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Tea Growing Experiments
in the United States.
Prospects of the Industry.
By Weldon Fawcett.
THE century which has re
cently been ushered into
existence will see an ad
dition to tlie already long
list of reasons why there can
never he a repetition of that fa
mous “Boston tea party” which helped
to bring on the Revolutionary War.
This new preventive is found in tlie
fact that long ere the present cycle of
a hundred years is rounded out, Uncle
Sam will, in all probability, be produc
ing within his domain sufficient tea
leaves for all the soothing beverage
which his people can possibly drink,
and mayhap will have some to spare
to his brethren across the sea.
That this will be a Highly desirable
consummation must lie appreciated
even by the iorson who never sipped
a cup of tea in his life. For one thing,
it will enable the poorer classes to ob
tain good tea at lower prices, and for
another it will keep in the coffers of
the American people a fortune,
amounting to many million dollars an
nually, which now goes to feed and
clothe men and women on the other
side of the globe. Under present con
ditions every man, woman and child
in the United States consumes about
twenty cents’ worth of tea each
twelvemonth, and the Immense aggre
gate sum is divided among the tea
growers in China, Japan and Ceylon,
several middlemen and agents, and the
vessel owners who carry the precious
product to market.
The best feature of the new era
which is coming, however, is found in
the fact that liner tea can be grown
in the United States than in the
Orient. This has been conclusively
proven by some interesting experi
ments which the United States De
partment of Agriculture has been con
ducting during the past few years at
Hjjjjjjj
THE TEA PLANT.
the pioneer ten plantation established
In the New World.
As soon as the Secretary of Agricul
ture became convinced that tea culture
in the South was not only practicable
but might be made profitable as well,
he arranged for the institution of an
experimental plantation in South Caro
lina. The site selected has proven a
most admiraole one. Pinehurst, as it
is called, consists of about seven hun
dred acres of beautiful rolling country
thickly strewn with woodlands. About
fifty acres of the splendid estate were
transformed into tea gardens, and this
apportionment has gradually been ex
tended. The tiny seeds which had
been brought from the Far East were
left to repose in earthy beds, prepared
and sweetened with all the care which
could possibly be bestowed upon a
couch of soil. Diminutive shades were
even provided to screen these babies
of the plant world from the glare of
the sun, and then the tea planters
anxiously awaited results.
At first the little immigrants did not
appear to take kindly to the foreign
clime, and the investigators became
so discouraged that they were well
nigh ready to give up the experiment,
when, just in the nick of time, fate
smiled, with the result that these
=
v ; -• . '
„ <K-'. *
PICKING TEA.
American tea gardens now contain
thousands of bushes, each composed
of many separate stems. Better still,
the practical side of the enterprise has
show
ing. The yield of tlie plantation is
increased by one-eighth each year and
the tea produced is so vastly superior
to the black tea which comes over tlie
ocean that it sells for a dollar a pound,
or three or four times as much as the
importations from China or Japan, and
thus nets tho Government a very
handsome profit on its investment.
, But because the tea which has thus
far been produced in Dixie has sold
for three or four times the price of
L. , -
ROLLING TEA.
the crisp leaves which have been car
ried half way round the world, it must
not. be supposed that the argument re
garding the ultimate cheapness of
American tea is without foundation.
The Government officials have demon
strated that under ordinary circum
stances four hundred pounds of tea
can be counted upon as the yield of
each acre in a plantation. The tea
can be grown and put on the market
at fifteen cents per pound. Thus if
the shop keepers sell this superior
grade of tea at t}': same prices that
are now charged for the inferior im
ported teas, they will almost double
their money, and presumably some of
them will be satisfied with less profit
than this when competition becomes
fierce.
The United States Government is
now planning to distribute tea plants
free to all Southern colleges that will
agree to assist the Department of Agri
culture in establishing tea gardens on
their land. Special scientific agents
are being sent out to give advice, and
after a thorough investigation has
been made of the possibilities of the
Gulf States for tea culture, experi
ments will be conducted in Tennessee,
North Carolina, Arkansas, Indian Ter-
ritory, Oklahoma Territory, Missouri
and other border States. Climatic
conditions, rainfall and soil must,
however, all be favorable to conduce
to successful tea culture, and the
American tea growers have already
discovered that it is useless to try to
propagate the plants where the winter
temperature is lower than fifteen de
grees above zero. An average of an
inch of rainfall every week in the
year is also essential, although it is
hoped to overcome this necessity by
means of irrigation.
