The record-union., 1897-05-08
OF INTEREST TO FARMERS.
Tobacco Growing a Success in Cali
fOrnia.
Some Information on the Subject by
Those Who Have Made
the Venture.

Secretary Edwin F. Smith Of the
State Agricultural Society has mad
many inquiries on the subject since the
publication of the paper on Tobacco
Growing in the annual report OF 1919
That paper was prepared by Edgar
Briggs of San Francisco, one of the
pioneers in tobacco culture in Califor-
MIA. 1t gave a full description of the
character of soil necessary, the prepar-
alton of the seed, the planting, cutting
and curing. All was carefully and in
telligently described.
1t is shown that any good land that
will produce hops, peaches and other
pitted fruits viii grow superior tobacco,
but adobe and alkaline lands must be
avoided With these exceptions to-
bacco will take kindly to any and all
soils. The average yield of Havana
seed will be not less than 1000 pounds
to the acre. and should not cost more
than $50 per acre to produce, from the
seeding to the cured leaf. The prices
must vary according to quality.
A good average Havana filler viii sell
readily in the Eastern market for from
% to 30 cents per pound, while choice
wrappers will bring from 80 cents to
81. Choice Sumatra wrappers-and
there is no question but what they can
be produced in this State equal to the
best merchantable article-fnd ready
sale in our markets at from 81 30 to
50 80 per pound, and the supply does
not equal the demand.
Then there is another class of tobacco
known as Virginia, Kentucky, North
Carolina, etc.-used in manufacturing
plug, chewing. fine cut, cigarette and
smoking. This can be grown to perfec-
ton, says Mr.. Briggs, in almost every
county in this State. Any farmer who
grows cabbage can grow and cure this
class of tobacco in this climate The
yield Will average one ton to the acre,
and the cost of production is less than
cigar leaf. The price runs from s
cents for Tugs" or the inferior grades,
to as high as p cents for choice can
ary or yellow leaf. BY sun-curing at
least twO-shirds of the crop can be
cured first-class.
In the early seventies J. D. Culp of
San Filipe, Santa Clara Countrywide
is still growing tobacco, and within the
present season incorporated a large
company for the purpose of manufac-
turing tobacco-produced several mill
lion pounds and sold it in the Eastern
States at prices that netter from $500
to 81 900 per acre.
Mr.. Culp will readily give any infor-
nation desired on this subject, as will
Mr.. Briggs, who says the area in Cali
fornia adapted to the growing of the
so-called cigar leaf tobacco contains
more acres than the entire island of
Cuba, if that island We're one entire
plantation.
The southern part of the State has
also produced some very good tobacco.
3. NJ. Blythe of DoWney recently sent
Secretary Smith a sample box of cigars
and a hand" of leaf tobacco. Except
ing the wrappers the cigars are the
product of that locality They have not
as yet experimental in growing wrap
pers. although Mr.. Blythe states he has
planted ten acres this season of Suma-
ira seed, and hopes to soon raise his
own wrappers. He says in a letter to
Mr.. Smith:
L know we can raise as good tobacco
as can be grown in America, and we
know how to cure it, and that is the
secret Of success-the curing. l have
just planted ten acres of Sumatra, and
am satisfied that We can produce
good leaf for wrappers"
With ample good land at the disposal
of many Of our farmers, it is surpris-
ing they do not branch out in the pro-
duction of such a remunerative crop
as tobacco. 1t requires no especial
skill TO grow it, and the knowledge of
curing is easily obtained. This is one
of the subsidiary crops that it Will do
70