Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-15
PRODUCTSOF FLORIDA
Secretary Wilson Talks Of His South
ern Trip.
SUCCESS IN TOBACCO RAISING
Land Found Similar to That
in Cuba.
ORANGES AND OTHER FRUIT

Secretary Wilson of the Agricultural De-
partment has returned to the city from a
weeks visit to Florida, where he went at
the suggestion Of the President to study
the productions of that country. In an
interview concerning his observations
there the Secretary spoke as follows:
THE most striking development 1 found
in Florida was the growth Of the tobacco
interest. Within the last few years 10000
Cubans have come over from their native
tobacco growers curers and cigarmakers,
who understand the art from the planting
Of the seed to the marketing Of the cigar.
The Cubans recognize the hummock lands
Of Florida as being similar to that of the
best tobacco land in Cuba. The Americans
caught on to the business very rapidly.
The state statistics show that the Cubans
sold last year 16O,OOO,OOO cigars, and that
the sales Of tobacco In all its forms brought
Cubans $13.OOO,OOO. The United States still
pays to Cuba, Sumatra, Mexico and other
countries $17,OOO,O0O for tobacco. This the
Floridian is reaching out for. Notwith-
standing the people get 16o,OOO.OOO cigars
annually from Florida, scarcely such a
thing is to be found on the market as a
Florida cigar. They all come north under
the Havana name. found very much the
ssme condition of affairs in the north re-
garding the Florida cigar as 1 found in
London regarding American butter.
1.-The consumer in London Is we'll satis-
fed that the American butter is the finest
that ever went on his table The northern
epicure, after smoking his cigar, will tes-
tify very readily that nothing equals his
fine Havana. Then, if you have evidence
to prove that it was grown, cured and man.
ufactured in Florida. you will convince
him, but not otherwise. / made efforts to
buy box of Cuban cigars. grown, cured
ana manufactured in Florida, but only in
one instance was able to do So.
Work of Experiment Stations.
In connection with the tobacco industry
inquiry Secretary Wilson said he was forci-
bly, reminded of the work done during the
last few years by the agriculture expert
ment stations in mastering the principles
that underlie the flavoring Of butter and
the ripening of cheese After the tobacco
has been grown it is fairly well understood
that fermentation along several lines pro-
duces the characteristic flavor of the prod
uct, and just as several cheeses are given
their peculiar taste through bacterial ac-
ton, SO. unquestlonably. tobaccos grown
and manufactured in different sections of
the country are favored by different kinds
of bacteria He expressed the belief that
neither the Cubans nor the Americans In
Florida knew anything about the principles
that underlie the curing Of the several to-
baccos, but said that DR.. Stockbridge, in
charge of the experimental stations at Lake
City. fully realizes the requirements of the
situation. He has inaugurated a series OF
research regarding fertilizing and what
goes on during the process OF Fermentation.
Nitrogen, potash and phosporic acid are,
the Secretary said, required In the produc-
ton of tobacco. The acid exists in Florida
in abundance, nitrogen can be had through
growing leguminouS crops, and as the pot
ash is found below the salt deposits of the
German mines, the Secretary asked whether
it might not also be found in this country
below the salt deposits. The tobacco rails
ers must have it.
Oranges and Other Fruits.
The Secretary also looked into the orange
Industry and expresses the belief that
there is no tropical belt in Florida. Frost
will come occasionally and injure the trees,
but he believed that protection might be
had for the Florida orange, as 1t sold very
high compared with fruit from any other
country The pineapple industry was pros
pering and was very profitable, and the
small fruit industry was quite important.
The ribbon sugar cane, he thought, would
also succeed in Florida whenever the cul-
ture of it was undertaken systematically.
Mr.. Wilson believed there were certainly
openings for Industrious people in Florida.
Jacksonville people had to pay 10 cents q
quart for their milk, and 1t would be a
very fair speculation, he said, for northern
people to take the cows there to furnish the
milk at that price.
In conclusion Secretary Wilson expresses
the opinion that straight farming will be
of more value to the people than The rails
ing of tobacco, sugar cane. vegetables, &C.,
and that the staple industries of the state
would be dairying, cattle raising, sheep
raising bacon hog raising, &c.