The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-02-27
Az Immense Tea Farm.

| .S.u ava SSHHpany tuc Olner uay.
This company has received its char
ter aud actual work of making ready
fer the plant, will be taken up this
week. Mr.. William Heury Parker,
DR., the counsel Of the company, has
been inspecting the titles to several
farms near Rantowels. Colleton Coun
ty, aud yesterday he made his report
to othe officers of the company.
The land bought already by the
company includes. the plantations Of
Holly Grove, Mowbray and Turkey
Hill. Rutledge Island plantation will
also likely pass into the hands Of the
American Tea Company to- day. Mr..
Parker has been examining the titles
to this property. but there is some
hitch, owing to the fact that there
are not as many acres in the tract as
claimed. When>the latter plantation
becomes the property of the new com
pany there will be tract of 5000
acres, to be used for the g owing of
tea. The total consideration for the
entire property was 800, 900.
This season only about 100 acres
will be planted in tea. It is rather
late in the season to put out great
| quantity of tea plants aud for this
reason much of the land will remain
untitled until next season. About
300 acres will be planted in rice. Mr.
Robert Ha..cston, we'll known plant
er of 'this county, will be the direct
ing manager of the farm.
Major Trimble, the secretary and
vice president of the company, has
been in the city now for week. He
came here pfepcred to remain and he
said yesterday that be yes ready to
take up his home here. Col. Tyler,
the president of the compluy, IL still
in the city and will bo here until the
latter part Of the week. After the
s-s. Tea IS planted Us will return to
his home in Connecticut Major
Trimble, as has been said, will be
the local manager of the farm. He
has, of course, had little or no ex-
p .rience in the growing Of tea but
will receive valuable aid from DR..
Shepard
/ There seems to be little doubt that
the success Of the venture is assured.
Of course, this season little tea will
be planted and as a natural conse-
quence there will be very small out
put for the first year. But the COM
pauy is not dcsirous of making par
ticularly fine showing the first year.
There is nothing like getting expert
ence hrst and then planting to the full
acreage Of the farm. A 5000 acre tea
farm is no small thing and the expert
mcnt will be watched with interest.
1t seems an injustice to call the
first attempt an experiment, for DR..
Shepard had proven that tea can be
grown in this State. The gentlemen
at the head of tho new concern will
profit by both the experience aud i'll
luck of DR.. Shepard S venture on ex.
pertinent, as it was first called. It is
safe to say that DR.. Shepard knows
moro about the growing and culture
of tea than any nan outside of Japan.
R,s success With tea growing has re-
ceived attention all over the world
and is the subject of investigation by
the agricultural department.. DR..
Shepard was Instrumental in bringing
the Connecticut gentleman to Charles
ton and his Efforts are appreciated
here,
when the new company is we'll
under way the benefits to this city will
be many. tits expected that the an-
nual output of tea will be over 300, 900
pounds. The tea will be grown for
commercial purposes wholly. Major
Trimble said yesterday that he VIZ
ready to get to work. eyes, by the
end of the week we will actually
plant" he said yesterday. CAT first
We arc going to put out only 100 acres
In tea, hut next season we will put
over 5000 acres in tea. This season
300 acres will be planted in rice. MIR.
( Harieston will be our directing man
ager. He will not be on the furm all
Of his time, but he will advise from
time to time. In a few days I shall
go to Rantowels and it is there My
headquarters will be, ,-Neps and Cou-
rier.