The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-17

trail and western states, and which
grows faster than the gardens expand.
In addition to these favorable gen
eral conditions is the specific fact that
much Of the ground planted Of late has
yielded an average profit Of $40 an
acre, while considerably less than this is
not considered bad farming in that re-
gion. It is also significant that the
conditions producing the profit are the
result Of treatment of the soil chemical
~, and also of plan of applying Ger.
tain seed to certain conditions, both Of
! which can be repeated scientifically. :,
/ SBasing calculation Of profits upon a
which yields $40 net as the lowest esti-
mate, the possibilities may be seen in
the fact that the latest crops have
doubled those Of the year preceding on
account of certain definite experiments
undertaken toward that end. The most
conservative prediction of the result of
still further treatment in the same line
points to the increase Of production to
1000 pounds an acre, or the same as the
Ceylon. This, it is believed, can be
depended upon except during year
when it Is unusually cold for that re-
gion. -..
Grower Must Know Business.
Climatic and other opposing condi.
tions are such, however, that the would
be- tea grower. needs to become thoroly
conversant not only with the science,
and practice of the whole culture, but
with its adaptation to this country.
One of the things which has always
been considered necessary to success is
an annual rainfall of from so to 1870
inches, while in many parts of this Sec
ton it averages only Sc inches Orien-
tai authorities have also believed that,
while the plant would grow, it would
not thrive to become productive in a
temperature that ever dropped below
40 degrees Farenheit. At Pinehurst Is
degrees Fahrenheit is expected every
it has once fallen to half degree be-
The fact that the plants stood this
severe cold, with no greater setback
than a low pruning, which retarded
/ growth to about the same extent as the
customary pruning which takes place
every four or five years in India and
| Ceylon, was taken as an encouraging
sign. After this DR.. Shepard followed
plan of obtaining at whatever expense
the hardest varieties Of seed. Those
especially of teas grown at high alti
! tudes have been sought, and of all tried
the Darjeerling seed has proved to be
best adapted to the climate and at the
same time the most productive.
+ Rich Soil Is Needed. 49,.
] A system of soil treatment was de-
'Evised. To compensate for the SCARCITY
and unequal distribution Of rainfall, {
rich soil is necessary, for tea fourishes
best in the mold soil Of valleys. The
analysis of the best Indian tea soil:
shows a great deficiency of lime, anc
absence Of. sulphuricc acid, plenty Of
manganese, with good amounts Of nitro
gen and potash. Pinehurst experiments
have been conducted on sandy, clayey
and bottom lands, and on level ground
hillsides and drained ponds The con
clusion reached is that level land
thoroly drained, porous to. as great I
depth as possible, and free from acidit,
will produce the best results.
For their treatment, DR.. Shepard fol
lowed undertaking, with deep blowing
and pulverizing, with chemical fertile
ers which supplied the elements lacking
land with a careful system of .surfac