Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-06

SfeeS fanrenne1t, ana never below
zero. and where liberal supply of
water can be depended upon. There
is probably no place In the United
States where the rainfall is sufficient
for the best results with the tea plant,
and irrigation should where possible be
provided for in growing tea.
The experiment at Summerville, on
tile growth and manufacture of tea, be-
gan about ten years ago. At the be-
ginning 1t was wisely on a small scale.
but has gradually been Increased until
now over fifty acres have been planted
In tea. When the plants arrive at full
bearing the yield should be at least
10000 pounds of high-grade tea; and
this should suffice for the object in
view, viz. to determine whether COM
mercial tea may be probably grown
under the local conditions of soil, eli
mate and labor.
One of the most productive of the
Summerville gardens is that called the
Rose garden. The output of green leaf
from it has been: Crop of 1892 So
pounds; crop of 1893. 81 pounds; crop
Of 1894, 151 pounds; crop of 1895, 1873
pounds; crop of 1896, GOO pounds; crop
of 1897, GAS pounds; crop of 1898, near
ly 1,20O pounds. One thousand two
hundred and sixty pounds of green leaf
will afford 300 pounds of standard Pine
hurst black tea. But the "Rose Garden,
Is. not to be regarded as an exceptional
result. nor of difficult imitation. Two
larger gardens, also formerly piney-
woods ponds. planted with Dnrjeeling
seedlings, promise successful rivalry
within few years, and yet others an
pear to be awakening to more vlgor-
GUS productiveness.
Without undue endeavor Prof. Shep-
pard sold his crop of 1898. about 1000
pounds, as also about 500 pounds of the
crop of the previous year (Which had
been bought to maintain prices), at a
profit of about % per cent. The Pine
hurst black tea has distinctly charac-
teristic flavor. and. like some of the
choicer Oriental teas. its liquor has
more strength than its color indicates.
These qualities render its Introduction
slow. But ii has always proved a diff
cult matter to change the taste OF tea
consumers: notably so in the introduc.
ton of Ceylon tea into Great Britain,
the mother country of its producers.
Nevertheless there has been steadily
increasing demand for Pinehurst tea,
and great many people will drink no
other.
Green tea also is made at Iinehurst.
and has attracted keen interest In the
trade. There is probably greater de-
mand In the United States for green
than black tea. AT present. large
amount of sophisticated green tea is
consumed in this country. AS 1t Is
chiefly made of inferior leaf, highly
colored with Prussian blue. and faced
with powdered soapstone. ETC., SO as
to hide all natural defects. 1t cannot be
regarded as either nutritious or health
full. But the nature of the demand in
dicates decided preference for the
taste and qualities of green, |. e.. not
oxidized. teas. and should stimulate us
to supply in its stead a pure, wholesome
article of the same type. Unfortunate
ly. green teas can as yet be MADE by
hand only: they represent cheap ORR
entail labor. and in the lower and me-
dunn grades competition by American
manufacture Is well-nigh impossible.
Black teas eau he made by machinery
In almost every step after the delivery
of the leaf in the factory.
The cost of production OF teas in this
cou,itry IL high, owing to the compare