The San Francisco call., 1899-08-23
CALIFORNIA TEA.

THE people of this State have long known Its
possibilities and the variety OF its resources.
Nature favors the production OF many Things
here We are so situated that may draw upon TWO
zones and gather from the norhward and the south
ward plants that produce what man needs to supply
his necessities and comforts and luxurles he queS
ton OF labor into the economic productoh OF
much that nature avors. Give us the labor htted 10
it. in and application to detail, and we can pro-
duce silk without limit. The mulberry fourlshes mere
and the skworm reduces it to fiber But the industry
requires surplus of domestic labor or OF hired labor
at a low wage The care OF the moth and worm and
the winding of cocoons, the primary processes IN pro-
ducon, stand in the way OF immediate development
1t is probable that when California has about triple
her present population the surplus OF domestic labor
will enable silk culture Significant scale: linen
may be found in a majority OF country homes the
time and skill required produce and fit the raw silk
for the manufacturer and may then become as com
mon as wool is now
After his recent visit here the Secretary OF Agrcu-
ture is quoted as saying: "One of my pet schemes
has been tea culture in the United States. his
project l have nursed in my mind for many
years. The department has been developing tea
plants at Washington in great quantities, and 1t pro-
poses to distribute in favorable localities some four
million shrubs One OF the chief purposes OF my
"trip across the Rocky Mountains to find soil and
climate that would be favorable the culture OF tea
This l did find in California. Just where [ cannot
tell you at present. However, am satisfied Calior-
MIA has the right soil and climate in abundance The
Agricultural Department will push its experiments at
once"
The Secretary is right II he had confded his pur-
pose to our people while here he could have been
shown tea plants long growing and thrifty, IN the
western foothills of the Sierra and could have prob
ably been furnished a cup OF California tea.
The shrub was experimental with long ago, and the
capacity of our soil and climate to produce is as
well established as their frendness to silk culture
At present the obstructng element is the in
silk 1t is a question OF the lack OF abundant and
cheap labor Rural families in the foothills have pro-
duced tea for their use, though its quality would
be improved by more knowledge OF the processes OF
picking, drying and preparing the leaf
Tea planting has also been tried successfully in
South Carolina and in that State appears natural
obstacle to its development Before the abolition Of
slavery it had come to be regarded possible in
dustry OF great value. Since the substitution Of free
for slave labor it is subjected TO the same conditions as
in California.
1t is to be hoped that the Secretary will send
generous portion of his tea plants here. If few
ranchers in the foothills who will treat them inteli
gently, can get them and get proper instruction N
picking and curing the leaf, there will be laid the
foundation for production in commercial quantities,
1t not to be expected that any will devote the
land and the capital required to put out at
large commercial plantation of tea But when large
number of ranchers have by the OF or two
shown the merit and profit of the industry its enlarge
ment may be expected
Tea grows in our atitudes in China and Japan, and
is noteworthy that the industry began there bv the
production OF tea for domestic by the producer
and never became OF commercial importance until
its use had been domesticated in Europe
The next visit we have from the progressive Secre-
tary of Agriculture he must be shown the tea shrubs
OF California, which have long stood witnesses TO
capacity to supply cup OF American tea