National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-24
TEA AND ITS MANUFACTURE,
RecOIIeefiOns of an Old Neutrality-suspicious..
biIities of It's SsrowtI, iu America


L love my cup of tea. whether it be
ooiong, Souchong, or Bohea, but think 1 rather
prefer Mandarin, and being an old bachelor is no
reason why should not have nv say about "a the
cups that cheer but not inebriate" as well as the
splnsters and other people. In my early youth
ana II mas been long time since then-the fra
grant, steaming cup always called up pictures of
almond-eyed, Swarthy celestials pagodas paper
houses, and pigtails The very names of the several
varieties were suggestive of bamboo lacquered
ware, tans, and po-celaine vases, ornamental with
grotesque figures which are almost as much of a
mystery to me to-day as they were then. Now
change seems to be coming over all this and instead
ofIooklng to China and India for the supply of tea
ior the future we shall have it manufactured
within a fewhours ride ofour own door, Ihave been
extremely interested in the discussion of the sub
Ject WhSeh has been going in the press for some
time, and in the effort of Mr.. Saunders several
years ago to establish the cultivation of tea in this
country.
HIS PAMPHLET ON TEA CULTURE
as Probable American Industry" published in
1879, was extremely interesting and shows what
has been done and what can be done. In 1858 the
Commissioner of Patents received ten thousand
tea plants from China which in the course of time
were increased TO thirty thousand and were dis
tributed through the Southern States The war,
coming on soon AFTER put stop to the business at
that time. In 1862 the Agricultural Department
was organized, and now more than hundred
thousand plants are annually set out and cult
waited. Mr.. John Jackson is at present in charge of
the plantation in the South, and, as he has spent
some time in India among the tea regions, we look
for great things from the experiment in the future
Some persons claim that it is impossible
TO MANUFACTURES TEA
in this country to have the same flavor as the
Chinese teas have Now, Mr.. Editor, the Ameri-
cans are very smart people, and does any one
say it is impossible for them TO add little plum
bago, turmeric gum, gypsum, or indigo if
necessary to convert old Hyson into young Hyson,
or Pekbe into Gunpowder? Or, if the tea leaves
do not hold ont, what is to hinder them from
putting in little more willow, poplar, or chamo-
mile? The Chinese scent their teas with orange
blossoms and Cape jessamine. Are not our re-
sources in this respect unlimited? We can find
tons Of rccGs, vic!ets, and nge-biussoms-more
than the Flowery Kingdom" ever dreamed or
Every one admits that America is a country of
great possibilities" and who knows but the
time may come when we shall be supplying India
and China with all their tea.
WE SEND ABROAD
cotton, beef oil, shoes. sewing machines, and why
not tea? Wemake charming Rhine wine in Califor-
mia, champagne which never saw Champagne
import sardnes from the coast of Maine, AMI man
utacture japanese fans TO order in new Jersey
and who says we shallnot make Oolong, Souchong
Pekoe, Twankay, and all the other jawbreakers?
When this business is fairly started l want them to
send for me to arrange the names for the several
varieties-all made from the same plant-for of
course we shallhave to give them American names,
ndofChnoAmericann name might
do For Oolong we might have "Toolong" for
Gunpowder. Chained Lightning" for Imperial,
National" for Bohea, Go to Sea :" or if these
are considered too plain, how would " Catniptea"
do? or HOuknOwwhat?" or Yang to Carolina?'
OLD BACHELOR.