The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-06-14

they could get little. The magic word
Havana" forbade the native industry
from being appreciated as It should have
been. Tobacco manufacturers themselves
knew the superiority of the native to-
bacco. but they could not convince the
man who smokes. And so the farmer
after his toll and care had to take me-
dium prices.
Y THE HOME WEED.
But all this is changed now. Weyler
allows tho made-up cigar TO come into
this country. but there IS a slight mis-
understanding about the tobacco-leaf, and
this If the farmers rejoicing.
The annual production OF tobacco in
the United States has been growing
greater and greater for several years
past. IL has never been known as to-
bacco- growing country. because 70 has
not produced all the leaf II wanted.
But all who know our agricultural pos
sibilities say there is no reason why a
leaf OF the imported tobacco should ever
be asked for here again.
In Pennsylvania the tobacco product
has been very large. Last year sixty-four
and a half millions Of pounds were
raised and sold in that State alone Deal
ers received 1t. and II IS slyly limited that
many OF the excellent Havanas were not
Pennsylvania. This tobacco sold in fits
raw state for cents per pound. land was
eagerly era bbed up by the makers.
The popularity OF Pennsylvania tobac-
co is that IL II a gummy leaf. The to-
bacco-leaf Itself is the shape and size OF
the rubber house-plant 1t might easily
be mistaken for' IT, IL grows about feet
high. and bears a slender-veined leaf. In
the keystone State this leaf has a close
texture and a gumminess that units II
for wrappers. but makes IL very fine for
filler. IL could he substituted. II IS said.
for the best Cuban filler in the world
without detection by experts.
Since the prohibitory notice OF tho
Havana leaf. this price has gone up. and
the next bargains that are made will
show 1t from 90 TO 20 cents per pound.
That is for the present. until the tobacco
production gets well going in this country:
then II must. OF course, come down. This
Will not be for some time. because to-
bacco is a slow crop. After Il IS grown.
Il must be- dried a season I'm the sun. and
the long curing process eats up more than
a year from the time the leaf IS gathered.
FLORIDA TOBACCO.
The Florida tobacco production Is some
thing OF which every tobacco manufac-
turer is proud. II is so very fine. The most
ChTtltSH blpNfis van ftl - cents a pound
for II. But tho trouble Is that there is
30 very little OF the crop. Ii grows luxu-
riously enough but, with the foreign COM
petitor so near them. the Florida frowert
have lost heart. Many have refused so
sort their leaves. sending them hclier-
SHELTER in running lots" but even this
way very nice price IS obtained Last
week a certain dealer offered 81 per pound
for all the Florida tobacco ne could get.
and was rapidly cornering the market on
this excellent leaf.
In Connecticut II IS claimed that there
10 not a single farmer who does not
raise tobacco. He has a small crop. II no
more. This be can sell in the leaf for
enough TO supply himself with such to-
bacco 81 he wants. But the farmers here
have never gone into tobacco as they
should. The Connecticut wrapper is dry
and tough II has moisture enough 10
keep the cigar In flavor. yet II does not
break. There 10 this peculiar quality 10
the leaf that makes II In such demand
for wrapping purposes. But II Is In the
flavor that the Connecticut leaf excels.
There is q rich taste that makes all for
eieu tobacco lifeless after one good Con-
necttopt LEAF ci&ar. The. far@ers say nex.