The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-11-30
Fine Prospect for Successful Tea
Culture i'm the State.
From the SAVANNAH News.

Culture in the State.
From the SauannGb News
We had pleasant call from Mr.
John Jackson, the pioneer tea grow
er OF Georgia, yesterday, and he pre-
sented us with some very beautiful
specimens of domestic teas which he
has grown and manufactured on his
/ tea plantation IN Liberty county. We
were really surprised at the excel
lence Of these specimens, both in ap>
| pearance and quality. They are Of
T green, black and oolong varieties, are
very similar to the imported teas,
and, what is more, are entirely pure,
being free from all the authorizations
which so generally characterize the
foreign article.
The chief object of Mr.. Jackson's
! visit al. this time is to introduce the
teas to our people, and to establish
market value for them. He informs
US that if he can command for them
the prices usually paid for adulterated
foreign teas, he can readily afford to
cultivate the plant and steadily bring
its cultivation to perfection. He is
quite an enthusiast on this subject, and
is even now introducing new plants
from India from which he hopes in
time TO realize superior article of
this favorite beverage. He has resi-
ded in India for several years of his
lite, and devoted his time, while there
to the industry upon which he is at
present engaged In Georgia. 1t will
be thus seen that his experience is am
pie to guarantee success in his efforts,
if he can only secure encouragement
from the people of the South, and,
indeed, of The whole Union. q
Why he should not meet with all
the encouragement he desires we can
not understand. A cursory inspec>
ton of his teas would Immediately
convince the most skeptical OF their
excellence, while in purchasing them
tea drinkers would be sure of obtain.
ing and article perfectly pure, and at
reasonable figures. What he proposes
to do is shown very clearly in circ~
ular which he is preparing. In this
circular he asks all persons who may
test his teas to communicate to him
their unbiased opinion regarding
them, and says:
''This being the first attempt at
raising genuine American tea for sale,
l beg leave to put forward special
claim to the countenance and coop,
Grafton of the Southern people in
seeking to introduce this new indus
try in their midst. Great improves
ments will be made, if l am supports
ed to the outset, in developing the
culture. These teas have to be man.
ufactured by machinery, and are cons
sequently not so inviting to the eye
as the Eastern handmade product !;
but, besides being made from the
very finest quality of leaves, the
strength will be found to be better
developed, and a better flavor there's
by impaired. The merits OF the teas
should be judged by the infusion on
ly."
Mr.. jackson also makes special res
quest of every one testing his teas to
state to him plainly in what particu-
lar they may be dissatisfied with them
aud what they would be willing to
pay for the same article next year, if
then it should prove suitable to their
tastes. His object in this is TO arrive
at perfection in the culture of the
plant, with the view OF making it sat.
istactory to the most fastidious tea
drinker. He well deserves to prosper
in his efforts to introduce this CON-
paratively new and valuable industry
in our State and section, and we trust
he may meet with every success in
the prosecution OF his enterprise.