The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-03-20
Dr.. Shepard's Great Work.

It's phophcsied that before long
India, China, Ccylon and Japan will
be compelled to recognize Westefa,
rivalry in tea culture. In the nass
they have had it all their own way.
Not less than OLE 5,0OO,0 snnusily
crossed the ocean to foreign Golfers.
Nov the outlook is that some OF this
wealth may be kept in the couutry.
The tea plant has established it's right
to existence - the Western Hemis-
phere, and, having gained foothold,
there is no known reason why it should
not continue to prosper.
ln the current number of the Re-
view of Reviews Leonora Beck Ellis
describes American Tea Gardens,
Actual and possible. Dr.. Charles
U Shepard is the experimental grower
of tea gardens not far from Charles
ton, s. Z. M:ac:y s;1 years ago
Michaux introduced the Oriental
plants into the State, and since that
time one perscvering student after
another has studied the conditions re-
Qnired In search Of the elements of
success. Michaux in the same year.
1904, planted the camellia japonica
on the Ashley River. This near cou
sin of the tea plants, or camellia thei-
fera. adapted itself to the climate and
has fiourished. Why not the tea plant?
10 1881 the United States government
set out gardens. but the retirement of
one manager and che death Of the
second caused the scheme to he ahan-
doned before real results were proved.
DR.. Shepard Investigated past as
we'll at existing conditions and became
convinced that tea culture wac still a
probable American industry. AS a
philanthrop st he was actuated by the
belief that il successful this new field
OF agricultural labor would give COM
paratively easy outdoor employment
to many thousand untitled for rougher
toll, and enrich them with the reve-
nues being sent across the Pacific. Two
difficulties in the way were the less
rainfs'l and zero weather. Carolina
has an average annual rainfall Of Sc
inches, while Asia.ic authorities say
ten requires between go 20 100 inches,
and the beat gardens have 120. Also
that the temperature should never drop
below 10 degrees + ahrenheit, though
hardy varieties do survive zero cold.
During ten years DR.. Shepard has put
TO the test available varieties of teas,
soils and situations, establishing a
system of soil treatment with view
of conserving the moisture By using
the hardest varieties grown in high
attitudes he has been rewarded, says
his historian. "by seeing the gardens
upon which he counted most strongly
pass unscathed through the Carolina
winters, being but temporarily set
back even by thht unprecedented cold
Of St Valentines Day, 1899"
Rival tea gardens, inspired by the
success Of DR.. Shepard, have been
planted in Louisiana, in South Caro-
lima and in Georgia. While labor
costs eight times as much for each
pound Of tea in Carolina than is de-
manded for the Same work in Asia,
yet this seeming loss is balanced by
greater produotiveness in the field
and by the use Of machinery in the
factory in place Of hand labor employ
ed in the Orient. Outside tho tea
hedges, in his park on Piuehufst es-
tate, DR.. Shepard has seventy Eve
acres planted. His actual cost OF
production is 273 cents pound. This
he expects shortly to reduce to Il
cents pound. The retail price of
the STANDARD Pinehurst Black Tea"
is 81 pound. The "Rose Garden"
Of Assum- Hybrids may be taken as a
fir illustration Of the possibilities OF
this new industry. It is less than an
acre in extent and was set out in 1890
with nearly 1000 plantr, Nearly
doubling its yield every year, it's crop
Of 1898 afforded about 100 pounds.
l-Me,o Hdren Register.