New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-04

A SUBJECT or GROOMING INTEREST.

General Wllilm G.. H. Due. Commissioner Of
Agriculture. gave Kettlcdrum TO a number Of
the prominent tea merchants Of New-York, yeslcr-
day afternoon ~ the Iooms If y. and J. M.ntgom-
erv g. Co.. NJ. TT Watcr-st. Among those present
were: Lyman T.. Green. of b. g. Arnold 81 Co.;
Chaunccy b.. Low, of a. A. Low & Brothers;
Adoph Pavcnstedt, OF Mose Brothers; Charles
Be,be If Brcbe Brothers John Ca-well. Of John
Carweu & Co; Mr. Chatf ID. OF Penfoid. ChatGeld
& Co.: Martin Gillett, o. H. 2. Noycs. II. 3. Uaill.
# Busk & Jeyons G. w. Good. OF Cary & Col and
r. G.. Cary, OF T. 7. Baw 81 Co.
Commissioner Le Dues object in calling 80 many
tea merchants together was 20 submit To- their in
specrion samples Of teas grown on plantation in
Georgia; TO asl. thcir opinions relative TO what
teas are in most demand in the American market.
and 20 interest them IN the question Of tea-growing
in the United States II. brought with him a num-
ber of samples of tea grown IN Liberty County.
Georgia by q Nj Jackson and also a sample from
tbc plantation of n mdn named Foster at George
TOWN south Carolina. TIE Jackson teas were Of
Oh. brands known as Pckoe. Prkoe-Souchong.
Souchoug and CoDgau. Several drawings were
made from each the kinds of tea. and they were
tested by the merchants who manifested much i'm
terest. The general opinion was that the Georgia
tea compared favorablJ in fragrance. bu not IN
strength with tAe best Indian tea If thc same char
acjcr.
Ii q short aud informal dress 20 the mer chants.
Commissioner L. Due explained Aat Ina purpose IN
mcetin. them was 80 present rae subject 0i growing
teas in the United States-a ubect which he hoped
would become one o. importance. lie also sand that
he greatly desired the opinion Of competent men
upon what kinds Of teas are wanted IN tine Amcri-
can market. The samples from which the draw
ngs have been made hlre' be continued, d" are
rom the plantation in Georgia Of q Sc0fchman
named Jackson, who for fifteen years
raised tea India. some months ago be
came TO the United States for tho sake Of
his wlfes health, aud while az Saratoga he hap
peucd 90 see IN a Nev-YorS newspaper "a notice OF
the efforts of ms department to foster the culture
Of tea. Ike became greatly Interested, au4 opened
% rrcspondcnce with me, finally coming to Wash
iucton Do search Of Information. BE went through
several If the Southern STATES making inquiries
about the soil and climate, and finally bought tle
plan ation Of a Mrs. Craven, in Liberty County.
Georgia. upon which, some twenty-five OF
thirty years ago, number Of tea plants
had been SIT out lie cleaned the place
ur and got mt one time $4,000
plants from us. H. is very confident of success
and has more money yet I'D invest. lie already has
I6J. 900 tta plants under c1IIvu0n.
eel have obtained from Congress the frliug APP
I'm company with Alr. Jacks have Recently been
through ,ha southern states prospecting tor tue
soils. and i have selected plantation lu Nottu
Ca.0.iu4. We found au abundance of such s9L, as
good as any in the world, IN parts OF the
country from the James River 10 tine dry
region az Texas. Since took charge OF the De-
PARTING. T. oi A,reui .Ur. some hundreds Of thou--
aud, of sea plIuts hove been sent ont from our
propagation houses, most ot which have died from
SONS has been tle first determined attempt Cd
raise ten Iu America aud 20 tIe success OF Che
aurmr means au alnua. slv.a- ID fine country OF
SD 600 0O1, ] wish t0 help Lim with me best
counsel: and 10 b, with tbs jert tina, ask your
opinion as tO the demands ~ tl.s MARKET.
