Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-01-25

MARION FLORIDA, January 21.-Editor Morn
ing Ne,0s Tea is but little used by the South
ern people, coffee being their favorite bever-
age. But there are the best of reasons why tea
should be popular also. Analysis shows that
its chemical properties are strikingly similar
to those of coffee; the only marked difference
is tea is cooling, while coffee, we all know.
heats the body. How very many have had
their rest disturbed In the early hours Of a
summer night through indulgence in good cof
fee at the evening meal Tea wouId not have
done this. The former IS the best drink for
cold weather, or tbs cool hours of the day
ana tne latter tGr summer or supper.
Both arc noble beverages, and if used more
rreNiy, and well made and more judiciousy
as to the temperature Of the weather, would
tend to diminish the craving for alcoholic
drinks.
The British are mainly tea drinkers, and are
a notably healthy fine looking people The
Chinese and Japanese laborers are exception
ally tough and Industrious and some suppose
that they derive these qualities partly from
their use of tea, which they raise so abundantly
for use and to export.
Shortly before the war Colonel Screven of
savannah, established Tea garden on his
plantation in Liberty county Zone of the finest
coast counties OF Georgia), which became
neglected in the general wreck Of the hostilities
A few years ago General LIE Due was in
formed of this deserted tea garden. and he
bought the plants and became jealous advo-
cate of tea culture in the south. Chance NJ ade
him acquainted with an excellent superipten-
dent or assistant IN the business, Mr. j Jack
son, on visit to the United States on account
of his wites health-an Engljsn gentleman
who had spent many years among the British
tea plantations in IndiS, cultivaiing it. dealing
in 1t, and inventinS approved machinery to roll
it and prepare it for market.
Mr.. Jackson enthusiastically and industri-
n.Isly took charge of the plantation in Liberty
county. He liked the soil and climate, the
locality was favorably near the fourishing
seaport, tea plants which had been neglected
for years and were overgrown with weeds and
wild shrubbery were living and growing and
healthy-there being no dead twigs many
were of large size He cleaned and cultivated
the old plants, and planted with his own hands
many thousand young plants. He gathered
samples of the leaves and cured them, and
| sent them to dealers in London and New
| York who gave favorable opinions as
| to them. At this juncture new President
| came in and among the routine changes Gen
| eral LeDuc was turned out of the Agricultural
| Department and DIR. Loring put in in his stead.
The first thing that " e read OF the latter's do
| ing was to order the abandonment Of the tea
| gardens in Georgia and South hCarollOa-anoth-
| er bad been started near Charleston or
| Georgetown This looks hasty and inconsi5er-
| ate If not unfriendy. But the last aspect has
been balanced oy his promptly attending an
| agricultural fair in South Carolina and making
| a speech, as he also did some weeks later in
Atlanta. This indicates good will towards
| our section,
Dr. LOTluR may nave U6Clueu budb IL WOuIQ
| not be profitable to raise tea In the United
States, because labor is SO much dearer than
| in China, Japan and Hindostan. And we
grant this freely. We advocate the trial of it
| in all the parts Of our common country where
| it may be raised as a domestic economy. 1t is
| too hard to believe tn vt it cannot be success
fully cultivated on millions Of plats from North
| Carolina on through Texas to California. AS
| small plats well cultivated would yield supplies
| for home use. these might be raised in lati-
| tudes rather cold for the plants unprotected
! AnSv wzTa
| those over fig trees in the northern portions of
| the cotton belt.
| Tea drinkers in the United States pay to the
retail dealers over $50,G0,OO0 a year. This is
mentioned to give our Southern readers an
| idea of how important it is. A million OF
| families raising it at home, and alternating it
with coffee al their tables, would save several
| millions of dollars annually. They would also
| avoid the disparaging effects of the roasting
| processes which some teas are put through in
| foreign countries; also the unwholesome col
oring processes of some kinds. Bishop Mar
| vim in visiting China and Japan, found teas in
| perfection to be delicious.
Sorghum was introduced through the Agri-
| cultural Department about the year 1855, and
! il now is established, and enables millions of
| families who live above the sugar cane belt to
| make their own syrup for home use. Many
have learned to make sugar from it.
Turnips, which are the main food of the cat
| tie and sheep in Great Britain. were rendered
popular by Mr.. Townsend who had to ding
dong the subject, however until he got the
name of 'Turnip Townsend" Rev. G. w.
Howard
The irish potato was slowly and re-
luctantly adopted in France but now it is
raised there in immense quantities for food
and to make starch.
The culture or the sugar beet was forced on
the French by stern Napoleonic legislation
The people complained against it for years.
but now they cherish it. 1t enables them to
make their sugar.
About The year 1852 Mr.. Smith. who had
| spent several years in travelling and had be-
come impressed with the feasibility and i'm
portance of tea culture in portions of the
United States, settled, and began the business on
| his own account. He selected place in the
upper country of South Carolina, in Spartan
burg county. His progress, which was re-
ported as good while it lasted, was terminated
| In few years by his violent death.
| Mr.. Jackson's patronage being taken away,
| it is reported that he has gone to Philadelphia
and elsewhere to get means to continue tea
| planting
| DR.. Loring would do q good service to the
| South by causing the publication of a concise
| circular on tea culture and distributing it with
seeds or plants, whichever is the best way.
Respectfully, g. @. PLAYER