The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-17
POINTS FROM THE
: WORLD OF WORK.

cultivation which lessons the evapora-
tion of moisture.
The gain thus made is equal to if
teen inches of rainfall. The good effect
is further enhanced by planting be-
tween the bushes cowpeas, whose roots
act as fertilizer, but make the earth
more porous and capable of retaining
moisture during the dry seasons.
This care in cultivation has already
effected productiveness which aver
ages greater than that Of China and
Japan, and which approaches that ct
Geylon. BY q greater INCREASE ases Sc It oi u
The American, planter has to com
pickers from 80 to SO cents day, or
from six to eight times as much per
pound as the price paid in the east.
This fact has always been considered
the greatest obstacle to the industry
ductiveness already obtained has off
set this expense, so that a desirable
profit results has been shown.
This profit has been made, however,
from manufacturing one grade Of tea.
1t is black tea, which retails for 81
pound. Green teas have been man
featured to some extent also, but the
POSS!U1ity VI substituting LHdCHAAeIy
for hand labor in making black tea has
led to it's being the chief staple. with
the lower grades of tea says DR..
Shepard, cit is impossible to compete
with Asiatic products, even with the
utmost economy
There are, therefore, two alternatives
presented to the would-be American
tea grower. He must raise the quality
of his product above that Of the cheap
er oriental grades, or he must reduce
the cost of production.
" Quality Pays Best.
The former plan has been maintained
at Pinehurst with promising results, by
aiming to avoid the raspiness and extra
degree of pungency which many tea
and value Of: tea. HThis is really
DUE" says DR.. Shepard, "to fannie
acid and similar substances, which are
de1eterious rather than nerve-strength-
| ening. A tea may be rich in this last
property and yet not exhibit much col
or nor provoke throat irritation, nor
act injuriously upon the Digestion
| Something which has lately contrib
is the substitution Of machinery for
hand labor. The black tea is now made
altogether by machinery, altho as yet
there are processes in the green tea
that are only possible by hand
There is field open to the tea grow
er which has already been experimental
with, and which offers a limited field
for large profits: This is to make high.
priced teas, which are rarely seen out
side the. countries where they are
grown. fThe best oriental teas says
Dr.. Shepard, care only slightly fired
that is, they are dried at low TEN
perature, to. preserve certain volatile
vor. They will not bear distant trans
portation, as they do not keep thei1
qualities for long period: pm
Such teas are worth from SIS tt
500 a pound in Japan and China, where
as the bulk of teas that. we import
from those countries cost less than II
cents a pound at the port Of shipment
Twenty dollars a pound for tea mean.
a dime or less for cup Of this bever
age. But the price, strange as it may
sound, in this country could not prov,
a barrier to a grade Of tea which woult
otherwise prove unattainable. It is
profitable, If limited field, because Their,
Lean be no competition from affair."