The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-12-15

Tea gardens In the United states
are now an accomplished fact, for,
after many experiments, Il has been
amply demonstrated that tea can be
grown at a profit. The department Of
agriculture has made careful inquiry
and examination into this industry, as
proved by DR.. G. u. Shepard on his
Pinehurst plantation in South Carolina,
and new believes that tea can be
grown at a fair profit in marjf OF the
cotton-producing states. From these
successful experiments It also believes
that within hfte1n years there will be
hundreds Of tea plantations scattered
through the cotton belt.
The estate Of P%inehurst, where these
experiments have been made, comprises
about seven hundred acres. The ur-
face throughout is gently undulating,
and the soil mainly a sandy loan. In
some OF the lower parts It is composed
Of a certain amount Of peaty matter,
but these portions are confined to small
areas. The domain is well supplied
with belts and groups Of natural tree
growth, among which the southern, or
long-leafed, pine (pinus palustris)
abounds. It should be understood that
in all tea-growing countries the plan
tations are called tea gardens. Whether
the area under cultivation is one acre
or 1000 acres, it is recognized as a gar
den, and in all features of the industry
this appellation is employed.
DR.. Shepard has tea gardens planted
on different sites. This is for the pur-
pose Of experiment with varied as
poets and varied conditions. Some of
the gardens are producing, others are
set out with young plants and others
are in the experiment stage. The first
experiments were such failures that
DR.. Shepard thought seriously Of aban-
doning the work. The plants we're
not hardy enough for this climate.
Seeds of a harder variety we're Sc
cured and later experiments were sue
cessful. One Of the Pinehurst gardens
Is producing an average Of FIVE ounces
Of tea to the plant, which equals the
Ceylon ard Indian average, and is
double that of the Chinese and Jap
anese plants. A prominent tea grower
Of Ceylon, who visited Pinehurst, pro
nounced the tea grown here equal tC
any in the world. One attraction fol
visitors to the Pinehurst gardens il
the foliage, which is a deep, velvety
green.
One Of the first problems to be SOLVED
in promoting this industry was that o
growing tea in a district which has
yearly rainfall Of hfty-six inches, Will,
Asiatic authorities claim that 1t shouli
not be less than eighty to one hundre,
inches. Some OF the best tea district
t have one hundred and twenty inches o
yearly rainfall. Again, 1t was foun'
that authorities agree that the temper
( allure should never be lower than 4
= degrees Fahrenheit, for although tn
plant can survive zero, yet the bes
production is obtained from plant
mere rrosr- doesGaot prevail. At Pine
hurst Is degrees may be expected dur
Q ing winter. In regard to moisture, tn
profitable production of tea depend
g principally upon rainfall or the pres
ence Of moisture in the soil. With a
q ample supply of water, the plants ar
. maintained in constant vigor, and tn
operation Of manufacture proceeds IN
interruptedly during the whole perio
Of active growth. In districts favore
with sufficient heat and rains the plant