The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-16
FLoRIDA'S TOBACCO FARMS.
SECRETARY WILSON TALKS OF HIS
VISIT TO THE STATE.

VISIT TO THE STATE.
Forty Thousand Cubans Added 10
the Formulation of the state to En-
gage in the Industry-SOId Last
Year 16O.OOO.OOO Cigars for Sl6,-
O0O.o0G-Thc United states Paying
SIz.OOO.OOO Fer Yenr for Imported
Tobacco and the FIOridians Reach
ing Out for This.
Washington. Feb. 15.-Secretary Wilson
of the Agricultural Department has re-
turned 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. 1
In an interview concerning his observan-
ces, the Secretary spoke as follows: The
most striking development 1 found in
Florida was the growth Of the tobacco in
terest Within the last few years 10000
Cubans have come over from their native
country, many of whom had been life long
tobacco growers, curers and cigar max
ers, who understood the art from the
planting Of the seed to the marketing of
the cigar. The Cubans recognize the
hommock lands of Florida as being very
similar to that of the best tobacco land
in Cuba. The Americans caught on to
the business very rapidly. The state sta
tistics show that the Cubans sold last
year 100, 100000 cigars, and that the sales
of tobacco in all its forms brought the Gu
bans s16O0O,O00. The United States stln
pays to Cuba, Sumatra, Mexico and other
countries, $17,O00.OOO for tobacco. This the
Floridan is reaching out for. Notwith
standing the people get 100000 cigars
annually from Florida, scarcely such a
thing is to be found on the market as
Florida cigar They all come north Under
the Havana name.
81 found very much the same condition
of affairs in the North regarding the Flor
ida cigar as l found in London regarding
American. butter. The consumer in London
is well satisfied that the American butter
is the finest that ever went on his table.
The Northern epicure after smoking his
cigar will testify very readily that nothing
equals his fine Havana. Then If you have
evidence to prove that it was grown, cured
and manufactured in Florida, you will con-
vince him, but not otherwise. ] made eff
forts to buy box of Cuban cigars, grown,
cured and manufactured in Florida, but
only in one instance was able to do So
In connection with the tobacco industry
inquiry, Secretary Wilson said he was for
chilly reminded of the work done during
the last few years by the agricultural ex-
pertinent stations in mastering the prin-
ciples that underle the flavoring of butter
and the ripening Of cheese. After this to-
bacco has been grown it is fairly well un-
derstood that fermentation along several
lines produces the characteristic flavor of
the product, and just as several cheeses
are given their peculiar taste through bac-
terial action so unquestionably tobaccos
grown and manufactured in different sec
tons Of the country are favored by differ
ent 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 tobac-
cos, but said that DR.. Stockbridge, in
charge of the experimental station at
Lake City, fully realized the requirements
of the situation He has inaugurated a
series of researches regarding fertllizing
and what goes on during the process of
fermentation.
Nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid
are, the secretary says, required in the
production of tobacco. The acid that ex-
lists in nitrogen can be had through grow
ing iegumiuous crops, and as the potash is
IOunQ beiOW the salt deposits or the Ger
man mines the secretary asked whether
it might not also be found in this coun-
try below the salt deposits. The tobacco
raisers must have it.
The secretary also looked into the orange
industry and expressed 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 it
sold very high compared with fruit from
any other country.
The pineapple industry was prosperirg
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 We're certainly
openings for industrious people in Florida
Jacksonville people had to pay 10 cents
quart for their milk and il would be a very
fair speculation, he said, for Northern peo-
pie TO take the COWS there to furnish milk
at that price
In conclusion. Secretary Wilson ex-
presses the opinion that straight farming
will be of more value to the people than
The raising of tobacco, sugar cane, vegeta-
bles, ETC., and that the staple industries of
the state should be dairy. cattle raising
sheep raising. bacon and hog raising.