Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-06-16
SOMETHING ABOUT TEA.
fioridian Correspondent Writes
About the Fragrant Plant.


LIVE OAK, June 12.-The mention in
late issue of your journal that the United
states chemist had condemned g. large
quantity of tea which some Boston house
had fraudulently adulterated. invited re-
newed attention to this subject, Some
| practical Congressman good MANY wears
ago inaugurated the attempt to raise tea
in the United States, by the aid of the
government. Experiment has proved
that the shrubs will flourish as high up as
North Carolina. The plants strike root
deep into the ground, and when once fair
ly growing, are hardy in every respect.
except a little tenderness as to the sum-
mer's sun, which loose scaffolding of old
boards will protect. An intelligent culti-
Vator in North Carolina found six bushes
TO supply his family amply with tea.
Bishop Marvin, when visiting China.
Japan and India, noted the preparation Of
teas Tor expectation, and roundly assert
ed that the severe roasting and the color
ing OF some kinds so greatly impaired
them that the natives would not use them.
lie says that teas which have not been
thus manipulated make delicious drink.
lea must be good for health when we re-
hect on the tOughness, as laborers. of Deo-
pie who raise il and have used il freely in
perfection, the Chinese, Japanese and
HindOos.
The eminent British scientist, Professor
johnson, by analysis, found tea and
coffee to be very similar in their chemical
constituents. There is only one material
difference-tea is cooling and coffee is
heating. This would make tea the appro-
pirate table beverage for summer and the
evening meal. If the Southern people
would raise their tea, and use it half the
time, instead of coffee, they would save
several millions of dollars annually.
while health would be promoted, and
they would enjoy better article than
the imported. In the course of time the
plants yield seed, so that further propa-
CATION may be carried on through them.
Dr. Loring. the Commissioner of Agri-
culture, has not abandoned the fostering
of tea culture, but is keeping up the
United States tea farm at Summerville.
5. c., whence several hundred plants
were lately received by your correspOn-
dent, and were distributed at Marion,
Live Oak, Paddock and Branford. Doubt
less many applicants will be supplied
from. these next spring. Tea culture in
the South is an important domestic
economy.
We lately had the pleasure of visit
from gentleman resident in the far
Northwest, who wished to get acquainted
and to authorize the selection of a Florida
home by next fall-Mr. III. Legler. He is
native of Switzerland, and he spent
many years in Sicily before removal to
America. He became fond of semi
tropical climate, and noted the fruit cul-
'ture and gardening there. Unlike so very
many Europeans his first choice was the
South. He settled In Augusta, Ca,
whence the burning of his establish
ment caused him reluctantly to move.
He still clung to the South. be-
came citizen of Memphis several years,
until the fearful epidemic drove him
thence. He then settled in Wisconsin,
and has found that, however lovely in
some respects, the region among the head
waters of the great river, he cannot get
over his acquired fondness for semi-tropi-
cal horticulture and seaside home. A
lasting impression was made on him by
the land where the sun laughs-as he
terms it-and where, as he might have
added, Horace lived on farm and wrote
immortal stanzas, and put up his wine;
and Cicero and Virgil eXtOlled the happi-
ness of country life.
Mr.. L. has brother still living in Sici-
ly, by whose cooperation he feels as
sured that he could gradually procure
Italian laborers, trained to cultivate, not
only oranges and lemons, but olives, figs
and grapes, according to the methods of
centuries.
Italians could hardly fail to take up
promptly with any hill country in
Florida and the border counties of GeOr-
gia and Alabama. They should be order
ed in groups of several families, to be do
mesticated conveniently near each other,
so as to be able to meet occasionally and
have good old country talk. Any in
quiries in this regard will be carefully |
filed and delivered to Mr.. L.
Live Oak is improving as a town-new |
and good hotels; her journalism expand |
ing; her springs, the Suwanee hath new |
hotel with over 1,200 feet of verandas
and luxurious baths. The spring has
been rather favorable for crops in
Suwanee county, except rather dry at
this time. &. G.. PLAYER.