The Florida agriculturist., 1880-09-15

The Agricultural Department at
Washington has recently conducted
number OF experiments bearing on
the question Of tea culture as an
American industry. and has collected
much information of character to
encourage investments in that direc-
ton. In nearly every case reports
as to success in this field have been
received with the remark that,
while the experiments were inter-
estlng, they would never command
the attention of business men. The
dlttleulty was not in the growing,
but ID the details of curing, and it
was claimed tnat these demanded
such skill and nice discrimination in
employees as low wages could never
command. 1t has also been the pol
icy OF travellers and merchants 10
magnify the difficulties of the busi-
ness, and in this way to discourage
any experiments on large scale.
The last experiment in Georgia
was made by man who brought to
the business an experience in China,
and, as he has sold his crop at good
profit, he is in condition to express
an intelligent opinion as to the pos
siblllties OF the business in this
country. His belief that all the tea
needed for home consumption can be
raised in the Southern States. is not
necessarily something to be dis
missed with a sneer. A statement
from him as to the management OF
the details incident to curing and
packing might exercise great infu-
ence in giving the matter proper
prominence. Where there is even
the possibility of success, Americans
are not in the habit of considering
difficulties until test has been ap-
piled. lftea can be grown pro6tably
in the Southern States, the people
of that section can well afford to
spend years in perfecting plans as to
the management of the crop.
The people OF the United States
use about 81 ,OOO,000 pounds OF tea
annually, which is valued to the i'm
porlers at about S25.O00,000. Since
the opening OF trade with China and
Japan, under favorable treaties, there
have been more Towering and other
plants imported from Eastern Asia
than from European countries. These
have been acclimated in a majority
OF cases, with little difficulty, and the
subject ottea growing, in view of
this fact, is not to be dismissed with
out careful consideration.
1t may not be practicable, but
many men who have investigated the
subject say it is, and at least one
witness is ready TO testify on the
question of its profit. The British
Government encouraged the culture
Of tea in India, Java and other dis.
trlcts, and it was made profitable.
The Brazilian Government intro
duced tea culture in that country and
encouraged experiments on large
scale. With several States in the
Union in which the tea plant flour
ishes, Americans cannot afford to
discourage like experiments in this
country.
When tea was first imported into
England it sold at from $50 to $50
per pound. The annual imports OF
tea into Great Britain now amount
to about S60,0OO,OO0, at cost to the
importer OF less than 50 cents per
pound. The yield in China is from
800 to 400 pounds OF fresh leaves per
acre, tour pounds of green leaves
making one OF dried tea Let US
have from the Georgia planter,
figures as to yield per acre and cost
OF production, and give the whole
question the attention it deserves.