several papers were read 90 tie meellng among
tlrm a report made ID the Department Of AZrl.u-
tre by SIR. Jackson, '. iAc Georgia p.lntaJIOu VINO
thus describes his place:
"A4attrmpr ha- been made t0 grow ten here bv
the former proprietor OF tue farm, ana but for tAo
avIgcs %. JAe war j, m.- eat have ultimately turned
on success. There are s.vcra hCn1r'd Old plants
growing. few being over twenty years Old, and tho
majority ranging uOm len to ulircn years. Iuey
l.l,I. originally from japan. / am told these
plants have received uo attention OF cultivation
Whatever for years back and certainly when nisJ
saT them they were oFtlsIoTn WI.n "lG
by stock, and the ground was uodcen down about
them as LAri as possible. examined every plant
muuIe.y was noi surprises 10 nld +ood may
of them sichF !CoAlle eapc-4aiI} "ueie ,tuey
had been MOST exposed our on the whole was
satisfied that some OF tie younger plants
showed "a very good growth, indeed, Of new
GOOD f,r last year. and 10 was this
circumstance that inst drew my attention
r.. tri- Mace more rh1u 10 arv other had visited
tween the general growth and Size of tDe plants
through uncertainty as To their age, their neglected
condition and other causes many OF 'htW were
flom twelve 10 fifteen feet high. Judging from the
fine straight, sturdy branches, auu tuc idcJ JndU
dld not find single decayed stem, even
amongst the very oldest plants, ! was Wei
pleased. All the plants were growing in al
OMEN space of ground, and never appeared 10
have had any shade. some OF the oldest plants are
lust as hardy and vigorous looking as any have
ever seen in India. But l was particularly struck
bv last Years growth of Young Wood upon all
healthy plants. ! was astOnlsued. There was no
resisting such evidence. there. sure enough, was
the fine long healthy, abundant crop OF young
branches which any Indian planter would have
been proud of in his garden. IL was The clear
uumistakabe proof to my mind that II tea
would grow ike that. under such adverse cIcum-
stances | was fully warranted IN continuing my
Investigation OF an the other bearings of the ques
ton Il | was satisfied with the teJ plants, was
still more SO with the SOL; Truly have never seen
better tea soil auywh here"
In conclusion Mr. JacksOu's report expressed the
belief that there would be no trouble on the
score of labor. and that the climate was satstac-
tory. he SAID that # American capitalists dld NOT
soon Ike the question of tea culture ~ hand, Eng
llsh capital would not be long IN serkug invest
ments IN the tea soils OF the United States.
Samples Of the Jackson teas We're sent some
time ago 10 the firm or thompson brothers,
tea merchants in Nlucng Lane LONDON, TO be eX-
ahmed In ts reply the Engii5h hrm said lle
samples represent teas Of hlgu type. Inc haYor
though not strong, Is remarkably fragrant. III ap-
pearance the samples resemble Indian tea, but the
hlvor ]. more like that If the finest Chinese black
or oil me Hlll Teas OF lnuld.
After the papers had been read Commissioner lie
Due asked for an expression OF opinion on the sub
iect of what IS best suited 10 the American
market. Charles Becbe said that his advice was
that the attempt should be made 10 raise and
Manufacture a distIncuyely American tea that
shoud partake Of the best characteristics OF the I'M
fermenied teas OF China and Japan. The Indian
teas although popular IN London. did not appear to
win favor IA the United States. II the purpose was
to compete ~ the London market, then 10 would be
proper 10 raise teas of the kind represented by the
samples on exhlbIuon. The remarks of Mr.. Beebe
were accepted rs the sense OF the meeting.
Commissioner lie Due suggested the advisablllty
of forming company TO test the question Of tea
culture, and promised % assist such a company
with ali the means at his disposal. The suggestion
did not call forth any discussion aud was conf
meuted upon briefly by only one speaker, who ex-
pressed his doubts a. TO the feasibility OF engaging
~ tn cmI-urn and mlllIng a profit. Before The