One of the most tedious tasks which
has confronted the pioneer tea grow
ers has been that of determining what
species of tea plants give the best re
sults when transplanted to this con
tinent. In order to demonstrate this
a number of miniature tea gardens
have been provided, and in each some
particular variety is carefully nursed
under special treatment. Thus the
visitor to this romantic nook in South
Carolina may see. growing side by
side, Japauese, Chinese, Ceylonese auu
American tea. The difference in the
quantity of tea yielded by a single
bush presents as wide a range in the
case of the different varieties as Is
the case in the Orient, where the pro
duct varies from one ounce from each
THE WEEKLY NEWS, CARTERSVILLE, GA.
hush in Japan, to eight or ten ounces
from the average bush in India and
Ceylon.
One of the problems which has puz
zled the American tea planters not a
little Is that of securing helpers at
wages low enough to enable competi
tion with the ridiculously cheap labor
of the Mongolians. Machinery now
does much of the work of preparing
the tea for market, but the leaves
must be picked by hand, and with all
the economy that can be exercised it
costs just about eight times as much
to secure the harvesting of a pound of
tea in South Carolina as it does in
Asia. Even as it is the cost would be
greater had not the projectors of this
initial tea plantation happily hit upon
the plan of employing colored school
children as pickers.
A school house is maintained on the
plantation, and in the Intervals be
tween learning to read and write the
youngsters are taught how to pick tea.
None of these juvenile toilers can ap
proach in rapidity the records of the
expert pickers of Asia, but it is
claimed that they are far more careful
in the selection of the leaves tliau
their rivals on the opposite side of the
world. About three days are required
for the force of pickers to make the
rounds of the gardens, and this must
be done every ten days, or about a
score of times during the season.
An expert can gather anywhere from
ten to twenty pounds of fresh leaf a
day. Some of the little pickers earn
fifty or sixty cents a day. but the ma
jority do not receive more than twen
ty or thirty cents.
The method of procedure after the
tea leaves have been picked is not a
very intricate one. The crisp leaves
are gathered, as plucked, into Swiss
trout baskets, where they are per
mitted to lie as loosely as possible lest
they become heated. Each basketful,
as it is brought into the factory, is
carefully examined, and after being
weighed is spread to dry in a cool,
clean place. Tea manufacture proper
consists of two processes. In the one
ks -n
SORTING TEA.
the tiny oil cells in the leaf are broken
and the contents extracted by hot
water, while by the other the leaves
are once more dried thoroughly.
The product of such a method of
handling is the greeu tea of commerce.
If it is desired to produce black tea,
two additional stages of evolution must
be introduced—the withering, or prep
aration of the leaf for rolling, and
oxidation, which involves certain
chemical changes. To such an extent
has mechanical genius entered the
field of tea production, that the black
tea secured at Fineliurst may now
fairly he said to be largely machine
made. The sifting, rolling, oxidation
and firing are all done by mechanical
process. A phase of the handling of
the tea in which the American grow
ers have exercised exceptional care is
found in the curing of the leaf. No
direct sunlight is allowed to strike the
leaves, either when they are being
withered or during the process of final
drying.
It costs upwards of fifty dollars an
acre to set out and raise the tea plants,
and thousands of dollars must be ex
pended for a factory in addition to
the constant outlay for labor. A tea
garden, when once established, how
ever, represents an institution that
will staid for centuries.—The Book
World.
Lately two large firms in Constanti
nople, Turkey, have for the first time
received extensive shipments of Amer
ican shoes.
All the world's a staircase on which
all men go either up or down.
AN ADEPT.
“That bookkeeper of yours never
seems to be sick.”
“No; he’s the most expert germ
dodger we’ve ever had in the establish
ment." —Chicago Tribune.
Exhibits at Knlfalo,
Th n re will ba exhibits from all over tho
world at tho Buffalo Exposition, which will
prove very interesting to all who mey attend,
but no more so.than tho news that the famous
remedy, Hostetter's Stomach Bitters, will cure
dyspepsia, indigestion, constipation, bilious
ness and nervousness. To all sufferers from
the above complaints a trial is recommended,
with the assurance that when honestly used
a cure will be affected. It ako tones up tho
entire ryotem.
Wheat is mentioned twenty-eight differ
ent tunes in the Bible.
