The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1881-04-08
CULTURE OF THE TEA PLANT.
To tie Wees and daughters ofMc Farmers
Of Chester Counfu.

" CHestcf COUHy.
give below in brief compass according to
promise the best information can gather as
to the culture of the TIA plant. | had hoped
to secure from the Agricultural Department
as many plants ms you would call for, and
indeed have written several letters for that
purpose. | am still under the impression
that will be able to get them but am not
positively assured Of it. II they can be had
| will give notice or send to those who have
or may speak for them In mean time PIE
serve this paper for future reference whcth.
or you raise your own plants from the seeds
or get them from the Agricultural Depart.
mcnt.
Read what the President of the United
States said in late speech at Washing
ton:
There IS one point on which I have
reached conclusion, and that is, that this
nation must open up new avenues of work
and usefulness to the women of the country,
so that everywhere they may have something
to do. This is, just now, infinitely more
valuable to them than the plntf rm or the
ballot box. Whatev. r. conclusion shall be
reached on that subject by.and bv. at pres
cnt the most valuable gift which can be
bestowed Oh women is something TO do which
they can do well and worthily, and thereby
maintain themselves"
GILES j. PATTERSON
THE CULTURE OF TIE TEA PLANT.
The best soil Cor the tea plant is deep
rich loan, such rs is best adapted to gar
dens II properly drained it cannot well b..
ZOO rich 1t should contain Il considerable
amount Of vegetable matt or mixed with clay
and sand, 50 that the tap root may easily
penetrate to a proper depth an enable the
plant TO obtain its full viyor. The plant
enjoys n southern cx;.osurc and thrivcs best
in the vicinity Of small streams oi water
\ soil suitable to tho growth of currnr Is
or blackbcrricS is said to bc suitable to tho
tea plant.
The land should be thoroughly Flowed
and then narrowed till the earth is well pal
vcrizcd Transplanting can then be d ne
with the grcctcst facility and some reliable
assurance that the plants will thrive
The seeds arc usually planted in the
month of December. by April or May the
young plants arc about 10 or ! = inches high
aud can be tranSplantcd. Transplanting
should be attempted only on cloudy, dull
or wet day and just at the beginning of IA
rainy season liipossiblc) unless there is
every facility for irrigation.
The plants should be placed in rows from
4 to & feet apart, and from + to 5 feet apart
in the row. \ hole from foot to u foot
and Lair in depth and equally wlde
should be opened for each plant and filled
wi half rottcd leaves, cowpcn manure
and surface soil. The tap root should be
put down straight to its full length and i'm
bcdded in the ground up to its first leaves
and then some water given to press the earth
close to the roots.
The plants invariably die the first year if
exposed to the hot sun. They should there.
fore be corcfuly Shoticl the first year by pine
branches OF otherwise. A crutch feet out
OF the ground, driven on each side Of the
plant, strong stick placed across the cru,ch-
cs, aud pine branches hung upon this, fur
nish cheap and good shade.
COL Rion, Of Winsboro, who has cxpc.
ricncc in tea planting suggests that they be
shaded by driving down shinge on the
East South and Wrst sides of the young
plant and leave the shingles there till the
! plant grows above .cm.
For the fist two or three years some
other crop, such us corn, or cotton, or pota.
toes may be planted between the rows, the
shade Of such crops being favorable to the
growth OF the young plants.
| Daring the first two years out little cui-
tivatIon is required beyond keeping down
the weeds, and the leaves should not be
pluckcd for tea before the third year, aud
best not till the fourth year. as plucking the
leaves too caly wcakcns the plant.
An acre of land planted as directed will
| grow from 1900 to 100 plants, and each
! plant when ut full bearing will yield on the
average one pound Of green leaves, and
when cured for use, it will be from 300 to
100 pounds of tea.
The best teas of China are never brought
to this country. Home made teas, if prop.
crly handled, will bc worth more in market
than the imported. AS home made pickles
and preserves are purcr and more palatablc
! than those made in the large manufactures
SO also will the teas made in small gardens
excel in flavor and classification those made
i'll larger establishments. The cultivation OF
single acre will require but little labor, and
the pleasure OF having ones own tea of superb
ro quality for home use by those able to alfort
it, and the profit to bc realized from selling
such teas by these who take this mcthnd o.
procuring livelihood will justify both the
rich aud poor to engage in its cultivation. -
(Hcs'rr RYo,trr.
DR.. Smith, Of Philadelphia, has organ
lied crusade against baby carriages, hold
ing that infants carried by nurses are mucI
healthier aud stronger than when constant
! la l.l