28 BOARD OF AGEICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Tea. 

 Last year 4,500 pounds of tea were produced at Summer- 

 villc, S. C. The experiments in tea growing conducted 

 there during the past few years have given surprising re- 

 sults, leaving no question as to the possibility of producing 

 high-grade tea in the United States. The tea picked last 

 season, according to the testimony of experts, was equal in 

 flavor and aroma to the imported article. It found a read}^ 

 sale in the markets of the north, and brought a remunerative 

 price. The experiments made at Summerville show that, 

 under the conditions prevailing there, tea can be grown at a 

 profit of from $30 to $40 per acre. The labor problem in 

 this enterprise has been satisfactorily solved by the employ- 

 ment of colored children who would otherwise remain idle. 

 As there are extensive regions in the south where equally 

 favorable conditions exist, there seems to be no reason why 

 the industry should not be largely extended. The plan of 

 growing the tea under shade has given satisfactory results, 

 as has also the employment of irrigation in tea culture. . On 

 the whole, great encouragement is felt as regards the success 

 of the project to grow tea commercially in the United States. 



Dates. 

 Some years ago it occurred to one of our scientists, who 

 had been studying conditions in the south-west, and espe- 

 cially in certain portions of Arizona and southern California, 

 that the African date palm might be made to thrive there, 

 in regions where the summers arc so long and hot and the 

 climate so exceedingly dry that little else of conmiercial 

 value can be grown. Several specimens of this palm were 

 accordingly procured from Egypt, in order to make the 

 trial. Owing to the success attending this first attempt, 

 larger importations have since been made by the depart- 

 ment, partly from Egypt and partly from Algeria, and now 

 many examples of the date jialm can be seen growing vigor- 

 ously in the south-west. It will flourish where the soil is 

 so largely alkaline that hardly any crops can be produced, 

 all that is needed for the palm being irrigation. The sue- 



