The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-31
SOILS OF TOBACCO SECTIONS
GOVERNMENT no ISSUE A PRELIAE
MARY REPORT.


Number of Typical Tobacco Soil Ex-
nmined In the Laboratory of the
Agricultural Department-Kindo OF
Tobacco to BE Crown in Specified
Localities should he Governed by
Climatic and Soil Conditions-Fla-
vor and Quality of the Leaf Greats
Iy Influenced by These Conditions
Washington, jan 90.-Secretary of Agri-
culture Wilson has authorized the pub1i-
cation in pamphlet form of a preliminary
report upon the soils Of the principal to-
bacco districts in the United States pre-
pared by Milton Whitney, chief of tne
division of soils.
study of these soils was begun wheu
the tobacco exhibit was being secured for
the Columbian Exposition at Chicago and
since that time quite a number of typl-
cal tobacco soils have been examined in
the laboratory connected with the agri-
cultural department. The present publi-
cation, which Is copiously illustrated, Is
preliminary report of the work that has
been going on.
The main points of inquiry which now
reach the department are in regard to
the kind of tobacco which should be
grown in certain specified localities and
the method of curing the product. Re-
plying to these questions, the report saws
climatic and soil conditions should deter
mine the kind to be raised.
The tobacco plant rarely adapts itself to
great range of climatic conditions. but
will grow on nearly all kinds of soils.
and has a rnmnarafivalxr ,ho~t u--... u.
growth. II can. therefore as a matter or
iaet' De grown In nearly all parts of the
country, even where wheat and corn cam
not be economically produced. But while
tobacco can be SO universally grown. the
flaVor and quality OF the leaf are greatly
influenced by the conditions of climate and
SOIL nondescript tobacco is not worth
growing and should not be grown. as IL
lowers the price of really good types and
because 1t Is detrimental alike to the
growers and the consumers II Is well.
therefore, 20 understand what kinds OF to-
bacco are in demand and learn what con-
oltlons OF climate and soil is needed which
VIII produce the qualities desired
glance al table giving the chaneaa
in the production of tobacco from 1S7e 70
1889, shows that in this period of ten wears
the acreage and yield OF the cigar tobacco
nave been very considerably decreased
Inc manufacturing and export tobaccos
cannot be separated as both kinds of to-
Dacco are generally grown in the same dis
trict, and the same kind is frequently ,,aaa
for both purposes.
on the whole there has been a considera
pie decrease In the acreage and Yield with
the bright yellow and hurley tobaccos there
mas been large decrease in both acrea Ca
ana Yield. Since 1899 there has been con-
siderable changes in of
trlcts, while new districts, notably Texas
ana California, are coming into considera-
ple prominence, both as to the area under
cultivation and the excellent quantity Of
the product raised.
The acreage In Florida has also been
very greatly increased since 1889. but there
are no reliable statistics to show the ex
tent Of the changes in the couAties max
ing up the tobacco districts
some attention is devoted to the question:
OF meteorological conditions as affectlnps
the industry in the great tobacco regions
IN TINS country, Cuba and Sumatra
The plant, the report continues "is
far more sensitive to these meterolorlcal
conditions than are our oyster grounds
Even in such a famous tobacco region
as Cuba, tobacco of good quality cannot
be grown in country near the ocean. or
certain parts of the island, which would
otherwise be considered good tobacco
lands. This has been the experience also
in Sumatra and In our own country. but
the Influences are too subtle to be detected
by meteorological Instruments"
The remainder of the report rs devoted
mainly to a description of the different
classes of tobacco lands found IN the
United States, together with data as to-
the yield per acre when used for wrapper
or filler, the value of this produced ana
valuable suggestions for obtaining the best
results.