Los Angeles daily herald., 1873-10-19
OUR INDUSTRIES.
American Tobacco Conn pany.

mia is subject that has long occupied
the attention of scientific men. About
eighteen months ago a number of gem
| tlemen incorporated themselves into a
company under the name of the
American Tobacco Co., and they lOca-
ted their operations on San Felipe
Ranch, near Gilroy in Santa Clara
| county. Desiring to proceed cautious
ly they inserted an experimental crop
and awaited results. What was the
amount Of ground planted is not stated,
but the results We're Il crop of 81 200 lbs
OftObaccO of the pureSt and most varie-
gated sorts. Encouraged by their sue
cess the company put in 600 acres of to-
bacco of assorted varieties, all of which
are pronounced superior to the moth
ers-stock from transplantation. The
great difference, however in the tObac-
coand its main cause of alleged super
iority arises from the process of curing.
This process is said to be SO much
better than any other in Use as to war
rant the company in applying for a
patent. The patent was granted, and
the company refuse to grant royalties
to any persons except those who will
go to their factory and perfect them
selves in the process of curing. The
Company intends to incorporate afresh
for the manufacture of cigars and to-
baccO, and to give distinctive names
to the various brands, which shall
show that they are the produce of the
American Tobacco Company. Tha
capital stock is $3.50, 600 and is mostly
held by clear-headed scientific men.
DR.. +. p. Howard. Of this city, a heavy
sha reholder, has already sent Il man to
Gilroy to learn the process, with a
view to extending the operations of
the company to the Southern Dis
trict. Several other gentlemen are
also associated with DR.. Howard, and
they intend putting in an experimental
crop this coming season.
And now with regard to the practical |
results effected by the company, so far.
DR.. Howard states that this year 3
crop, at Gilroy, is estimated at 1,OOO,-
600 lbs, and that it contains the fol-
lowing assorted varieties. Havana,
Connecticut seed leaf, Oronoco, T.ata-
kia, and many other kinds. He eX-
hibited leaf from the second crop of
Havana tobacco, not less than sixteen
inches long. An experiment is now
being made to see whether the cOmpa-
ny can rely on second crop. The
early frosts may or may not hurt the
second crop, but this point can only be
tested by time. The next leaves eX-
hibited were several first crop Havana
leaves, and were not less than fourteen
inches broad and twenty inches long.
The Connecticut seed leaf differs wide
ly'from the Havana, inasmuch as it
is only about fourteen inches wide,
though over twenty-four inches in
length. This variety is Of great value,
inasmuch as it is used for wrappers of
the Havana cigars The Oronoco to-
bacco has prpttier and more symmet-
rical leaf than any of the other sorts,
and, as though it loses in quantity
what it gains in quality, Is the smallest
of all the varieties. The Lotakia leaf
differs from all the rest, by being over
two feet in length, and only five inches
broad in the widest part. The leaf
has texture like silk, and is as
smooth as satin. There is great deal
more information which cannot of
course be condensed i'm "Our Indus
tries" but it will readily be given by
DR.. Howard, on application. That to-
bacco thrives wonderfully in CalifO
mia, is now an ascertained fact, and
there seems to be no doubt that the
Company possesses most important
patent for the curing of the leaf The
subject is worthy of the attention of
all producers and these stray notes are
commended to them in the hope Of
awakening some interest in this i'm
pOrtant branch of "Our Industries"