Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1881-01-13


the Hos. VIM. G? LeDuc, United
States commissioner Of agriculture,
50f tttR leasiag of a tract Of land
sHaea say Mr.. Middleton, for tne pur.
l,pse Of establishing als experimental
t.a farm nnaer ths management Of
siae Unitsd States department of Aag-
ricolture, were satisfactorily closed
lat eseniag, and Gen. LeDuc and
tSe Hss. J. H. McGoaan, membe, Of
;ssagresa from Michigan, who accom-
g4sieG him. left for Nashin ton at 8
4, II. Mr Aiti4ieton- gran $ a lease
St. sAs Ueitej States Government for
s.ss5fy.9esss ~oiG two haddrsd acres
81 laEd, asiAs . portion Of what is
.5Eao8n az the New egiea tract .situa-
TED about;tw two miles frem tie town Of
gammerrille III Collector County. The
consideration paid by tbegovernment
ISL, ai,h The understanding that at
tks cad ef the lease all permanent
spproyemeat, made by the govern
nest on the pgeaises shall be allowed
tersmaia aud bsesne +ae property
of the lessor, With. the further under
standing yhat IN cass the government
shall abandon the cultars and mann
facsu:e of tea on the premises sooh
: abaa6oament shall be deemed a ter
aainaiion Of the lease. Tne govern
;nsat is allowed to clear the land,
using any timber chat may os neces-
sary for fuel, building. fencing and
su "a other uses as may properly be
required in carrying on such busi-
ness, the lessor being entitled to all
timber fslied IN clearing which is not
reqaisea by the, lessee. The 7orna
meatal trees growing upon tae place
ale 70 be preserved free from injury.
I. IL conversation with Reporter
l..See observation-disclosures last eve.e
ning, Gsa, LaDac said ne was tho
roughly asisfsa with The place, and
weu,d cor1msnce the work of estab-
Itching the tea farm without further
dslay. ffr. J. Jackson, who is now
3paantins tes neey Savannah, and who
Aashad considerable experience in
t.s enltnrs i, India, viii be superin-
zts-aaens ct The farm. aid will arrive
Ss6srs ia:4 iay 81. two 50 taxa charge.
The trsc. nor contains Bout forty
acres Of cleared land viii ! will be
prepared at once and planted in seeds
caAa plants. The clearing Of the wood
1aAd will be also begun at once, and
az fast as the land is prepared for
culiiyation. more seed will be planted
and more plants set out. The most
approved agricultural implements and
nschipery used IL the cultivation
and manufacture Of tea will be en-
;ptsyed, With q view to demonstrate
that . superior quality of tea can De
r@issd in the Southern States Of the
.Usisn at less expense than anywhere
:s::se. We confidently expect such a
fesnlt." Gen, LeDuc said, because
tke quality of the tea grown here has
beea pronounced by experts to be
eahal to tue best, even With the linn
sssd tnears se had for manufacturing
sad preparing the samples" "The
work" he eortinned, will be press
ed forward as rapidly as the appro-
9siasiohs Of Congress will permit
We how have left of the last appro-
psiatien about SIS 900, and we expect
ts se9afe another appropriation soon
os $4,000. Nearly all Of these
aMounts will be expended upon. this
Esa. II will take three years fer
TIE garaea to reach bearing ,conai-
ten. Gt The end Of this time we e2-
psct to have tea to put upon the mar
Eet.. aud at the end Of FIVE years. II
-she coil cones up tocoar expectations,
the yield will be about 400 pounds o!
tea to the;sere. Up seven years
fhe plants will gi7e an increased
1ie.a, azd they will not be required
tsbe renewed for mary years. The
rssewal is made by cutting down the
pisate and allowing them to grow up
from the roots. The chief expense
is The establishment of the farm will
be the hosing and manuriDg of the
ntanta, tbe picking o! the leavep, and
tse manufacturing of the leaves into
lie, several qualities. In due course
of tino, as soon as necessary. all re
suisite drying sheds and other build
ings will BE- erected and all necessary
machinery will be put NJ. When
the fdrsa is thoroughly established it
will give employ ment to a large mum
her Of persoas. This Isl" Gen. Le-
Dho said, "the beginning of great
industry for the Southern States 1t
: viii diversity the industries of the
ssople, and will open a rich and prof
liable field for the planters of this
Section Of the country. 1t will take
fine and careful cultivation, but l
ara satisfied that we will attain com
plete success. The locality is health
inl, and the climate is wonderfully
similar. to those. sections Of China
where the very best qualities cf tea
are raised and manufactured.