The record-union., 1894-11-07


at Sl4, lab, l07. Here is certainly big
field to be covered by American industry,
provided the climatic and labor condi-
tions are favorable. 1t is well known
that tea planting on small scale was un-
dertaken in the Carolinas before the war,
but never attained commercial import
ance. Within the past few years other
small paintings have been made and
some interesting data have been gath
cred regarding the crop by Prof. Massey
of the North Carolina Experiment Sta
ton. Tea which sold at so cents pound
has been grown in small quantity in
some parts of North Carolina, and some
produced at Summerville, South Caro-
lima, is said to have sold at 81 per pound.
1t is alleged that the cost of production,
so far as yet determined, is about %
cents per pound; but it is believed that
on large scale the cost could be ma
terially reduced. Prof Massey is re-
ported to have said that the best tea he
ever tasted was grown in the Carolinas,
and he believes it will eventually prove
profitable crop there. Several months
ago we called attention to the statement
OF Mr.. Jackson, an experienced tea
grower of India, then on a tour OF in
tea could be prohtably produced in the
United States. A Southern paper now
states that Mr.. Jackson, who is engaged
In tea culture to a limited extent In
South Carolina, asserts that with the
negro labor of the South tea can be as
.cheaply produced there as in China
w hlle we have grave doubts on this sub
ject, yet improved appliances may enable
planters To produce this crop with bet
ter profit than cotton growing has
yielded IN recent years, or is likely TO
yield in years TO come.
But il tea can be successfully grown in
South Carolina, why not in California?
Have any conclusive experiments been
tried in that direction III this State? Ii
not, would it not be well for our Expert
ment Station to make tests along this
line? We have apparently every ad-
vantage possessed in South Carolina in
climatic sense, and as for labor, many of
the Chinese we have hero should know
something OF tea culture and work as
cheaply as the negroes of the South. In
view of the great need OF diversified
culture in California. it might be wise TO
explore the field for tea culture, for every
pound OF tea produced here at profit
would be distinct gain. AT present
prices of wheat and tea in San Francisco
1t requires 100 pounds of the former to
buy three pounds of the latter. 1t might
be that to cultivate and prepare one acre
of tea in California would cost consider
ably less than to produce thirty-three
acres of wheat, especially when original
cost of land is taken into account. In
any event. it appears that there may be
field for a new enterprise among us, even
II 1t should prove somewhat limited
one. Let US California
Eruit~GroWer.
STONE MEAL.
A German chemist, Herr Hensel. has
startled the European farmers by the bold
claim that stone meal natural rocks
ground to minute fineness) is superior to
all other substances as a fertilizer, and he
even attacks the use of manure and fer
tiliZerS as being the sources of nearly all
diseases among the human family as well
as among animals. Although his theory
IS not accepted by many. and is yet to be
given greater tests, 1t IS not out of place
10 present his views for the Information
OF those who may be interested. II may
be stated, also, that he has succeeded in
attracting the attention OF the leading ag-
ricultural associations Of Germany to his
theory, and tests have also corroborated
his claims, stone meal having given bet
ter results than manure or artificial fer
tillZers.
Henzel claims, as is well known, that
the disintegrated primary rocks contain
more or less of potash, soda, lime, mag
nesia, iron, phosphoric acid. suIphuric
acid, chlorine, fuorine, SILICA and alu-
mInia and that our soils are composed of
such, the earthly material from the pri-
mary rocks, associated with gypsum and
lime, III com Animation with water and the
atmosphere, under the influence OF the
warmth and light of the sun, producing
the plants which nourish man and beast,
He states that the ashes OF plants show
about as much potash and soda as lime
and magnesia, and that potash and soda
are not only interchangeable but may
also be replaced in most plants to a con-
siderable extent by lime and mapnesia
which new theory he proves by witnesses
who have tested for the purpose of dem
onstrating il as a fact. He also asserts
that hydrocarbons, through the adiuuc-
tion OF earth and ammonia, become albu-
men, and that albumen easily undergoes
q change into fat as may be seen in
cheese, and as the meat OF the ham passes
into fat.
1t may be further surprise to be in
formed that 1t is unnecessary 10 apply
nitrogen in any form to the soil, but
Hensel asserts that nitrogen in the form
of carbonate is injurious TO plants, and
rs unnecessary in the soil il the soil con-
tains a sufficiency of fixed basic SUBJ
stances (alkalies and alkaline earths). as
plants will easily procure the needed
nitrogen from the atmosphere. He re-
flutes the supposition that stone meal is
not soluble by referring TO the use of
silica by plants, which is one of the most
1nsoluDie substances entering into the
composition of plants. yet there is no
plant food which is more plentiful. or
more easily appropriated by plants, than
silica. and there is not a root, stem,
Leaf or fruit which does not contain silicic
acid.
1t is claimed by Hensel that if farmers.
instead of removing their stones and
rocks, Will grind them to an impalpable
powder. by heating the rocks and then
breaking them so as to easily grind them.
and will apply from 500 to 200 pounds
per acre Tor more), thus adding to the
original soil, the crops will be more
abundant and OF better quality than when
fertilizers are used, While the cost will be
much less. AS these substances are
plentiful they are within the reach of all.
He admits that farmers will receive his
theory (which, however, he claims is not
theory, but a fact) with doubt but he
calls upon them to test 1t for themselves
on small plat by the side of manured
land, or on land to which fertilizers have
been applied, and satisfy themselves
without cost or with but little expense.
The views of Hensel cannot be given
fully on limited space, but the above is
presented Tor the consideration of those
Interested. d.-Philadelphia Record
SMALL FRUITS.
The small fruits are given excellent
cultivation in the spring, and enterpris-
ing fruit-growers are liberal with manure
and fertilizers on certain kinds, but after
the crops are harvested there is often a
neglect of the field or patch Until spring
appears again. This is not so much the
case with trawberries as with raspber-
ries and black berries, which are grown
extensively in some localities surround
inc this city. In Pennsylvania it is nee
essary to layer the canes, by covering