Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-05-31
TOBACCO AND GEOLOGY.

TOBACCO AND GEOLOGY.
To the Chronicle:
These two subjects seem to lie rather
far apart at first sight, but let US see
whether they are not more closely
related than appears on the surface.
1t is we'll known to all engaged in
the tobacco trade that there is GER
tain brand of the weed indispensable
in some markets which is sold in
Europe under the name of GAINESVILLE
Tobacco, and that this variety is only
produced, and can only be produced,
within certain portion of Northern
Tennessee and Southern Kentucky,
which is known as the GAINESVILLE To-
bacco District. The GAINESVILLE brand
of tobacco is as peculiar to this district
as the choicest brand of Hochheimer
wine is to the vineyards of certain
hill country in Germany called the
Johannisberg.
1t is with the Geological relations of
this district that we are now concern
ed, it belongs to the great subcarbonif-
erous formation of Tennessee and Ken
lucky; but this formation consists of
two distinct strata very diverse in their
character. The lower of them, not
belonging to the tobacco district, may
be observed along the Nashville rail-
road between Springfield and the
ridge, noted by the thin, pale colorless
appearance of the soil and the growth
of diminutive scrub oak; but further
west this is overlaid by a stronger and
more retentive clay soil richly infpreg
mated with iron which imparts to it
deep reddish brown hue: it is at once
recognized by biologists by the pres
ence in it in vast abundance of large
fossil cora, called the LithOstrotio1s Can
ade1ase. The gradual decomposition of
this coral, together with that of the
limestone rocks in which it was en-
bedded has produced the soil which
produces the GAINESVILLE tobacco;
where the LithOstrotiom coral does not
occur the GAINESVILLE tobacco. refuses
to grow.
Struck by this coincidence and de-
string to ascertain the cause. Of it if
possible, we some time ago handed to
Prof. Weber and his class of young
chemists some specimens of the Lith-
ostrotion Canadense to analyze. They
did so and reported the substance to
consist chiefly of silica, with some iron,
a little carbonate of lime and traces of
organic matter, but silica by far the
most abundant ingredient.
Here then, is one class Of facts; the
soil ON which the GAINESVILLE tobacco
grows consists, first of basis of stiff,
tenacious clay, capable of holding in
combination any chemical ingredients
that may be added to it, next OF con-
slant additions to it of silica and lime
from the decompositions of the coral
and limestone with which it is every
where in contact
That is one class of facts, now look
at another: 1t has long been known
among the students of organic chem
istry that tobacco leaves when burned
leaves a more abundant ash than any
other vegetable substance. The ash
left after smoking Il good cigar is a
demonstration OF this; no other vege
table substance of the same weight
will leave nearly as much ashes as this.
Now, the ashes left by any organic
substance are its mineral constituents
representing tie ingredients it draws
from the soil, in distinction from its
organic ingredients which it derives
from the atmosphere.
Finally, the ash left after burning
tobacco being analysed consists almost
entirely of silica and lime, with some
carbonate of potash which enters into
the composition of all plants.
Now, put our two classes of facts
together. The coral and limestone
which abound in the tobacco district
yield to the soil constant supply of
silica and lime. 1t is not wonderful,
therefore, that soil deriving a con-
slant supply of those chemicals. from
the sources we have indicated should
produce peculiarly vigorous and
luxuriant variety of the tobacco plant
Is it not strange to contemplate that
a minute animal working hundreds OF
thousands of years ago to produce the
coral we call the Lithostrotion Cana |
dense at the bottom of the sea which |
then covered the land in which now |
we live, should have been unconscious |
ly and Internationally building up
the future standing Of Clarksville' in
the tobacco market?
The theory we have here laid down
of course needs confirmation, but it |
may be mentioned here that the island /
of Cuba, which has given its name to
another celebrated brand OF tobacco,
is coral island, its whole soil being I
w.