44 it St*cnis
Is it not true? Women suffer, feel the very life crushed
out of them, grow old before their time. Each morning
wake up determined to do so much before the day ends,
and yet—
Before the morning is very old the dreadful BACKACHE
attacks them, the brave spirit sinks back in affright; no
matter how hard they struggle, the “clutch” is upon them
and they fall upon the couch crying :
“ Why should I suffer so ? What can Ido ? ”
The answer is ready, your cry has been heard, and a
woman is able to restore you to health and happiness.
Backache is only a symptom of more fatal trouble —
heed its warning in time.
Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound will
stop your torture and restore your courage. Your pains
come from unnatural menstruation or some derangement
of the womb. Let those who are suffering read Mrs. Mor
ton’s letter and be guided by her experience.
AN OPEN LETTER TO WOMEN.
“Deap. Mrs Pinkham:—l have been so delighted
with Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound
I thought I would write and thank you. My system
was entirely run down. I suffered with terrible back
ache in the small of my back and could hardly stand
upright; was more tired in the morning than on retiring
at night. I had no aopetite. Since taking your Com
pound I have gained fifteen pounds, and am gaining
every week. My appetite has improved, have no back
ache, and I look better than I ever looked before.
“ I shall reconsmend it to all my friends, as it cer
tainly is a wonderful medicine.”—Mrs. E. F. Morton,
826 York Street, Cincinnati, O.
When a medicine ha* been successful in restoring to health
more than a million women, you cannot well say, without
trying it, “I do not believe it will help me.” If you are ill,
don’t hesitate to get a bottle of Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable
Compound at once, and write Mrs. Pinkham, Lynn, Mass., for
special advice—it is free.
Spa m I 9 ! n r lAf A fin ° wln * u the f that some skeptical
r Ili a B I Hr Hf nK|! people have from time to time questioned
fc% I II IN I Ilk TV #llll9 the genuineness of the testimonial letters
* ■ | I| I | 1 , we are constantly publishing, we have
1 I 1 f ? * deposited with the National City liank, ot I.vnn, Mass.. $5,000,
I I I o I ii f s which will be paid to any per n who can show that the above
kP 1J testimonial is not genuine, or was pulished before obtaining the
writer's special permission.—Lydia E. Pinkham Mhdicinb Cos.
t-rr\W.L.DOUGLAS
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M; -vn tv k ▼X. worth of W. la. llotiuli&i iiikl tt I
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N ' mass. rnakes * hrsfc r— ''
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Take no substitute. Insist on having W. L. Douglas shoes with name
and price stamped on bottom. Your dealer should keep them, if he docs not, Nfov.-V- /jfaOk
•end for catalog giving full instructions ho\> to order by mail. SwwffiWiwY
W. la. I>OI (* I. AH, Itrocktun, Mass.
Malsby & Company,
30 S. Broad St., Atlanta, Ga.
Engines and Boilers
Steam Water Heaters, Steam Pumps atl
Peubertliy Injector*.
Manufacturers and Dealers In
SA W JVI X JL. IL. Si,
Corn Mills, Feed M ills. Cotton Gin Machin
ery and Grain Separator*.
SOLID and INSERTED Saws, Saw Teeth an l
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and quality of good* guaranteed Catalogue
free by mentioning this i-aper.
nDHDQY NEW DISCOVERY;
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tree. Dr H H a KEEN 880 MB. Box B . Atlssts. Os
“Tfci Si=es m,le Whl Polat
BcILHEWNY’S TABASCO.
COLLECTOR OF RARE COINS.
Mrs. Goodart —“You seen to have
some education; perhaps you were once
a professional man?”
Howard Hasher—“ Lady, I’m a nu
mismatist by profession.”
Mrs. Goodart—“A numismatist?”
Howard Hasher —“Yes, lady, a col
lector of rare coins. Any old coin is
rare to me.”— Philadelphia Press.
A PROTECTIVE DISCLAIMER.
“Well, my man, I suppose you will
saw a little wood to pay for your
dinner?”
“No’m. I’m no wood-sawyer, mum;
trimmin’ trees —rubber trees, mum, is
my trade.” —Detroit Free Pres3.
Supply
i IvM: ,w en ™ s \ Pot ‘
ash and your
profits will be
large; without
Potash your
cro P will be
“scrubby.”
Our books, telling about composition of fertilizer*
best adapted for all crops, are free to all farmers,
GERMAN KALI WORKS,
03 Nassau St.,. New Y'ork.
if Water
THE OHIO INCHED
Great Demonstrate Marks the
Christening of Bi|| es hi p .
