The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-10-21

! Copyrighted 1901. by Frank q CsrpenterD
Sinagar Tea Plantation, Tjlbadak. java
In an interview which | had at Manila a
few months ago with Don Carlos Palanca,
the millionaire Chinese Of the philippines.
he told me that tea could undoubtedly he
prohtably raised on the highlands NJ Luzon
There is no doubt but that the plants
would thrive on the other islands nearby
and tho time may come when we shall
raise not only the greater part Of our cot
fee. but all our own tea. We now use
about 100000 worth ~ tea every year.
importing more than 100000 pounds. or
about Eve pounds annually for every family
In the United States
The climate and soil Of Java are, ms I
have said, just about the same as those Of
the Philippines, and Java is now considered
one Of the best tea raising islands OF the
world. They have been growing tea here
FOR more than seventynve years The
nutch government began It in the botanical
gardens at Buitenzorg, and within Ave yelrs
had government plantations containing half
a million trees. They continued setting out
tea until the number Of trees ran high into
the millions and then gave over the hnsi-
ness TO private parties. At present there
are vast areas given MP TO tea raising. In
coming from Batavia to Sinagar ] Travelled
for many miles through mountains covered
with tea bushes, aud ! write these notes
in the lap Of the two volcanoes, Mount
Salak and Mount Gedeh, In what is per.
maps the largest tea plantation of the whole
world In China and japan the tea Is
grown In garden patches. There is seldom
more than few acres In one holding. Here
the business is one Of large estates OPP
Grated with European capital.
Biggest Tea Plantation OF the World.
Take this Slnagar estate, Tor instance,
1t has about 1900 acres and is always
planting out new tea fields 1t has now
more than $500 acres devoted to tea and
coffee and It produces more than million
pounds Of the finest tea every year Its
output Is something like 100000 pounds Of
tea per month, and altogether it has pro
ducod more than 3O,0OOO0O pounds. The
estate has capital Of 100000 and it
pays dividends Of and 10 per cent an.
nuaily, IT has paid rs high as "a per cent
and / don't think It has ever failed tg paw
wen, Tho plantation Is managed like a
great business institution. II has It's dlrec.
torits administrators hookkeepers aud civil
engineers, 1t has vast system Of rrigI
lion. with culverts which would do credit
TO any railroad In the United States lt
knows the constituents of it's sol and raises
Tea on scientific lines. 1t employees 400
men all the year around, and MI times b9s
'ouo women picking tea. Its annual wage
account amounts to $50 900 guldens and In
addition II furnishes It's own smploycs with
Gowns upon It. all subordinate to fine dlrec-
Tor, who Is sort OF patriarch or feuda
lord to the whole.
How Europeans Suffer in Java
wish J could take you into the planta.
ton houses Of this great tea estate and
show you how the Dutch suffer In these
backwoods OF the tropics. After your visit
you would no longer WASTE any sympathy
on our people who have gone to take MP
their homes IN the Philippines. Tho truth
IL, the most luxurious life OF the world is
to be found IN the far east, Here at sins
gar the people live as well as they do I'm
any part Of Europe Their houses are
large and airy. They are well furnished
ana are lighted by electricity Tho estate
mas stables of hne horses, | rode for miles
one morning over II on a SandaIwood pony
ana upon my return was shown half
co2Nn h!ooded runners which were being
trained for the races The American consul
arranged Tor my visit TO the estate through
! q long distance telephone, and / find that
/ me d0llN newspapers come ever morning.
! Upon landing at the station Of Ttibadnk
was mot by a carriage with team Of bay
horses and an old native cnachman In visor
and sarong. and my way to the estate was
over roads lined with palm trees Of a dozen
varieties through fields Of pale green suga
tea.
A Geological and Botanical Garden.
The director Of Slnaear has both a 20
illogical and botanical garden about him
He is fond Of animals and fond of lowers
Luncheon was served shorty ,ftsr az
rived o,a min, ~ 80 ii. - a.
~" """ ""''' we Ntl' Vhilhs TWO !tte
red parrots dew in and took part In the
meal They moved this wav md that NJ
| thn ,,,,,.,a 81, a.. . "
"' ,'''""" W. '"' 'uuS'e'' one HShl.hg
on my mead possibly attracted by the sim
inrity Of color for my hats is Of a b-i.t
dust hue. The parrot ium-Ad next on tho
hand OF the planter and then fastened it
self To his wrist and ate from his hand
Later on while We sat at tea on the Wide
veranda two peacocks came up aud bcgacJ
for bite and New Guitea pigeon a
gorgeous bird OF sapphire blue as big MS a
chicken. its head ornamented with an aig
rettc plume which quiyercd In the sun
Strutted about In the front yard thnis
were Chinese phe8sants and nocling
bird from Australia which said good bye IN
English and iucntly chartered N Dutch
Ntar the tables ! found an Enclosure con
tanning two of the wild cattle or Java One
Was an immense Wild bull six feet IN
Tbsr. ga, , T1S l[t o,, o'aES , W,,tR While legs
ana Of a reddish fawn color. these bils
ale hunted by ne planters; My hosts here
chief. MI e. J. Kerkhoven ana 9l' Si I'm, d.. ,
Mr.. A. r. w kerloven. have pacb kilIpd