The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1873-04-23
The TOBACCO Interest.

Since the obtaining BY Mr.. CUP Of his patent
for the new process of curing and manufacturing
tobacco inquiries are pouring in from all portions
of the country in regard to tobacco culture in
California and the nature of his process, The
two companies to which Mr.. CUP has assigned
his letters patent, have issued circular embody-
ing the principal features necessary TO be known
in regard to the advantages Of California as a
tobacco growing State. from which the following
is condensed by the Gilroy Adrooats:
The climate is especially adapted to the
growth as well as to the manufacture of to-
bacco. The rain falling during the winter and
spring thoroughly saturates the ground and
leaves moisture enough to complete the growth
Of the plant, while the summer and fall weather
is warm and dry, and no rainfall ever iuterferes
with the cutting or curing of the crop. Snow
never falls in the valleys, the ground is never
frozen, and in Santa Clara Valley "a fair average
of the climate OF the State) the last frost in the
spring, injurious to the plant, comes before the
18th day of April and the first one in the fall
seldom comes before the 18th day of November,
thus leaving seven months in the year certainly
free from this enemy of the tobacco grower,
while frequently seasons are so mild that plants
will grow all the year. The frosts that come do
not interfere with planting the seed at any time
during the winter, the slightest covering over the
beds afording ample protection against its at
tacks. This year the two companies had more
than half their beds sown in January. The even
ness and warmth of our GUNNER and fall at
mosphere greatly facilitate the curing Of the
plant, and certain crop, and one uniform to
quality, is assured one year with another.
The soil in the State is almost virgin, and we
have hundreds of thousands of acres of choice
tobacco lands untouched by the pillow, which are
not exceled in any part of the world for richness
aud fertility. Mr.. Culp has grown tobacco in one
ieId in Gilroy Valley for twelve successive years.
during which time he used no manures, never
failed in obtaining fine crop-the last one was
as abundant and of as fine quality as the first
and the field is apparently as productive to-day
as when the pillow first turned it over: and it is
but fair sample Of our bottom lands and alluvial
soil Another generation will occupy our place
before the choice lands of the State will require
manures. OF Havana tobacco l,5O0 pounds per
acre is an average years production. The plants
produce three crops during season /; the suckers
shoot up from the roots as soon as the stalk is
cut, which rapidly mature into nearly as fine
plants as the originals. The rapidity Of the
growth Of this species Of tobacco is marvellous
Last year, on Mr.. CUPS ranch, in twenty-six
days from the time the plants we're set out they
attained height Of Eve feet, had natured. and
were being cut and placed in the curing-house.
OF the other species Of tobacco, $500 pounds to
the acre is average yield, and favored localities
will produce much larger yield.
The yellow jacket is the faithful ally Of the
tobacco grover in Santa Clara Valley, and. we
believe, throughout the State, and be so careful
ly scrntiRizes the plants for tobacco worms (which
he Immediately kills when found that scarcely
one escapes his vigilance; and Mr.. Cup 10 ff-
teen years experience in growing tobacco in this
valley, has never expended dollar for labor to
destroy the worm. Thus it viii be seen that
much larger yield of tobacco can be obtained 10
this State than elsewhere, and that the cost OF
msnures and killing the tobacco worm-the two
heaviest charges to tobacco-groEers have to meet
in other states-here do not enter in the expense
account at all.
The Havana, as vel as the Connecticut seed
leaf, Orinoco and Florida tobacco produced by
Mr.. CUP, We claim, are superior to any produced
elsewhere, and in this opinion we are sustained
BY the best judges of tobacco residing in the
State.