The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-08-10
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Tea Seed, From HindOOstan.

hluOly DldCC0 III 49,
trlbution, quantity of ''tresh and
genuine" Tea seed, from the Province
of Assam, in Hindoostan or Farther
India. This variety OF tea differs
slightly, If at all, from the "regHla-
ton Chinese Tea, but is supposed
to be-, in some respects, superior. Inc
present lot was selected from the
best plantations, by a gentleman OF
long experience in tea culture, ana
NAV be relied upon as Of excellent
quality, ripe and fresh. 1t came
carefully packed in pulverzed char
coal. and seems sound and perfect
1t was imported under the auspices
of Mrs. Mitchell, through the late
Commissioner Of Agriculture, Gen.
LeDuc. who retained portion Of the
shipment for;his Government Expert
mental Tea Farms in South Carolina
and elsewhere, and sent the remain
der TO Florida.
The tea plant belongs to the Ca.
mellia family; it is pretty evergreen
shrub or small tree; blooms in the
winter and produces seed like a
flbert or hazlenul. Aside from the
possibility, (sanguinely believed IN by ,
the late Commissioner, that the :
plant may some day assume an eco
nomical Importance, and be ranked
among our staple productions; 1t is
well worth cultivating for ornament, :
and should find a place in all South u
ern collections Of shrubbery. =
For the benefit of all who desire to >
cultivate the plant, we give the },
simplest, easiest, and best mode OF -
culture, so far as our experience goes: r
SOIL.
A good sandy loan, with clay SUBJ -
soil, not too lar from the surface If "
obliged TO plant on dry, poor, sandy y,
soil, make compost OF four parts v
dry muck, two parts of ashes. one of % :,
bone-dust, and little salt, and work :.
into the soil; using generous guam -
lity of the mixture. :"
PREPARATION. -
The seed>bed should be spaded III
eight or ten inches deep-the cons y
post turned under and thoroughly !.
intermixed with the soil ard the u
whole puverized finely and raked "
evenly. e.. to- u
PLANTING. "
Lay off your ground in drills two a
feet apart, and one inch and halt or II
TWO inches deep Tor nursery purposes. VI
Drop the seed in these drills, three t.
OR four inches apart, and cover with |
about an inch Of fine woods mould. a
When the plants come up and show S
TWO or three leaves, shade them from
The hot sun, by sticking palmetto ,
leaves slanlingly and firmly into the
ground over them. 1t the weather
is very dry, water the young plants
with a fine sprinkler - keep the
ground around them clean and mel
low, and shade them partially during
The hottest weather. The tea plant
is impatient of the sun when young
and tender, but can stand the hottest
weather when mature, or even year |
or two old.
TRANSFORMING.
When the young plants are foot
high, they may be transplanted into
the tea garden or shrubbery-setting
them i'll the former about eight feet
apart, each way. Some advise plant
inc She seed in hills SIS feet apart,
putting three or four seed in each
hill, and finally allowing only one
plant (the strongesO TO remain.
Either way will answer. The ground
Tor tea plantation, or for the sue
cesslul growth OF the plant, should be
of the natural character above de-
scrjbed, or must be put into proper
order by using such composts as we
! have directed.
The great weight OF testimony
20 ,,ro,,e thai the tea Dlaut