Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-05-30
AMERICAN TEA CULTURE.
A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT IN THE AGRICUL-
TURAL DEPARTMENT.

The success that attended the experiment
in curing tea, made at the Department of Ag-
riculture few days ago, goes far to prove
that the profitable cultivation of the tea
plant in this country may become an accom-
plished fact at no very distant day. At the
;uvi alton of General LIE Duc Messrs. o. A.
and M. G. Gill, of the firm of Martin Gillet &
Co., of Baltimore, came to this city to expert
ment with the leaves Of the young tea plants
raised in the gardens of the department from
seeds of old plants grown in South Carolina,
from seed sent there by the department some
twelve or fourteen years ago. The Messrs.
Gill, who are grandsons of Mr.. Martin Gil
let, the founder of the firm they represent,
and who went into business as an importer
of tea in 1911, have had a wide experience
with the article in which they deal. One of
them passed number of years in China and
Japan, and while there made himself thor.
oughly acquainted with the methods prac-
ticed by the people of those countries in pre-
pairing tea for the market. Their investiga
tions and experience proved to them that
there was but one species of tea plant, from
which all varieties of teas are made. This is
the plant known in botany as the Theavsri-
is from three to six feet high, though the
wild plant attains far greater size, some.
times fifteen or twenty feet. Becoming con-
vinced that the coloring matter employed by
the Chinese and japanese in the preparation
of their teas was not only hurtful to the health,
but was destructive to the flavor and quality
of tea, they determined, in 1875, to introduce
uneolored teas, such as the Cinnamon drink
themselves, into the United States. They
we're laughed at by the trade throug hout the
country at first, and in defense of their course
were led to scientifically investigate the pre-
paraton of tea, and to make experiments
with the green leaves raised in this country.
They found, after devoting much time and
labor to the subject, that, by very simple
process, they could prepare as good an arti-
Gle of uncoored tea as any brought from
China and Japan. They also became con-
vinced that the Orientala had for many years
purposely gone through with the elaborate
processes employed by them, solely with the
view of misleading other nations, and making
them believe that go much labor and manipu-
lation we're necessary.
In the experiment referred to, ct the Agri-
cultural Department, the leaves were gather
ed by number of the lady clerks from the
young plants in the hot house-mere seed
lings planted in FEBRUARY last and not more
than FIVE or six inches high. This was dis
advantage to begin with, as the Chinese nev-
er make tea from plants under three years
old. The leaves gathered we're the young
tips, two or three being taken from the top of
each plant. They were then carried to the
laboratory and turned over to the Messrs Gill
to be cured. They began operations by pla-
cling portion of them in sieve and holding
it over pan of boiling water until the leaves
were thoroughly wilted. They we're then put
in thick cloth and subjected to heavy
pressure to express the juice or sap, which
contains large portion of tannic acid. When
taken from the cloth, they formed solid
mass, very glutinous, and somewhat difficult
to separate In this stage the leaves can be
made to assume any shape desired, and it is
when they are in this condition that the Chi
nese make them up into the different brands,
like gunpowder, imperials, &c. After hav-
ing been thoroughly separated, the leaves were
next "6red." This was done by placing
them in tin pan over gas fire, taking care
not to permit the bottom to get hot enough
to burn, and gently stirring them with the
hand until perfectly cured. When the pro-
cess was complete, the tea was deep color,
and resembled very much Chinese Ooong,
or Japan tea, such as is used by the natives Of
those countries. In appearance, it compared
very favoraby with sample shown by the
Messrs. Gill, which cost So per pound in Ja-
pan. The whole process did not take an
hour from the time the leaves were first pluck
ed, and so soon as boiling water could be pro-
cured, tea was made and presented to the la
dies and gentlemen who had witnessed the ex
pertinent. 1t was pronounced excellent, the
experts present saying that the flavor was be-
tween that of high grade of Japan and the
finest Moyune China green teas.
The loss of weight during the process was
ed, 6 SS; firing, 61.37; total, 1858; amount
left, sO.42.
The latitudes in which tea is successfully
cultivated in China, Assam and Japan, cor
respond geographically with the latitudes
embraced in the States of Delaware, Mary
land, Virginia, West Virginia, North Caro-
lima, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama,
Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri,
and portion OF the Pacific coast, and the
condition of temperature, soil, etc., are about
the same. Wilmington in Delaware, is par
allel with Peking, one Of the finest tea.grow-
ing districts in China. And the upper por-
tions of South Carolina are parallel with
three of the most abundant of it's tea, grow
ing provinces. So with the other States men-
toned. In the gardens of the department
its culture had been attended with complete
SUCCESS. There are now thousands of -four
ishing young plants ready for distribution
throughout the country, and there are sever
al growing in the grounds that have been ex-
posed to the weather for two years. Mr..
Saunders the superintendent of the grounds
and gardens, who is perhaps the most accom-
plished gardener in the country, thinks there
will be no difficulty in cutivating the tea in
any of the States mentioned. He thinks it
mil gbt be grown in the form Of hedges and
the young leaves clipped off by a machine.
The Messrs. Gill are of the opinion that, if
sufficient impetus should be given to tea cul-
ture in this country, that machinery of a
very simple character could be constructed
to do almost everything necessary iu the pro.
cess of curing. They themselves would be
willing to put up curing establishment in
suitable locality, provided plantations large
enough to warrant a sufficient supply of
leaves we're started
In conclusion, it may be proper to explain
that the tea known as English breakfast tea
is made from the same plant as the other.
The leaves acquire their dark color from the
process of fermentation to which they are
subjected. - Washington Post.
A SINGULAR AFFAIR.-A poor fellow in