Evening star., 1898-12-22
PROF. WHITNEYS
TRIP
What he Says About Tobacco Growing in
the State of Texas.
Close Touch of the Agricultural De-
partment With the
Farmers.

Prof. Milton Whitney. chief of the d.
vision of soils of the Department of Ag-
riculture. has returned from a trip 10
Texas and other points IN the south in the
interest of the department. Prof. Whit
ney represented the department at the con-
vention of the Texas Tobacco Growers
Association at Houston and also at the
farmers national congr ,ss at Fort Worth.
Tobacco growing in Texas is new indus
try for the big state and much interest is
attached to the outcome of the progress Of
the cultivation of the weed there.
Tobacco Growing in Texas.
1.-The tobacco growers meetings were
most enthusiastic" said Prof. Whitney
when seen by a reporter for The Star today
"A fine collection of leaf tobacco was
shown, especially excellent quality of
wrapper leaf. The finest of this wrapper
leaf is grown under canvas and brings from
81 to SO a pound. Strips of canvas three
feet wide are put up on framework eight
or nine feet from the ground.
There is 2-foot space between the strips
This method of covering reduces the
amount of light and heat reaching the
plant and the conditions are thus made
more uniform Tobacco is only grown in
certain kinds of soil and in Texas cannot
be cultivated further inland than 100 miles
from the gulf coast, the conditions of soil
and climate not being favorable beyond
this distance. With cotton selling at
cents q pound. the people are very much
excited over the tobacco question, large
sums have already been realized by some
of the best growers.
THE center of the industry is at Willis
Texas conditions of climate and soil within
the radius of 100 miles from the gulf are
particularly adapted to the product of fine
wrapper leaf, similar in grain and texture
to the best Havana. Arrangements were
made at the gathering of growers for an
exhibit of some of the finest tobacco
raised in the state at the Paris exposition
in 1900.
The farmers national congress, presid-
ed over by Ex-Governor Hoard Of Wis
consin, was very successful. 1t was large
ly attended by representative men from
all sections Of the country. Several inter-
esting addresses were made. notably one by
Prof w. A. Henry of Wisconsin, on the
subject of stock feeding"
The AIkalf Problem.
The congress was taken on five days
excursion through the state by the railroad
companies. While at Houston an address
made by Prof. Whitney on the subject
of the alkali problem in the west. Prof.
Whitney reports that much interest is
taken in the work of the Agricultural De-
partment in the south and in Texas. The
expression and belief is general that the
department has never been in closer touch
with the farmer than at the present time.
There were many words of commendati ton
spoken for the present policy and admins
tratlGn of the department and expressions
of appreciation of the way the department
work is coming in touch with the everyday
experience of the farmer and the way in
which he is being helped.
The people of Houston demonstrated this
feeling by showing Prof. Whitney marked
attention as the representative Of the de-
Dartment.
While en- route home Prof. Whitney stop
ped at New Orleans and arranged for a fine
exhibit of the famous Derique tobacco at
The Paris exposition. All of the perique
tobacco in the world is grown in two or
three parishes of southern Louisiana. and
50 per cent of the entire crop is handled
by one New Orleans firm. This tobacco sells
for 81 a pound, but the method of curing is
so extremely labOrious that only few
natives of that locality attempt to grow
this variety of the weed.
Prof Whitney also stopped at Quincy
and Lake City. in Florida making arrange
ments fer an exhibit of the tobacco of that
state also at the Paris show. He reports
the tobacco industry in Florida in a very |
uncertain condition, on account of the un-
certaintieS in regard to the markets Some
OF the best growers, however, have given |
especial attention to the production of finer
varieties of wrapper leaf. They are getting
good prices for their output and have as |
sured mdrke-s.