Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-11-29
farmer's Reabng>
Tea IN Georgia.
I0d III S0O1 6fo'
To Vim. N. White, Esq.,:

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from certain plants, with what they esteem
luxurious beverage. We of North Amer.
lea, however, though possessing such an
abundant fora, have never found single
plant which has been generally appropriated
to that purpose. After [ had commenced
the growing of the Tea plant of China, I
found it closely allied to the Gordonia la-
sianttus Cor loblolIy bay) of the low couu-
try of Georgia, which induced me to make
an experiment with it. I therefore gather
ed parcel of young tender leaves, prepared
them 10 the same manner as the tea. 1t
proved to be very pleasant drink, resem-
bling in taste and smell the Chinese tea. -
If ever analyzed, have no doubt cafein,
the principle existing in both tea and coffee
will be found in this plant. 1t grows in
great abundance near the sea coast of Geor-
gia and Florida.
My object, however, in writing this arti-
Gle, is to lay before your readers my obser-
vations and experiments with the Chinese
Tea plant, on my farm in Liberty county
Georgia, for six years past. I attempted
to introduce the tea plant into this country
seventeen years ago, having obtained quart
of seed from China carefully packed in sand
in sealed glass bottle. They failed, how
ever, to germiDate, and I did not succeed in
getting single plant-the oily nature of
the seed, together with the long voyage, no
doubt caused the failure. In March, 1860,
l received through the kindness of Judge
A. Iversop, of Columbus, Ca, fifty plants
from the Patent Office. 1 kept them in
pots until February, 1861. They were
then planted out five feet each way in loose
sandy SOIL They grew off very finely
April, 1862, I made small quantity Of tea,
end from that time to the present, 1866, 1
have supplied my family With five Or six
pounds of tea yearly, from fifty plants
The largest amount of tea produced in
China, is raised on the lands lying between
20 and IS North latitude. The maximum
heat of July and August, at Shanghai is
100 deg. This, however, seldom occurs.
In winter, the thermometer descends as low
as IL degrees, and not very often as low as
this. That the plant will grow and flourish
as we'll or even better (although an exotic)
through the whole of the States bordering
the Atlantic and Gulf, from North Carroll
ma to Texas, I have not the least doubt
We have soil of every variety-alluvial
near the rivers and sea.coast, with gradual
ascending steps to the mountains All the
lands of Middle Georgia and the Carolinas,
which are now considered of little value for
corn or cotton, can be made available, and
grow tea to great advantage. All the hill
sides that are so much washed as not even
to produce grass enough to cover the soil
from view, can be made to produce hand.
some returns to the planter. In Middle
Georgia, and other similar regions, the cul
tivatou of cotton will decrease from this
time onward. The truth of this fact is pa.
tent to all observers. The lands are worn
and can only be reclaimed by judicious
system of manuring. To make large crops
of cotton, great breadth of land was alb.
solutely necessary. The manuring system
will lessee the number of acres to be plant
ed, leaving out the poorer portions, which
can be applied to the cultivation of the tea.
The tea requires small amount of field
culture, interfering very little with other
crops that may be planted. To illustrate
more fully the above statements 1 will here
enter upon more minute detail of facts
gained from the cultivation of the plant for
the last six years
In the first place, a short description of
the plant may not be out Of place 1t is an
evergreen shrub, leaves from three to four
inches long, one in width flowers white,
Que or more inches in diameter; centre
filed with large numbers of stamens, with
yellow apthers; capsule usually three seed
ed seeds the size of chinquepin; seeds
abundant; blooms 10 October and Novem-
ber; it seeds the next September; grows
from cuttings or layers. As before stated
l planted out fifty tea plants in 1861. At
the present time, 1866, they are from six
to seven feet high, each plant covering
space of seven or eight feet in diameter
so interlocking that it is with difficulty that
you can get between them. They were as
above stated planted five feet each way -
This distance, however, was too near as the
growth of the plants has proven. That
distance may do for poorer soils. After the
seeds or cuttings are planted, they will re-
quire light workings for three years, at
which time the ground will be we'll shaded
aud only here and there stray weed may
make its appearance, which can easily be
removed with the hand The vigorous
growth of leaves takes place in April. So
soon as they make their appearance, pluck
them of and throw them in small basket
swung on the left arm spread them thin
Cd tables for ten or twelve hours. They
then become soft and aacid, ready to be
rolled This operation is performed in the
following manner: Take up as many leaves
as can be held between the palms of both
hands; roll them as rapidly as you can,
with both hands pressing against each other
until the watery juices begin to exude.-
They will then be so compressed as to form
round ball; repeat the same operation un.
til all are gone through with; place them
On tables in the sun for one hour, and roll