Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-09-15
Tea Culture in the United States.

The importation of tea plants and seed by
the U. s. Patent Office, and preparations max
ing by that Bureau for practical attempt at
tea culture in this country, gives fresh inter-
est to the subject Similar experiment, on a
scale comparatively limited, have been made
in former years. particularly by the late DR.
Junius Smith, of South Carolina, whose CON-
muDications in relation thereto, frequently ap-
peared in these columns and though his ef-
forts resulted in no immediate success, they
cannot be said TO have been uselessly made
On the contrary, they afford the very best as
surance that it is practicable to produce tea in
this country Such at least was his own opin-
ion and this is the belief fully entertained by
those familiar with his eGdeavors. The Charles
ton Courier of late date says:
:" We regard that experiment as proving
cOnclusiyely the adoption of the tea plant TO
the climate of Greenville District. 1t was
the opinion of DR. Smith after a careful exam
ination, that portions of the mountain region
of North Carolina. South Carolina, Georgia,
and Tennessee, were better adapted to tea,
than great proportion OF the land cultivated
in China This opinion was derived not only
from examination of the soil, and personal in
quir7 as to the climate and conditions of the
weather, but from q study Of meteorological
records and observations. The same opinion
as TO our soil and climate was confidently ex-
pressed by NJ Francis Bonynge, whose visit
some eight years since viii be remembered by
many readers, as his views were uttered thro'
the Courier, iu several appeals il behalf Of tea
culture
DR.. Smith was not far from seventy years
Of age when be began his experiments in
Greenville district, South Carolina, aud could
he have transmitted his requirements and re-
sourses to successor, there appears to be no
reason why his plantation should not have con.
tinued so flourish.
The I. S. Commissioner Of Patents in his
last aEnua! Report, presents the results of
careful inquiry as to the nature Of the soil and
climate possessing the conditions necessary for
the production Of the tea plant Id a large pOr-
too Of our territory, and that it only requires
enterprise, capital, and intelligence, to bring
this branch Of industry into successful compe-
tition with the Celestials. Improved machine
~ and other appliances for preparing the arti-
Gle, will afford an ample substitute for the
cheap labor Of China. Even should there be
a deficiency in this respect at first, the proven
bal ingenuity Of American mechanics wonld
prove adequate to every exigency. That skill
that produced the cotton gin, still exists to be-
stow on the country tea Manipulation.
The adoption of climate and soil being de-
termined, no imPediment exists to opening a
new source Of national wealth The Femoteness
Of the tea-growing countries Of the old world
giii eu-u-e protection" for native industry.
The Commissioner Of Patents has stated, in
q circular, that no disposal will be made Of the
IL.
deus before the next meeting Of Congress, after
which 4 feasible plan will be proposed for their
distriGution-Journai Of Commsr1