Ph'OCEEDIKGS OF THE FaRMEES' OlUB. 593 



the advantages wliicli would accrue to it should the enterprising 

 capitalists of the United States take up tlie matter seriously. 



The Tea Plant Introduced by the Chinese into Califoknia. 



The Chinese have lately introduced 3,000,000 of tea plants and 

 quantities of tea seeds into the State of California ; a fact plainly 

 showing that both the temperature and soil are adapted to tea culti- 

 vation. The Japanese, still later, have imported many hundreds of 

 pounds of tea seeds, thereby indorsing the Chinaman's views on the 

 subject, and strengthening the proof, if such were required, that tea 

 planting will one day not far distant be one of the principal and 

 most lucrative agricultural pursuits of that State. Kow, bearing in 

 mind that neither the Chinese nor Japanese are mere experimental- 

 ists, but that they act upon a sure and firm basis, and that the growth 

 of tea in California may be considered an established fact, or thei/ 

 would not venture as pioneers in such an undertaking, we may 

 safely consider tea planting a sure and profitable investment, and one 

 which will ere long attract the attention of our enterprising capitalists. 



iNDrCEMENTS HELD OUT TO CAPITALISTS. 



The cultivation of tea is, though four years have to elapse ere the 

 true profits show themselves, one of the most paying speculations 

 that can possibly be conceived; as on the fifth and succeeding years 

 there will be, if properly managed, a return of cent per cent on the 

 paid up capital. The benefit vrhich the State .will ultimately 

 derive, by the introduction of a trade so fraught with beneficial 

 effects, on the agricultural as well as on the mercantile portion of 

 the community, must soon become apparent to the most superficial 

 observer; the introduction of so many people, as would naturally 

 follow such a step as the establishment of joint stock tea companies, 

 would, in itself, be a blessing to so young a State as California; the 

 increase and stimulus given to all other trades in consequence speaks 

 loudly and clearly. Just look at the following figures, and then see 

 if the scheme is feasible or not. There are more than 1,000,000 of 

 acres fit for tea, and at the end of, say ten years, this could be 

 brought under cultivation ; this would introduce a capital of $200,- 

 000,000, which would return, with ordinary success, 400,000,000 lbs, 

 of tea, which, taken at the low figure of half a dollar per pound for 

 all teas, coarse and fine, would, without the introduction of machin- 

 ery, yield $200,000,000, and would supply the whole of Europe, as well 



[Inst.] • 38 



