Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-06
TEA FARMING.
More Pleasure Than Profit in This
Pursuit in This Country.

Pursuit in This Country.
From the Hartford Times,
At 'Pinehurst," on the outskirts of Sum-
merville, about twenty-five miles from
Charleston, S. c., and seventy feet higher
in elevation, is the tea farm of DIR. Charles
U. Shepard. q distinguished chemist and
pubIic-spirited citizen, who is devoting his
time. thought and abundant means to the
solution of the question whether high grade
teas can be successfully cultivated In the
south. For the benefit Of those interested
in the cultivation of tea and who may
wish to practically experiment, DR.. Shep-
ard would say that the conditions for the
remunerative production of tea may be
thus given: First, climate. Under the vari-
Gus temperatures the tea plant adapts it
self to a great variety Of climates. Some
varieties persist in existing under extremes
of cold. long continued frost, snow and ice
as III northern China and Japan; but 1t
means poor tea. The most favorable condi-
tons are those Of Assam, in northeast In
dia. and the higher elevations Of Ceylon
and China, comparatively near the sea,
and protected. There should never be any
frost or a temperature much above ninety
degrees for the best conditions
The other very important point Is the
rainfall. The most productive gardens are
those which average an annual rainfall Of
for mly distributed as possible, with plenty
Of fogs and heavy dews. but without any
cold. Nevertheless, the very highest grades
Of tea may be produced in compromise
climates with lover temperature and less
rainfall.
The tea plant is an enormous feeder and
requires great abundance Of assimilable
food. Recourse Ii had to manuring to
counteract the depletion effected by the
yearly plucking OF the plants.
With reference to situation, 1t has been
found by experiment that the best situa-
ton IL comparatively nat land.
It Is cheaper to raise the tea plant from
seed. The seed may be planted either in
the nurseries or in the places where 1t is to
grow permanently. In this climate, where
we are liable to severe'cold. long droughts
and excessive heat, 1t 10 preferable to
raise the seed in nurseries with protection
from the weather and under favorable
conditions for watering. The more tender
varieties, II they can be grown at all, re-
quire protection for the first year after be-
ing set out in the tea gardens from the
sun in summer and from northwest blasts
in winter.
Substantially constructed wooden build
irgs for the manufacture of tea are in
close proximity to DR.. Shepard's residence.
Every pound of fresh leaf requires ten
square feet for whitening. A light, airy
room is necessary, with no direct sunlight.
The time necessary for whitening varies
from three or four hours up to two days,
according to the weather. the treatment
and tn. nature of the leaf. The tea leaf
is withered when 1t feels like an old kid
glove. Properly withered tea will stand
rolling without danger of being broken in
to fragments The fresh leaves are devoid
of taste or fragrance. whitening develops
faint aroma tic odor.
q The financial returns so far have been
nominal, because the product has been
necessarily small. He produced 500 pounds
of black teas in 1891, which have command
ed as high price as almost any tea in
fhn o-tra sail inc f0r a
pound In Summerville and Charleston. This
season DIR. Shepard hopes, in spite of the
hard winter. to produce 1000 pounds should
climatic conditions be favorable. During
Chinese and Japanese gardens. It received
at the hands of experts valuation equiva-
lent to the retail price of Sl.50 per pound.
But the greater part of the crop of 1888
was from Assam hybrids, and was made
into black tea, being more suitable for that
purpose