frame work, on which they
are rolled one by one; 3. Open ovens or large
metallic pans, in which the tea is dried by
means of fire beneath.
"Women and children gather the leaves and
carry them to the ovens, where slaves are en-
gagged in keeping up the fire, then stirring
squeezing, and rolling the tea which opera
lions are all that is required before packing il
in boxes for home sale, or for expectation tc
the neghboring provinces.
"The tea plant is hardy shrub, and can be
cultivated in almost any portion of Brazil, though
it is perhaps better adapted to the south, where
frosts prevail; which, however, it ressts. l
left to itself, it will soon run up to tree. The
coffee tree requires rich and new soil, and
warm climate, but the tea plant will flourish il
any soil. DR.. -, who visited various
portions of China, is of the opinion that tel
can be grown in any part of the United States
from Pennsylvania to the Mexican Gulf. Their
are not many varieties of the plant, as is oGel
supposed, black and green teas being merel
the leaves of The same tree obtained at differen
seasons of the year. The flavor varies, also
just as does that of wines from the same spe
cies of grapevine grown on different Soils
The tea plant is not deciduous as in China, an,
in Brazil is gathered from March to July, cor
responding to the interval between Septembe
and January in the Northern hemisphere.
"Several millions of pounds are annual
prepared in the Provinces of San Paulo an
Minas Gerss, and its culture is decidedly o.
the increase. Some years ago the tea planter
were greatly discouraged, for the cha was bad
ly prepared, and sold when too fresh. Hcnc
the demand for it proved very small. But
with greater experience in the culture and prep
aration, better article of this favorite bevel
age has met with corresponding encouragement
Formerly the cultivators thought that if the
could obtain sixteen cents per pound wholesal
it would be as lucrative as coffee. In 1885,
however, twenty cents for the poorer articl
could be Obtained and for the greater porto
Of the crop forty cents per pound wholesale WI
readily commanded. The demand for it is col
santly increasing and when properly prepare
is not inferior to that imported from Chin
Indeed, much of the tea sold this day in Il
Province Of San Paulo as cha da India h;
merely made the sea voyage from Santos to r
de Janero, and there, after being packed up
Chinese boxes, is sent back to the Paulistas
the genuine aromatic leaf from the Celesti
Empire. | have met with foreigners in Braz
who considered themselves connoisseurs in Tel
and who neverless were deceived by the be
cha naci0nai
"A few years ago Mr. John Rudge, of Il
Province of San Paulo, sent some tea from h