Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-20
Imported Roots and Seed.

From the consul at Annoy and Formosa
in 1890 he obtained both roots and seeds in
perfect condition by packing them in fresh
charcoal, sealing this in lead cases, pack
ing the cases in wooden boxes and wrap
ping the boxes In rattan mats. The reason
for this complex covering is that the lead is
soft and in the ships hold would yield and
allow the contents to be crushed The
wooden box protected the inner case from
outside pressure, while the mating pro-
tected the box from conclusion and oscilla-
ton on the voyage. In this way by degrees
he managed to start in his garden the lead
ing types of tea plants known to the cast.
From these he was from time to time
obliged to strike off those which had lived
so long in tropical countries that they had
lost the power to Withstand cold weather.
The second work he undertook was to COM
pile all the information available from tea
growers In subtropical and temperate lands.
This involved long researches into the liter
ature upon the subject and correspondence
with consus, merchants and agricuturists
in Formosa, Japan, northern and southern
China and the Indian hill country.
Considerable difficulty was found in the
agriculture chemistry involved. Expert
ments in other countries were of little value
to him except illustrations exemplif-
cations. The soil of the tea gardens of the
east is more or less artificial, so that the
analyses gave little idea of their real COM
position. Neither did the statements as to
the fertilizers employed. The Chinese meth
ried and often repulsive that 1t would
be difficult to use them upon a large scale
in the United States. He accordingly made
analyses on his own account and expert
mented with every standard fertilizer and
also such combinations of fertilizers as
seemed to him advantageous to the growth
of the plant. The problem was very OBJ
struse. What was needed was a rapid
growth of the shoots and leaves, maxi
mum development of cellulose, essential
oils and moderate development of lignose
tannin and inorganic salts. By degrees he
evolved a system adapted to the climatic
conditions of South Carolina and was
warded by tea garden at Pinehurst which
in beauty, symmetry, vigor and productive
ness has been pronounced by eminent ex-
perts as unsurpassed by any in Formosa,
Ceylon or Japan.
Agricultural Machinery.
By the employment of the latest agricul-
tural implements in the cultivation and the
best methods and appliances in the curing
or firing he was enabled to obtain max
tmum return Of leaves with minimum use
Of manual labor. This was a vast improve
ment upon the systems employed IN China
but there still remained the large amount
of labor required in the capture of insects
the picking of the leaf and the final curing
in the factory. In Ceylon this work is done
by Indian coolies from the Malabar coast,
including Tamtls and Malabars These are
fine specimens of physical manhood who,
living in a hot country, have few artificial
wants and are glad to work at 5 or cents
Z a day. In the Island of Formosa the work
Is done by Hakkas, Formosan-Chinese and
Chinese from the mainland who receive
from 3 to 15 cents a day. In Japan the la
Dor is performed by field hands who are
paid from to cents day. In the United
States there is no. such supply of labor.
The labor problem was solved by DR.. Shep-
ard In a way as ingenious as it was benevo-
lent. The work of picking tea Is very light.
as indeed, is most of the labor involved in
curing. He selected for his workers colored
boys and girls, and soon found that they
were as efficient as adults in the quantity
of work performed per hour. and better
than the latter in their discipline, fidelity
and carefulness. To prevent any neglect