The herald., 1895-07-06
SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1898.
TOBACCO CULTURE

together with the Manufacturers
and Producers Association and
the Cigarmakers' union, have been
investigating the question of to-
bacco culture in this state. The result
of their researches has been very gratify-
ing and their report hopeful of good re-
suits 1t has been proved very conclu-
sively that there are many localities in
California where tobacco culture can be
carried on very successfully, not only as
to quantity. but fine quality of leaf as
well. Tobacco is now grown successfully
in sixteen states in the union, and there
is no reason why California should not
be added to the list.
A few days ago attention was called to
the fact that the cigarmakers have issued
an appeal to Californians to smoke only
homemade cigars 1t is to be hoped that
ere long an appeal can be issued to smoke
only cigars made OF California tobacco.
Such request will of its nature include
homemade cigars.
The value of the tobacco crop OF the
United States is placed at $l4. $50. 900 an
nually, which together with the Cuban
importations brings the total amount
consumed in the United States to much
larger figures. The most gratifying Sec
tion of the report made by N. P. Chip
man, to whom the state board OF trade
had delegated the duty of investigation
as their representative, is in the statement
that California can raise tobacco OF as
fine quality as the best grades imported
from Havana. However. too much stress
should not be laid on this point, for the
highest grades Of Cuban tobacco do not
come to this country. For instance, the
best quality of the famous Vuelta Abajo
product is controlled by one firm. and
every cigar made from it Is sold in Eu-
rope at very high prIces-from $3.50 a
thousand upwards. On the other hand,
considerable quantities of Connecticut
wrappers are sold in Havana.
A popularity of tobacco raising is that
only the kind of tobacco to which the
soil is adapted can be raised in any loca-
tion. There is no such thing as trans
planting varieties. Tobacco is raised
from seed, and after the first year
plants from imported seeds partake of tn e
peculiarities of and are identical with the
tobacco indigenous to the soil in which
1t IS raised. Attention would not be
called to this fact at this time were it not
that Mr.. Chipman's report has created
the impression that the quality OF Calfor-
MIA tobacco can be highly improved by
importing seeds from Havana. Such a
procedure would have to be followed ev-
cry year, and even the first crop OF tobac-
CO from an imported seed is not up to the
standard OF that grown in its native soil.
10 import seed every year would be toe
expensive. Better expend the same amount
Of time. energy and money in expert.
menting with the various sandy soils oi
California and find the one that will pro-
duce the finest grades of tobacco.
]. D. Culp of San Felipe, Santa Clara
county, has been experimenting with to.
bacco for several years, and is now rails
ing it successfully and proftably. Ac-
cording to his report the cost to plant
water, cultivate, harvest and cure tobacco
is about $100 an acre and the yield is abou
1900 pounds to the acre. Mr.. Culp has de-
voted his attention more especially to to-
bacco for wrappers. This is the mos
profitable branch of tobacco raising, but
requires more care and skilful knowl
edge of the tobacco plant and its pecuii
arities.
If Californian ranchers will devote
their att ,ntion to raising tobacco with
the end in view Of raising it to compete
with ConnecticutIrather than with Ha
vana the chances are more largely ir
their favor.
There is every reason to believe that
there are many localities in our state
where the soil conditions are favorable
and surely we have the advantage in eli
mate. In California the planting season
extends over a period of four months
whereas IN Connecticut it is a question o
weeks. Again we dc not have the warn
summer rains which are 50 disastrous to
the eastern tobacco crops. The industry
is now followed proftably in Florida
1t only requires a little persistent effort
and California can show greater diver
sity of crops than any other state in th
union, and tobacco should rank as one O.
the most profitable. When an acre Of to
bacco land can be planted and cared TO
at an expense of 500 and yield a 1900
pound crop which sells at from % cent
to so cents pound, according to quality
such industry is worth investigation.