The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-05
VALUABLE TO TOBACCO MEN.
How Fragrant Havana Tobacco Can Be
Produced in Virginia.
COLONEL WHITEHEAD'S EXPERIMENTS
Interesting Information Furnished by
Consul-Generai Titzhugh Lee-Havana
Tobacco Can ia Produced In Yir-
cinia and North Carolina.

Colonel Thomas Whitehead. Commits
sinner OF Agriculture, has lately been
,r,,aood i, experiments which VIII doubt
less prove Of the greatest interest to the
tobacco growers Of Virginia. Colo
Whitehead says:
"ReHeviue that the tobacco planters o:
Virginia might, II successful "a the tx-
porirnent. secure some benefits from
protective tariff. from which agriculture
had never received any heretofore, and
satisfied that the Tidswater section OF
virginia could produce the same tobacco
now that II produced when found in the
mouths OF the Indians, and thence grew
into a great trade, literally making a
great state. / started the experiment for
testing whether the fragrant Havana
cigar tobacco could not be produced IN
Virginia and North Carolina as It has
been land better in Florida and CALI
fornia.
TIDEWATER TOBACCO.
81 Ind these facts: The finest smoking
TO say nothing Of chewing) tobacco was
produced ia Tdew0tor Virginia-so fra
grant. SO cxhilarGting, SO tempting. that
despite tho opposition OF Church and
State. Il succeeded in becoming a great
commercial tree, and led as the money
crop in the marts OF the word.
Second. That the population OF Virginia
was stil composed OF those who had in
horited a knowledge OF tobacco in all it's
phases. Its cultivation and adaptation
20 particular soils, It's curing 10 secure
color texture and flavor, tho manner ne
ccssary 10 the best quality, the effect or
the seasons. were all known intuitlyely 10
the Nirginian born and raised on the
81 MI fa.s
seen the experiment tried on "a small scale
with perfect success as 10 frangunce
and color with seed imported from Cuba.
Fourth. In tho experiment station and
Departments Of Agriculture the people
had the means OF testing soils. fertilizers,
and the analysis Of plants far ahead Of
any past generation. and last / found
from reliable cigar manufacturers that
Imported Cuban wrappers cost not less
than s. per pound. and filters over 81.
and that California and Florida tobacco
produced and handled by a population
without the tobacco experience that Vir-
giniaus have naturally sells for prices
greatly beyond what Is received for the
best Virginia tobacco. For these reasons.
] wrote 10 my old commander. General
Fitz Lee ("may his tribe increase'D 10
see IL he could secure mo genuine fra
grant Havana seed from a plantation and
from a reliable planter Promptly | got
the seed, and put a short notice In the
papers, and have received and filed hun
dreds of applications. received the fol-
lowing letter from Hon. W. j. HUBBARD. OF
! buckingham:
MIR. HUBBARD WRITES.
"Centreyillo Postoiiice,
buckingham County, Va,
February l6, 1891.
Captain whitehead, Commissioner OF
Agriculture:
Dear slr.-some days ago noticed
an article from you upon to-
bacco. n subject that l have for some
years fct great interest IN. and 1 write
10 ask you 10 send mo some seed Cuban,
promising ths 10 shall have a fair trial.
Permit me 20 express the regret that,
owing 20 pres Of business, l suppose your
article was s. limited and / write to sug-
gcst that 80 give the tobacco growers
another letter with information upon
character Of soil. manner Of preparing the
land Chat IS. whether deep or shallow
poughing IS best in first breaking the
land. with the subsequent method Of cul-
tigat.ng caring and handling the same,
FOR both the wrapper and filler. as from
my limited experience and observation, l
take 50 that each would require a different
SOIL &C.. 10 produce the highest class.
This Information could be easily obtained
from General Lee and would. / have no
doubt. be greatly appreciated by all per-
| sons interested in tobacco growing.
"Wiu you pardon me for calling your
attention 10 the shipping tobacco Of this
state? Analysis shows that Virginia pro-
duccs the highest type (that IS. tobacco
containing moro OF the essential elements)
I.. no 20
this. g. less capable OF being adulterated
than any other. and for this reason has
fallen under the ban OF manufacturers
as. owing 70 tho fact that IL contains a
large per cent. OF Oh. Il will not a0t as Il
sponge 10 absorb foreign matter. Hence
tho preference for Western tObaccos now.
Whilst this f.. no doubt. all very well for
the manufacturers II is directly against
tho interest OF the consumers. as It 7 /
qulrcs him 90 use more tobacco. especially
is this true Of an limestone tobacco belts,
and 10 has been matter OF not only
regret. but surprise 10 me that our Viz
ginia tobacconists did not take just
view OF their own product. and educate
the public as 10 the true merits OF one
Of our greatest farm products. just as was
the case with the Connecticut seed leaf.
Asking that you VIII pardon this lengthy
letter. ] am.
"Very truly. your friend.
"W J. HUBARD."
FORMULA PREPARED.
Desiring to do an could to carry out
this experiment. I prepared the formula
below, based upon my own personal cx-
rerience and that Of the best Virginia
planters upon an investigation OF the
cultivation etc. en- Florida and Callfor-
MA. and now advise those who reeve irs
seed 20 look carefully into this formula
md into the paper prepared in Cuba sent
here by General Lee. and then use then
the Virginia experience applying It TO
every phase OF the subject in
the selection Of soil and cul-
tlvaton. printing and topping
cutting and curing and handling and or
dering. and l hope there may be money
i'm the move for our people. who sadly
need II.
The following from Gen. Fitz Lee IS IN
reply 10 the number OF questions and
answers which asked him to get from
experienced and successful producers OF
the best Havana tobaccos:
GENERAL LEES INFORMATION.
Q. Character Of sOil--Sandy, clay or
loan. new or old land?
a. The soil OF San Luis (San Luis. the
finest tobacco OF Nuelta Abajo) Is sandy
and gravelly. and has been cultivated for
the past . or 90 years.
The soil OF Remartes Remartes de
Guano. the farthest point west of Haba MAJ
IS deep and sandy and has been under
cultivation for a period OF from 10 20 %
years.
Q. Number OF plants to acre, mode OF
cultivation. topping and printing?
4. The production OF one "Caballeria"
(about 90 ID acres) may be es-