PRESIDENT MAKES A! ADDRESS
Imposing Naval Pageant Feature
of Ceremonies— Miss t, rber
Rendered Part Assignt to
Mrs. McKinley.
A San Francisco special say3 .
fortunately Mrs. McKinley c n( i ition
Saturday permitted President tcKin
ley to attend the launching of t e bat
tleship Ohio from the yards r t | u .
Union Iron Works: To witness the
launching of the ship named in bnor
of his native state. Mas the rea 0 b
ject of the president’s long trip ac oss 0 ss
the continent, and was the ev n t
which has attracted to the Pacfic
coast the governors of three stats,
the Ohio congressional delegation, se
eral United States senators and man
other notable and distinguished pe
pie. Dramatic and picturesque as
was the sight of 14.000 tons of steel
sliding into the full tide of San Fran
cisco bay, it was not so splendid and
magnificent as the great naval pa
geant which accompanied, nor as pro
foundly impressive as the greeting ex
tended to the president by the 4,000
employees of the ship yards.
When the president left the sick
room of his wife every arrangement
had been made to notify him on the
instant of any change for the worse
in her condition. The physician as
sured him that there was no indica
tion of a setback, but at his request
telegraphic communications were
made made at the wharf and at the
ship yard, and save from the time he
was on the water, he was not a min
ute' away from direct communication
with the Scott residence. He was
driven to the wharf in a closed car
riage, escorted by a squad of mounted
police. The cabinet and other distin
guished guests were already aboard
the transport tug Slocum, which was
to convey the party to the Union Iron
Works, two miles up the bay, when he
arrived.
The president’s flag, an eagle and
shield on a blue field, was flying from
the main mast, and the union jack
was at the bow as he stepped smiling
upon the gangway to the accompani
ment of t-he cheers of the thousands
who blackened the neighboring pier
heads. Then began the sail over the
shining waters of the bay. It proved
to be a triumphal journey, the like of
which has not been witnessed in this
country since Admiral Dewey, upon
his return from the Philippines, sailed
up the Hudson on the Olympia.
Every craft in the harbor was deck
ad out in gayest attire, and the city in
the background was a perfect mound
of waving flags. Every wharf on the
sea swarmed with people. Up near
the ship yards the grim warships of
the Pacific squadron were swinging
at anchor with streams of signal flags
extending fore and aft of the peaks
from prow to taff-rail.
The pres; lent and his party moved
to a stand, where the representative
of the 4,500 employees of the Union
Iron Works, in a neat speech, in which
he asked a heartfelt blessing upon the
head of the president and expressed
tender sympathy for his suffering
wife, presented the president, as a to
ken of the esteem of the workmen,,
with a gold plate, engraved with a
suitable inscription.
The president’s response aroused
much enthusiasm. He told his audi
ence of his friendship for tne working
men during his entire public career,
and touched the hearts of the surging
crowd before him as he spoke elo
quently of the patriotic response
which California had made during the
Spanish war.
The ceremonies were simple but
significant. There was the formal
exchange of acceptances on the part
of the government and then the tide
having reached its flood, the word was
given, and Miss Barber pressed the
button. Miss Deshler smashed a bot
tle of California champagne, and at
12:26 p. m. the big battleship took her
first dip into the sea.
Description of the Ohio.
The Ohio is a sister ship of the
Maine, now building at the works of
the William Cramp Si Sons Ship and
Engine Building Company, and of the
Missouri, building at the yard of the
Newport News Ship Building and Dry
Dock Company.
The hull, which is divided like those
of the most recent battleships, is built
of steel and is unsheathed. It is 359
feet long on the load water line, L
feet 2 1-2 inches extreme breadth, and
at a mean draft of 23 feet 6 inches, dis
places 12,230 tons.
The main battery of the ship con
sists of four twelve-inch breech-load
ing rifles, placed in two balanced tur
rets, and sixteen five-inch rapid firing
guns.
Negro Is Given Poison.
Jabez Johnson, a well known
living near Danielsville, Ga.. is dea -
from the effects of poison and two
young white men. John Bragg and
Dock Moon, both well known, an 1
charged with the negro's death.
Worth County Relegates Whiskey.
Worth county, Georgia, held prob:
bition election Thursday under the
local option law. The result was 30*
against the sale and 50 for the sale^