The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-07
Tea Growing in the south.

The August issue of the American Agri-
culturist contains an interesting article
On Tea Culture in the South It gives
Photographic views of3 the Pinehurst
Tea Gardens, South Carolina. DR.. Chas.
L. Shepherd is the author of the article.
After giving various Chronological data
comparing the climatic conditions of
South Carolina and the tea regions of
japan, Ceylon, etc, the writer concludes
the article with the following summary.
The actual results thus far obtained at
Pinehurst, and briefly expressed, are:
/. Tea plants may be successfully
grown either from seed or cuttings 1t
IS certain that the Chinese and Japanese
sorts, as also very many of the Assam
hybrdS develop into luXuriant plants
here.
2 The yield Of tea leaf during the sea-
son of 1892 and under the stimulus ofhigh
cultivation, proved equal to that of the
best Indian gardens of the same age.
The rate of production of q well situated
and highly MANFRED garden of say 800
plants, at six years OF age, should amount
TO from $50 TO 800 pounds according to
the size of the leaf that is picked it is
highly improbable that it can ever pay to
PICK any but the small young leaf, which
alone IS suitable for the manufacture of
the higher grades of tea. Asiatic cheap
labor-at six to eleven cents daily wages
-precludes competition in the inferior
sorts
3. The quality of the tea prepared dur
ing the past season has received most
favorable notice from competent authori-
I'eS and the tea has found ready mar
heJ at comparatively high prices where
ever offered Tins fay. Op1tr eeoy u ,yL,.;J
!eat has been picked at Pinehurst; and it
IS better adapted for the manufacture of
black or fermented tea. But this season
some Chinese and Japanese plants should
De III condition to furnish leaf for ex-
Fermentation, and it is not improbable
L Inat green and oolong teas similar to the
CnlneSe may be made therefrom. Should
t tHlS leaf prove adapted to this product,
SAe great host of American green tea
drinkers may be supplied absolutely pure
anu American tea TO their liking.
AS to the question of profit, the prob
ZEN must remained unsolved for several
years yet. Without reference to unfore-
seen dangers-such as destruction by in
sgcIS or other foes-the pivotal factor is
mat OF production, and the Pinehurst
satuens are too young to afford satisfac-
.oI% conclusions. They are Also too small
" warrant the substitution of machinery
yea a step rendered Indispensable by
;ASlatlc competition; but the difference
IN cost between the two systems may be
IIsatculated. We have produced good leaf
a. IA IS possible that enough customers may
IKE Jhe style in which the Pinehurst tea
- lHe past season was prepared to con-
sumo any possible crop from this farm.
t G5,ngfwlse, it can be prepared to suit
AT this writing, the outlook for the sue
C o,oS OF tea estate of a few hundred
res is good, but it would involve the ex-
fvuulUure of large sums of money The
, uGSIIess should control its own labor,
bHHlglh can be done in the south; it must
w gHeap, obedient, reliable and intelli-
,TeuC, TO small degree Perhaps the
P p,'y.er white classes might be taught to
~ .Iyte and properly pick tea, disposing
l. S Sue product TO a central factory; but it
~ - oQsuottul If they could afford to wait
v-io our or five years after seed planting,
s ilIlcn are necessary before any consider
mn amount of leaf can be gathered. The
dL44CIpie demand for labor in the tea in
orS ny IS IN leaf plucl1ing: it is not ardu-
[I ~, ana should be done by women and
bIa -tleh. Weare hopeful that the posi-
Ma yea cultQre may open a congenial en-
F''' Lueht TO them, both white and black.