New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-16
TOBtCCO-GROWTNG IN FLORIDA.
SECRETARY WILSON TALKS or HIS oRsERVA-
T1ONs N THAT STATE.

| Washington Feb I5-Sccretary Wilson OF the
| Agricultural Department has returned TO the c''y
! from a weeks visit 10 Florida. where ne went ~
the suggestion OF the President TO STUDY th' pro-
ductions Of that State. I'm an Interview concern
ing his observations there the Secretary spoke as
follows: .The most striking development found
I'm Florida wns the growth OF the tobacco inter-
est Within the last fen years forty 'housd''
Cubans have come over from their native country
many Of whom had been lifelong tobacco-sro"e'H'
curors and clgarmakers. who understand the "'.
from the planting OF the seed 10 the marketing OF
the cigar The Cuhans recognize the hummock
lands o. Florida being very sln'Har 10
the best tobncco land in cuba The Americans
caught on 10 the business very rapidly. me
State statistics show that the Cubahs soIu ia0'
year 100000 600 cigars, and that the safes OF to
bacco in all its forms brought Cubans S]."'o"'
The United States su pays to cuba. Suhiud d.
Mexico and other countries S1I0oO0oO for tobacco
This the Floridan is reaching out for Not"llh
standing the people get lGoOoO0OO cigars amman!
from Florida. scarcely such thing is 10 he iounu
on the market ms a Florida cigar They al come
North under tho Havana name found very mucn
the same condition OF affairs In the North regard
ing the Florida cigar as ] found in London regard
ing American butter. The consumer IN London Is
well satisfied that ne American butter is the m
as. that ever went his table. The Northern
cpcure after smoking his cigar Will TESTIFY very
readily that nothing equals his hnc Havana. Then
T. YOU nave evidence 10 provo una II va" N'''''f
cured and manufactured in Florida. you Will con-
vince him. but not Otherwise. made efforts to
buy box of Cuban cigars grown, cured and manu-
featured in Florida. bat only In one instance was
able 10 do So
In connection with the tobacco Industry inquiry,
Secretary Wilson laid he was forcbly reminded
Of the work done during the last few years by the
agricultural experiment stations in mastering the
principles that underly the hayornR OF butter ana
the ripcnine OF cheese After tho tobacco has boeh
grown 10 is fairly well understood that fermcnta-
ton alonG several lines produces the characteristic
secure their peculiar taste through bacterial ac-
ton so uuquestiorao.y tobaccos grown and manu-
featured IN different sections OF the country are
Favored by different kinds OF bacteria l...,.-
He expressed the belief mat neither me tuDdns
nor the Americans Florida knew anyt hlng ABOUT
the principles that underlit tho curing OF the 10
baccos. out said that Or sockbrldse' IN el cit
OF the experimental stations an Lake city, tuI}
realizes The requirements OF he situatlon ne mas
and what goes during the process OF ferm"nta-
ZION NITROGEN potash ana Pno,pho1G aC,G ~
tobacco. The acid exists n Florida In abundance,
rro,s and AS potash is found below the salt
deposits Of the German mines ne Secretary asked
below The salt deposits. The tobacco-raiser must
The Secretary also looked into the orange In
dustry. and eXpres scd the belief that there is no
tropical belt in Florida. Frost will come occasion
soId at 5i.b nrir@ corpared with fruit from any
other country. The pineapple industry was pros
d3sr az in1oIiant Tbo rlbbon sugar cane he
thought. would also succeed IN Florida whenever
the culture OF Il was undertaken systematically.
Mr. wilson believed there we're certainly openings
Tor Industrious people in Florida. Jacksonville
people had 20 pay 10 cents quart for their milk,
and il would be- fair speculation. he said for
milk that price. In conclusion. secretary Wilson
expressed ne opinion that straight farming VII be
more valuable TO the people than the raising OF
staple industries OF the state would be dairyng,
cattle-raislnG, sheep-raising. hos-ralsing. etc.