The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-08-31
TO FIND TEA FARM
SITE NEAR BEAUMONT
GOVERNMENT AGRICULTURIsTs
INSPECT EAST TEXAS.
Need About so Acres of Land for
Experiment and Hope That Guam
tity Will Be Donated by Rich
Farmers Interested in It.

DIR. b. NJ. Duggar of the plant bureau
of the Department of Agriculture, ana
Cornelius L. Shear, Assistant Pathologist
of the United States. spent day mere
recently in the interest of the project OIL
improvements in the Second Congress
District in the way of experimenting with
the cultivation of tea.
Behind these two men are horucuitur-
lists, but neither of them is an expert in
the cultivation of tea. OF course they
have a fair general idea of the culture
of this Oriental plant, but the nature OF
their work here did not require expert
knowledge
Possible Tea Land.
Messrs Duggar and Shear have been In
Texas for several weeks studying the
boil weevil and other agencies which are
destroying and injuring the cotton ana
other crops and they were requested to
visit Beaumont and make superficial
inspection of this section with view of
making experiments with growing tea
in accordance with an act of the recent
Congress appropriating certain sums for
this purpose
In explanation of the work to be done
and the object of their visit here at this
time. DIR. Duggar said:
I'VE are here to make what might be
called a preliminary inspection. We will
he followed later by the expert tea men
who will go deeper into the selecting OF
place for making the experiments with
tea culture in Texas. Mr.. Shear and my
self have been in Texas for some time
on other business connected with cotton
cultivation and the department requested
us to pay a visit here and make a pre-
liminary report on tea.
Inspection Superficial.
1--WE have only a short time to spare
on this work and our investigate must
therefore be of superficial nature. For
instance, we were in Houston and went
to Galveston over one road and returned
on another for the mere purpose of get
ting a glimpse of the country down near
the coast.
I'VE made careful observations from
the car windows and with surveys and
reports which we have will be enabled to
make report with respect to the adapt
ability of that country for tea culture.
Now what we want to learn here is
whether there Is land about here which
will be at all suitable for raising tea
plants.
1--WE will not go closely into an analy-
sis of the soil because that will fall to
the expert who will follow us shortly.
and 5000 experimenting with tea culture
in Texas. 1t has already been decided to
make the experiments in the coast coun-
try of East Texas somewhere east of the
Trinity river.
Want so Acres Donated.
1--WE want about fifty acres of land for
the purpose and we would like to have
someone interest himself in this work.
When the government starts this farm
and gets it past the experimental stage,
the crop will be turned over to the own
ers of the lSnd and for this reason we
would like to have the land donated and
also to have the owner share in the ex-
pense of the improvements inasmuch as
the benefits will be given to him In the
end
"A small curing factory and other I'M
provements which we think can be made
for $500 or $1,000 will have to be ar
ranged for. These we would like the
owner of the land or other citizens to
provide. The government will employ the
expert, who will superintend the cultiva-
ton and preparations necessary for the
first crop, which will require about three
years to mature.
I'VE think tea will grow in Texas; in
fact. there have been struggling tea
plants growing in Texas for several years.
These were sent out by the Department
and planted by individuals without SUI
pervision of experts and of course no re-
port of the success or failure of the plant
have been secured.
we think this section of Texas is suit
able for tea cultivation. Tea requires a
rich soil well drained. and yet located
where it will receive plenty of rain. The
department is conducting a very success
full tea garden in South Carolina, in just
such a climate as this, except it is not
quite so warm.
Texas Suitable for Tea.
''On this farm is grown a tea which is
being sold at from $l5 to SIS a pound. and
good land will raise from 400 to 800 pounds
of tea year
Messrs. Duggar and Shear were offered
the opportunity to drive to the various
parts of the country about Beaumont
which might be suited to tea cultivation
but owing to the short time they were
allowed here it was thought advisable to
not attempt this Instead they spent the
day in the city in conference with Con
gresham s. B. Cooper and a number of
leading rice farmers and others who are
familiar with the agricultural conditions
of this section.
Both men expressed themselves as be-
ing well pleased with the visit here and
give assurance that this section is to
stand a fair cha Dce to secure the tea car