TEA. 



95 



by Koempfer, as having leaves like the cherry, with a flower like 

 the wild rose ; when fresh, the leaves have no smell, but a very 

 astringent taste. Tea gTows in all the southern provinces of 

 Japan, but the best green is produced in the principaUty of Elioto, 

 where it is cultivated with great care. 



A few years ago, Messrs. Worms attempted the cultivation of 

 tea in Ceylon. The island, however, lies too far within the tropics 

 to offer a climate like Assam, which is situate without them. The 

 plants may thrive to appearance, but that is not a demonstration 

 of their quality. The tea-plant has reached upwards of six feet in 

 height at Pinang, and in as healthy a state as could be desired, 

 but the leaf had no flavor, and although thousands of Chinese 

 husbandmen cultivate spices, and other tropical productions on 

 that island, no one thinks it worth wliile to extend the cultivation 

 of the tea-plant in Pinang. The Chinese there laugh at the idea 

 of converting the leaf into a beverage. 



The cultivation of the tea-plant has been introduced into the 

 United States, and those planters who have tried the experiment have 

 succeeded beyond their highest expectations. Dr. Junius Smith 

 had successfully cultivated the plant on his property called Grolden 

 grove, near G-renville, in South Carolina. His plants were in fidl 

 blossom, and as healthy and flourishing as those of China at the 

 same stage of growth. Everything connected with them looked 

 favorable, and Dr. Smith felt abundantly encouraged to extend 

 the cidture of the several descriptions of tea upon his property. 

 It is stated that his expectations were so great, that he contem- 

 plated to place fresh tea on the tea-tables of England and Paris in 

 twenty days, from the plantation. He had a large supply of 

 plants, and tea seed enough for a miUiou more. The black de- 

 scriptions blossomed earlier than tbe green plant, but the latter 

 also blossomed luxuriantly. 



He introduced at first about 500 plants of from five to seven 

 years' growth, overland from the north-west provinces of India, 

 and some from China direct. 



In the close of 1849, he writes me : — 



" During the past year the tea-plant under my care has passed through se- 

 vere trials, from the injuiy received in transplanting, from the heat generated 

 in the packing-cases, from the "^-ant of shelter during the severe frosts of Fe- 

 bruary, from the excessive heat in June, and fi'om the drought of 58 days' con- 

 tinuance in July and August. The plants were divested of their leaves and ge- 

 nerally of their branches and twigs in February, during my absence in Xew 

 York. Knowing that the plants were tender, and not fortified by age and ma- 

 ture growth against severe weather, I had directed them to be covered in case a 

 material change of temperature should occur. But these orders were neglected, 

 and they consequently suffered from that cause. 



The plant is sufficiently hardy to resist any weather occiu'ring in this part of 

 the country, when seasoned for one year. 



The plant has grown thrifty since April, and the quantity of foliage, buds, and 

 blossoms, show that the root has taken strong hold, and is now fully equal to 

 produce its fruit next autumn, which always follows the year after the blos- 

 soms. I have a variety of both black and green tea-plants. The buds and 

 blossoms of the latter did not appear until a fortnight after the black tea-plant. 

 But the blossoms were larger when they did appear in September, October, No- 



