The herald., 1897-04-08
THURSDAY, APRIL s. 1897.
TOBACCO CULTURE

Now is an opportune time to test our
soil and climate as to their fitness Tor
the cultivation of the tobacco plant II
is not altogether an experiment. The
plant has been tried at various points
in this part of the state and 1t is said to
do well.
The Cuban war has cut off the supply
of Havana leaf and the factories using
this tobacco are reduced to the last ex-
tremity. Many of them have changed
from the manufacture of such cigars and
are making goods which do not pretend
to contain anything other than domes-
tic tobacco. Other factories are substi-
tuting domestic leaf for Havana. al
though pretending to be still offering
the higher class goods. few have
enough Havana leaf to last for several
months longer.
If the war were to come to an end to-
day this years crop could not be ma
tured. If the war lasts as the previous
attempt on the part of the Cubans to
achieve their independence, for period
of ten years, Havana cigars are likely
to go out of use here for a generation.
In any case the new tariff bill will be
more or less prohibitive as to imports
Already there is a radical change TAX
ing place in the cigar trade. The news
papers and bill boards are filled with
announcements of scent cigars. The
trade recognizes that the day of the
very high cost smoke is passing away,
and that the grade which sells at two
and three for half-dollar, and even
two for a quarter, are not selling as
they did. The scent and 10-cent straight
cigars are those most frequently called
for.
All these conditions will create grow
ing demand for domestic tobacco, and
this opens up the opportunity for our
farmers to see what can be done in this
branch of farming.
But of all products, this is the one
which will require most care. Not all
soils will produce tobacco, and not all
tobacco is commercially valuable. In
many soils the plant grows too rank
30 rank, in fact, that it will not burn
much better than cabbage. The plant
grown on different soils is valuable for
different purposes. Wrapper leaf is the
scarcest and commands the best price
Next comes good filler leaf that used
for plug and other kinds of chewing
and smoking tobacco coming after.
So. in experimenting, it will be neces-
sary to use several kinds of seed and
thus learn which to make a steady cror
Of. Careful analysis of any given soil
by a competent agricultural chemist
! will aid in this investigation.
Another thing the experimenter must
learn is to try small quantities. Tobacco
culture requires great deal of care and
labor. Where experience has taught the
planters all there is to know about the
business the usual paintings amount tc
only an acre or two, five acres being
= very large undertaking. For expert
mental purposes a quarter of an acre
on which few rows of several kinds are
grown. would be the best.
The curing is a matter of expert skill
The climate has nearly as much to d.
with the one as with the other. In oul
dry interior valleys difficulties will b,
met, and similarly along the ocear
coast, where the temperature varies
greatly, the nights being COOL it will
require some treatment different from
that produced in Virginia or Ken
lucky.
With these facts kept carefully ir
mind, no doubt successful experiment.
{ may be made in many parts of this Sec
ton.
Ghe profits of the business are large