The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1897-10-05
AMERICAN GROWN TEA.

Dr.. Chas. L. Shepherd, South Caro-
lima gentleman. has Experimental for
years upon his farm at Pinehurst, TO de-
termine the commercial possibilities OF
tea culture in the United States. He
has succeeded in demonstrating that
tea farming is q practical possibility IN
the South.
In a recent press Interview, DR.. Shep-
herd said:
The economical raising OF tea here
on a comparatively large scale is con-
fronted by several serious obstacles, AMI
much more than the past few years must
be devoted to experimental work before
a satisfactory solution may be obtained.
First is the difference in the price Of
labor between the tea producing coun-
tries and the Southern States. 1t costs
almost as much to pick, with Us Of fresh
leaf sufficient to make a pound Of tea as
it does to raise, pick and pack the same
quantity Of the kind sent US from Asia.
There are, therefore, two alternatives
presented to the would be American
tea grower; he must raise the quality Of
his product above that Of the cheaper
Oriental gardes, or he must reduce the
cost of production. The former course
has been pursued at Pinehurst, and with
promising results.
For a tea garden several things are
essential. as favorable soil conditions. ex-
posure to the sun, protection from win
try blasts and the avoidance of
water about the roots Of the plants. Then
there are different kinds of ten plants
needing different kinds Of treatment.
he Assam is the finest. It derives its
name from the northeastern province of
British India, and was formerly founi
growing there to the height Of 30 feat
in the dark steaming jungIes along the
banks of the Brahmaputra river. where
the atmosphere is always damp and frost
unknown. Its leaves are bright green
and very large, often attaining a length
Of seven or more inches, and broad iii
proportion.
The attempt is being made at Piua-
4 but the comparatively severe weather to
4 WHICH tits section Of South Carolina is
liable makes success seem very remote.
AT the other extreme is the Chinese
variety. This is a low, bushy shrub,
low Of growth and capable Of weather;ng
snow, frost and ice. The leaves ara
dark green, tough and small. Between
these two varieties stand the interme-
0late or hybrid grades, and these are the
ODS pb'\N ptIp1C w IIt ID Cut-
tivation, where intelligence and study
serve to bring out the best possible quail
ities as well as quantities of the tea
plant.
These plants grow from two to five
feet in height, according to the variety
Of the seed, and the number of 'hushes'
or pickings also very somewhat. The
Assam plant in its native country will
stand 20 fushes in a year. while the
Chinese variety will not +h-iva -,ndar
more than four or FIVE.
81 he planter plucks the young leaves
as they appear, and nature sends out
new shoots to supply the deficiency.
This warfare is kept up until the plant
Su"""mbs, say in 10 successive seasons.
The best climate for tea is one
whore the temperature never goes below
- degrees and never above 90 degrees.
and where sudden variations are not fire.
quent.
The rainfall in countries best a
dapted for tea raising averages above
100 inches per annum. Nevertheless. it
is possible to remuneratively grow tea
here, where the temperature ayera ges
65 degrees and the rainfall Sc inches.
The tea plant requiring very rich soil,
liberal irrigation has been found to
greatly ugment the quality as well as
the quantity Of the product here. The
picking Of the leaf il a garden Of q
acres Will keep a force OF 20 children
busy all season. and the Southern pick
aninnies are taking very kindly to the
new form of employment, and quickly
learn to do the work properly and salts
factorily.
"A suitably equipped factory for pre-
pairing the tea is very necessary. The
first thing in this line is the whitening
of the green leaf. 1t must he thinlv
spread over floors or trays. and so cured
rs to render it less susceptible to break
ing when rolled. Rolling either by hand
or machinery breaks the oil calls in the
leaf and oxidation results. This develops
the strength and partly the flavor of
the tea. and is a very particular and de-
licate process.
The work is not altogether inexpen-
s:ve. and tea culture in America must
be conducted with the s~tr:ctest possible
economy in order to attain success. There
are many obstacles to overcome. but
the certainty that they can be surmount-
ed is demonstrated here NJ Pinehurst,
where We have produced both the green
and black tea Of a quality which readi-
II commands 81 or more in the retail
market.
There has been enough success -
warrant confidence, and We hope to ulti-
matelv attempt the manufacture of thos.
very highly esteemed and priced teas
which are rarely met with outside the
countries in which they are grown: md
S;mnlv because Of a light firing they
VIII not stand distant transportation.
This i n field where American growers
need fear no competition from tho O-ian-.
cnch teas must demand q very high
rr;ce. hut If hotter than can he other
v-fso ot+ained there VII re no scarcity o.
buyers"
Mr.. 7. r. Jones md Mr. Iohn Tonlov
bave given the SanctifcationiSts =