SPECIAL REPORT ON TEA-RAISING IN SOUTH CAROLINA. 635 



as "South Carolina flavor." They have merit nntl intrinsic value of a high order. 

 I have very much pleasure in offering you my sincere congratulations on the com- 

 plete success of your enterprise in having produced from the soil of the United States 

 of America the commercial article "tea leaf/' equal in style and value and on a par 

 with the fine teas of the world. 



(5) Concerning the best of these samples, and after submitting it to 

 a thorough trial, a friend in Xew York, who was formerly and largely 

 interested in the tea trade, has written : 



It is good original stock aixd is unusually well prepared ; has all the character- 

 istics of an Indian or Ceylon tea, and is particularly brisk or toasty in firing, which 

 is desirable. I am inclined to believe that it is better tea than Tettley's, which is 

 sold in dry goods stores at 50 cents for a half-pound package; that would make the 

 original value before packed somewhere about 35 cents per pound. 



The same authority subsequently wrote in reference to some similar 

 teas of a later manufacture: 



The sample B, as well as the sample which I valued in New York at 38 cents, in- 

 terested me. Yours is not a showy tea, but has the " solid merit," holding its line 

 quality in taste as it becomes cold; it is what we would call a " deceptive tea" to the 

 tea-tasters, not to the consumers, and if the consumer were once, accustomed to it, 

 he would think other teas trash, which the tea-taster might have called "only a 

 trifle poorer." 



Based on Mr. Reid's valuations, 100 pounds of Pinehurst tea, divided 

 into classes by sifting, should have the following valuation, viz : 



The result, then, of sorting by size of finished leaf is to obtain a bulk 

 valuation of 28J cents per pound, or 47 cents retail price in the larger 

 cities ; in the country, the latter price would be from 60 cents upward. 



As an interesting fact' may be mentioned that the picking of August 

 22, 1892, was prepared as a whole that is, without division by sifting. 

 Concerning it Mr. Reid reported, " Rather bold, rather uneven, curly 

 black leaf, with bloom and Pekoe flower. Fine tea, rather rich, strong, 

 brisk, malty, Pekoe touch and flavor. Wholesale value in this market in 

 bulk, 30 to 32 cents; retail value in the same, about 60 cents." 



Very truly has Col. Money remarked, in referring to the teas made 

 by Mr. Jackson in this country, "No reason why the teas should not be 

 good;" and we hope later on to successfully combat his further sugges- 

 tion, " but the labor difficulty will, I think, prevent tea paying there." 



YIELD OF TEA. 



Col. Money gives the following estimate of the probable yield per acre 

 on flat land, good soil, in a good tea climate, and with hybrid plants, if 

 really high cultivation and liberal manuring is carried out : 



