A NEW INDUSTRY.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 264, 16 May 1888, Page 4

A NEW INDUSTRY.

WIIANUAHM,'Mfty 9. Tin: Fact of Mr Dobbio having successfully grown the lea-plant, at, Wairore, near Whan garei, ib important ; but ho has also gathered and diiod iho loaves and browed palatable tea from thorn, such as wo do not. always get lrom fcho bought aiticlo. Thore aie several othcis in the district who ha\e tho plant growing, ainony-ti whom may be mentioned Mr Carruth at, Kamo, where a beautiful, healthy tea plant may be seen, from which .some leii\es weio takon by your correspondent, dried and tubbed, and afterwards being infubuil in tho usual way, gave a very fair tea of decidedly blic Jndian taste. Tea, is also being giown on the new experimental ground in connection with tho Koies'tiy Department, at Maunu. Theie \> an attempt being made to culti\ato tin* tea plytit to some extent, and tioin which pl.iee the sctllei.s will be able to obtain plants. Theie is no leason why settleis who li\e on hi<>h, diy ground may not giow it most successfully in this (li.^tiict. i In the c.iso of the-e grounds, and that at K. imo, the height abo\e sea level i> from 100 lo."»00 Itrt., tho land being lieh, volcanic .soil. Those who ate at all acquainted wif !i the ti ieks of (iio tea tiade. not even uoing so hu 1 back a^ tho " Heathen Chinee," but amongst our own vendois, will hail with ple.isuio the probability ot l>eing a))le to obtain pine lea. The Xort hem settle! s may soon be able to «urn their own tea and tobacco. The only ditlieult\ is that ot the -kill and laboin le(Uiiied, both of winch will come m good time. The wwloni ot the Kite Colonial Mini-li^ shown by the initation o! these e\pei imenlal gi minds will, it is hoped, now become moic evident, showing what can be produced, and tho best way fco tj_o about it, in our sod and climate. Sii Itoberl Stout need not be ashamed ot what he has done m that diieclion, any ltfiior.mt jeeis t(> the couti.u y uotw if hstanding.