Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-11-27
TEA-CULTURE AS AN AMERICAN
INDUSTRY.

plants rom emma. Ihese were tTahs-
ported in Wardian cases, the cases be-
being filled with soil, in which the seeds
were sOwn just previous to shipment.
These yegetated during the voyage, and
the plants averaged is inches in height
when taken out of the cases in Wash
ington.
These plants were Immediately placed
under propagation, and in short time
the stock was increased to 10000 plants,
which were distributed throughout the
Southern States. The propagation and
dissemination of tea-plants formed
prominent feature in the operations OF
the Agricultural Division OF the Patent
Office until the commencement OF the
war, which put a stop to such commu-
nicationS for several years.
1t was fully understood that, so far as
the growth of the plant was concerned,
it could be successfully cultivated over
large extent OF country; but, sharing
in the belief that the amount OF manual
labor required in the manipulation and
preparation OF the leaf (as practiced in
the oldest tea-growing countries, and
which was considered To be indispensa-
ble) was 80 great as to preclude the idea
that we could compete with the low
waged Asiatics, no special efforts were
made to disseminate the plants, or to
increase them further than to supply
such applicants as desired TO make ex-
perimental tests.
For several years after 1868, the de-
partment distributed annually from
5000 to 10000 plants, reaching in 1876
to over 10000 plants. BY this means
it was expected to pOpularize the Gull
ture Of tea as a domestic product, with
the hope that public interest would in
time be directed to its cultivation as an
article of commercial value.
Encouraged by reports OF successful
culture, which were in many instances
supplemented by samples of manuiac-
tured tea Of undoubtedly good quality,
more decided and energetic efforts were
made toward establishing this industry,
and during the past two years more
than l00,0OO tea plants have. been dis
tributed, and the department has under
preparation at the present time at least
10000 plants Tor distribution in local
tiles where they are most likely to sue
coed.
A number of letters from individuals
who have been in correspondence with
the Department are given by way OF
showing the degree of success resulting
from experiments in different localities.
We append one from each OF the States
of South Carolina, North Carolina, Flor
ida and Tennessee.
Mr.. THOMAS NJ. Cox, Greenville, S. c.,
says:
DIR. Junius Smith was probably the
first person who introduced the tea
plant into South Carolina. lie was,
think, Il native OF Massachusetts, and
had daughter married To 4 gentleman
connected with the English naval ser
vice, and resided with her i'm the East
Indies. From them he received the
seeds, and probably some OF the plants.
He was very successful, but is now de-
ceased, and his plants, without protec-
ton, were lost. | obtained, in 1857 or
1858, from the Patent Office, Il box OF
tea-plants gave the most OF them
away, and retained few myself. They
have grown well, without any protcc-
ton, in the open air, and have attained
a height OF s or 10 feet. They have ire
duently matured the seed, and there are
a number OF the seed on the ground ut
this time. They are an evergreen in
this climate, and are now in flower,
with the seed OF last years growth fully
matured upon the bush. have never
succeeded in making tea from the leaves,
not knowing the process OF manipulate
ing them.
Mr.. W. NJ. IVES, IT., OF Lake City,
Fla, says:
The seeds OF the tea-plant were OBJ
tanned from the Patent Office about the
year 1858. The plants can be propaga-
ted either from seeds or slips. lt is an
evergreen shrub. ! think five years
from seed, or three years from slips,
would be az early as q crop of leaves
could DE taken. After that the crop
would increase annually.
Its cultivation might be made prolita-
BILE, but our people do not pay enough
attention To such objects rs promise re-
turns i'm future years. The method OF
drying the leaves is very simple pro-
cess. Many families already possess a
number of tea-plants, but they grow
them simply for their beauty and nov
city. Tea can DO grown in Georgia as
well as i'm Florida. We should grow our
own tea, but we do not, and will not,
unless something is done to promote an
interest in the matter.
Col. S. ID. MORGAN, Nashville, Tenn,
saws:
OF all the plants for the South Allan
tic States, that OF the Chinese or Jap
anese tea premises most success. Be
fore the war | had few of the shrubs
growing in a small parterre attached to
nv town dwelling, from which | OBJ
tanned leaves as rich in aroma and
"Lsine' as is to be found in tea from any
country whatever.
The shrub grows luxuriantly in Cen
trial Georgia-even 100 miles north of
Augusta, TO my personal knowlege-as
there used the domestic article for sew
eral weeks time and found it excellent.
There may, however, be a difficulty
about its culture, for want of very
cheap class Of laborers TO pick and pre-
pare the leaves. This, however, is a
subject have not investigated, but |
think il is worthy OF thorough investi-
CATION.
Mr.. J. W. PEARCE, Fayetteville, n.
c., says:
Your favor of October 9th, in regard
10 the Chinese tea-plant, was received a
few DAYS ago. The original seeds We're
sent 10 me about the year 1850 or 1861,
bv Hon. Warren WinslOw, then MEM