The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-05-02
TEL. IN THE SOUTH.
Its Culture-r:nehurst Gardens Furn-
ish Prc duct of Prize-Taking
Quality.


Vile in South Carolina have shown
such success in the cultivation OF tea
as to attract the attention Of the
country. The leader in this work is
Major r. D. Trimble, native Of New
York state. who has been conducting
experiments in tea growing and has
succeeded to a degree so remarkable
as to indicate a wond >rful develop
ment of tea growing in the southern
part OF the United States.
For generations it has been sup
posed that tea could be grown only
in China and Japan, but OF late years
India has developed large tea
growing industry, and within 80 years
Ceylen is very much engaged in 1t,
and now it is transferred also to the
United States. In fact such chills as
are in the winter air of South Caro-
lima but improve and help the plants,
so that in luxu-iant growth American
tea gardens are in advance Of the
average Asiatic garden, and natives
of Japan who have visited Pinehurst
have expressed their wonder at the
splendid growth and production of
the plants in that vicinity.
It is the handling of the tea crop
that makes the different varieties and
makes them more or less valuable.
The supposition that there are differ
ent kinds of plants themselves from
which the varying qualities are gath
cred is mistake It is in the early
and the later gatherings and in >he
maturing OF them that the high quail
ity, or inferior quality OF tea is de-
veloped.
Imports are Immense.
The imports of tea in this country
cost about fifteen million dollars
year. The expansion of the tea
growing business in the south is so
rapid as to lead to the belief that the
American market may be supplied
ws.h domestic tea before many years
have passed-time being required
chiefly for the growth OF the tea
plant to bring it to bearing condl-
tions as we'll as to educate those who
work in tea gardens to do so to the
best advantage.
The treatment of the tea from the
picking through the sorting and up
to the firing, as if is called, is fam
iliar. This process is shown at Pine
hurst and is OF very great interest.
A wide stretch OF country is COW
cred by this beautiful growth, and af-
teF the American fashion the fields
are adorned with flower bushes and
foliage plants so that it is more like
an exquisite private park than like an
ordinary farm.
1t is recognized that Pinehurst tea
is OF the very finest quality grown.
At the Exposition at ST. Louis the
OOlong from Pinehurst took first
prize in competition with the finest
brands Of tea from the old world.
Government is Interested.
The department of Agriculture Of
the United States is taking the great
est interest in the development OF tea
growth and manufacture, and the aid
it has given has been very important
factor in that work This is only
one of the scores of instances in
which Secretary Wilson, the head of
that department, has shown himself
to be conducting it on the broadest
lines of intelligence and enterprise
and far sightedness. The triurnps
achieved under the leadership Of Sec
retary Wilson in the last six or eight
wears have made new record Of
success in the department and placed
Mr.. Wilson at the head of secretaries
of agriculture.
Pinehurst tea farming is far past
the experimental stage. 1t is more
than a mere culture and is becoming
an established occupation. 1t is also
not an exceptional thing possible
only in the vicinity Of Suu1meryil lie.
It has taken root there because Of