The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1898-03-18
WILL TRY TOBACCO
A New Industry Inaugurated
for Eastern Oregon.
THE LOYAL CATHOLICS.
Archbishop Gross Issues
Circular Letter.
Portland Oreponian.

Industrial Agent Judson, OF the o. r,
d ~, left last evening for Pendleton to
deliver lot of tobacco seed for expert.
ment in the Inland Empire. in further,
aDce OF the plan of industrial develop
ment undertaken by the railroad man.
agernent
II will turn the seed over" said Mr.
Judeon, ito market gardner there,
with whom | have already contracted
for a hotbed that will raise 10000.
plants. This gardener is an old tobacco
raiser, and have no fear of not getting
the young plants in good shape to place
at the ditfrent points where we desire to
test the tobacco. Regarding the seed,
will say that have three varieties to test
and have seed enough for $4,000 plants.
The seed is choice Havana the Sumatra
and the Cuban tobacco, all very popular
for cigar making. Climate and soil con
ditions determine to great extent the
kind OF tobacco to raise. The tobacco
plant readily adapts itself to great range
OF climate conditions, will grow upon
nearly all kinds of soil, and has com-
paratively short season of growth. II
can therefore as a matter of fact, be
grown in almost all parts of Oregon, even
where corn will not get ripe. But, while
tobacco can be 30 universally grown, the
favor and quality OF the leaf are greatly
influenced by the condition Of soil and
climate,
"The industry has been very highly
specialized, and there is only demand
now for tobaccos possessing certain quail
ties adapted to certain specific purposes
A nondescript tobacco is not worth grow
ing, and should not be grown, as it must
necessarily lower the price OF good tobac-
CO. 1t is qnite essential that none but
the best qualities should be raised, and
that the climate and soil are we'll adapt.
ed for it.
"As to the kinds Of soil and climate
best for tabacco, experience is. in my
opinion, the only guide. Under given
climatic conditions, the class OF tobacco
will depend especially on the physical
character OF the soil upon which 1t is
grown, while the grades is dependent
largely upon the cultivation and curing
Of the crop. The best kind OF soil for
tobacco are the poorest for general agr.
cultural products. Soil producing heavy,
coarse tobacco will not produce the light
er variety. Soil containing large pro.
portion of clay, which holds the moisture
tends to produce large, heavy plants,
which cure a dark brown or led, A
lighter, candy soil produces plant hay.
ing thinner and more delicate leaf,
which by proper treatment can be cured
to bright red, mahogany or fine yellow
color. 80 marked is the influence OF soil
upon the quality OF the tobacco that
fine, bright tobacco land may be separat-
ed by only few feet from heavier clay
soil which will produce only heavy
tobacco Manures and fertilizers tend
always to increase the yield per acre,
but where large quantities OF nitrogen
are added to the coil there il q tendency
Cor the leaf to become thicker, heavier
and more gummy.
lin the case of the fine. bright tobac-
cos or naturally thin textired leaves this
10 likely to cause amarked deterioration
In the character OF the leaf, but with the
heavier varieties this result is far from
undesirable. because It merely increases
the normal influences OF the soil in max.
ing the leaf heavier, richer and OF more
body
"We will test the different varieties at
the different stations that We think de-
sifable for growing tobacco, and also give
to others applying that our judgment
will keep an accurate record OF time OF
planting, character OF the soil, and rain.
fall, together with other climatic infu.
ences, and who will take samples OF the
soils occasionally and have them ana
lyzsi to enable generalizations to be
made as to the character OF the soils.
The object is to see If We have the clim-
ate and the soil to raise the fine quality
Of tobacco the market demands, and that
will be profitable to the grower. There
Is no question that tobacco can be grown,
as much has been grown. though Of little
value from commercial standpoint
"The curing is fully as important as
the growing, and, should We satisfy our
selves that we have the right quality OF
commercial tobacco, we will get a.person
that understands the curing, and after
that we shall place the product on the
market and determine the value OF East
ern Oregon as q tobacco