The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-04

Interesting and Successful Expert
ment by a Southern Grower.

ment by a Southern Grower.
Baltimore American.
THE English government has reduced
the growing of tea in India and China to
a science. said DR.. Shepard, " and being
OF a scientific turn, / naturally concluded
that the best course 1 could pursue would
be TO follow their methods. / informed
myself very thoroughly on this score, and,
obtaining plants and seeds from India.
Ceylon and China, set to work TO cultivate
tea after the English system. After three
years / found that / had made a mistake.
The climate and the conditions In India
and Ceylon are so different from what
they are in this country that the same sys-
tenn of culture was not applicable here. L
found that different methods would have
to be adopted, and that the plants were
benefited by a certain manner of pruning
and cutting.
Nothing daunted, I continued the ex-
pertinent, learning the best methods to
obtain results by experience and observa-
ton. l think / can say that have met
with a fair amount of success The acreage
and the amount OF tea produced have grad
ually increased each year. until now have
sixty acres in tea, and the product last
year was $500 pounds. The crop should be
considerably larger this year. The exper-
iment has reached the stage where IL has
attracted considerable attention in this
country and abroad. and / am in constant
receipt OF communications requesting in
on the subject. The United
States Agricultural Department has lent
its aid. and an appropriation has been made
to further the work. While the amount OF
tea produced has not been sufficient to az
feet the market in any way. the work has
attracted the attention of the large tea inn
pOrterS and others interested in the busi-
ness, some of whom have shown a very
decided interest in the matter. L have even
had an offer from wealthy capitalists to
furnish and TO establish a large plantation
for the purpose of growing tea on a COM
mercial scale, provided 1 woald agree TO
take charge. Ny ambition does not lie in
this direction. however. My idea in UNDER
taking this work was to establish an indus
try which would give profitable occupation
TO thousands of people throughout the
South, especially in the malarial districts.
where IL is difficult for white persons TO
labor during the hot months. There are
hundreds OF thousands of acres OF land
along our South Atlantic and gulf coasts
which are suitable for the production Of
tea, and In which thousands Of white per-
sons could find agreeable employment"
DIR. Shepard has succeeded In producing
a high grade green tea from plants grown
from seed obtained from the famous ORA
gon Pool plantation. near Hangehow.
China. which the Chinese esteem so highly
that none of this tea is ever exported. as
high as $50 to $50 a pound being obtained
for the choice varieties. There Is little de-
mand in this country for these high grade
green teas as yet, and as the cost OF prep
aration is considerable, DIR. Shepard has
directed. his attention chiefly % producing
a good grade o. black tea.
Il nave SuCCctutu III tcldDllcnluB q IdlT
demand for this tea" he said. ''at prices
which would be remunerative were the
business conducted on a commercial basis.
This black tea Is stronger than the i'm
ported article, and has a somewhat differ
ent flavor. Some people do not like IL at
first. but after becoming accustomed 10 IL.
some will use no other. This should prove
advantageous TO the industry. as in the end
a demand will gradually be built up for this
particular class OF tea, whereas. IL IL were
similar in all respects TO the imported teas.
the dealers could easily substitute other
varieties, and there would be no special de-
mand for the homegrown article"
THE tea shrub is not only a very hardy
plant" said DR.. Shepard. but IL Is very
long-lived. There are plantations in China
where the same bushes have been picked
from for over two hundred years. Once
established. a tea plantation may be re-
garded as a permanent investment. II
stands the climate well. being little sus-
ceptible 10 cold, and no insect or other
of the plant have developed as
yet, as Is the case with nearly every other
crop. One of the best features
Is that the harvesting season lasts six
months. beginning IN April and ending In
October; so that even a prolonged spell OF
bad weather does not interfere with the
crop. The work Is light. and for the most
part can be done by women and children.
The drying and curing ls a somewhat diff
process. but small plants for doing
this work could be established. Just as cot
ton gins are found In almost every town
in the South. Hedge rows and fence cor
ners furnish desirable locations for the
tea bushes. and with the industry once es-
tablished. as I now believe IL Will be. the
farmers wives and daughters have a
source OF income"
DR.. Shepard Is not an enthusiast. though
he Is interested heart and soul in his work.
He does not expect 10 make a fortune out
OF his tea plantation. nor even 20 get back
the money which he has put into IL. His
is 10 develop an industry which
will benefit the entire South. and for which
future generations win rise up and call
him blessed