The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-04
TEXAS TOBACCO.
An Interview with the Assistant
Secretary of Agriculture.

An Interview with the Assistant
Secretary of Agriculture.
Willis Index.
Assistant Secretary of Agriculture NIL
ton Whitney came to Willis Tuesday TO
look over the tobacco situation here In
order that the agricultural department
could make a report thereon. When the
Index reporter asked him for an inter-
view on the tobacco situation here he gave
the following;
The production of a good commercial
type of cigar leaf tobacco is not finished
when the tobacco Is cut and hung in the
barn; In fact. the real and most important
work is then just begun, and whether the
final operation or fermentng or swetSng,
grading and baling are done by the grower
or by central packing house, they must
be carried on here and the growers are
indirectly II not directly interested In the
methods.
Tobacco when 1t is taken down from
the curing barn is little better than drled
forest leaves. The aromatic substance
which give the desirable favor and aroma
OF the cigar leaf as well as the fne grain
finish and uniform color are developed IN
the ferTnentng pie. II was formerly con-
sidered that the aromatic substance giVsn
the flavor and aroma were due TO bacteria
which developed in the fermenting Pile,
but we now know this to be untrue and
! that these substances are due to oXidiAns
/ agents In the leaf itself which are formed
! In the green leaf II the curing is done
/ slowly and properly then oxldizing agents
/ increase, hut II the curing Is not done
properly they may be destroyed and no
subsequent manipulation WI bring out
/ the desired flavor and aroma. IL is thus
seen tnat the fermentation IN which the
aromatic substances are formed by the
| oxidation of the nicotine Is one Of the
most important II not the most important,
operation in tobacco production. The de-
partment Of agriculture Is publishing now
some bulletins giving the results of our
Investigations, the precautions to be OBJ
served and the conditions TO be main
| tained In the fermentation OF cigar leaf
f--rbacco. Copies OF these bulletins VIII be
( fopt without cost to any one applying Tor
them to tho secretary 81 agriculture
by the proper care In the fermentation
the quality and color OF the Texas to-
4 bacco can be made very satisfactory and
closely approaching the standard tyre OF
Cuban tobacco imported into this COIN
try. but this Is not enough The CONNER
cial value OF the crop may he increased
three or four fold by very thorough anr
rigid grading as 10 length, color anc
texture
If the Texas grower IL satisfied tn
supply the b-cent cigar trade, he may dui
all further effort 10 improve the crop. II
is good enough now for such grade o
goods. But for those who believe that
Texas, ae well as the other Gulf States
have the conditions for successful comps
tition for the higher grade Of cigars, Thu
present status OF the leaf production Is no
sufficiently far advanced reputable
manufacturer Of cigars bases his rep
utation upon his ability to main
tain brand of cigars from yea
70 year OF even quality His Gus
toners rely upon this and continue to bu
certain brands which satisfy them II
the quality of these brands is not main
tanned, and the cigars do not run even
he customers become Disguised and tr
other dealers The manufacturer is the
forced to put out the same cigars unde
other names, or TO try other combination
to attract other customers, THIS IN
measure accounts for the large number
brands of cigars on the market today
In order to maintain a brand OF nigh clas
cigars, the largest manufacturers AWAY
hold stock sufficient for two OF three years
consumption, to tide them over poor ere
seasons Therefore they must always q
y large stock In sight 10 select from
D. order that he may be sure not to m
= short. Texas tobacco VIII, thefiore, new
be recognized as a commercial article
be sold under its own name until enouf
tobacco is produced IN the State for Il
~ manufacturers to select their large slo
Ie from. The manufacturers must feel sat-
fed that the tobacco has been proper
fermented to give Il vhe aroma and. III
Their that each bale has been properly
sorted so that II viii be uniform with
narrow limits The commercial value
the crop may be increased three or fou
fold by close grading. In the administl
l., ton OF his business manufacturer MAJ
tanning certain brands naturally wants
know when he buys a bale OF tobacco IL
~ many cigars It will make up, and that
us can work It on in the trands he 10 putt
ng out. Now not only tobacco from the q
IA ferent districts hove different 9ualiti'
- but the leaves OF the same plant may va
nc considerably, as they are OF different 81
We and different stages of ripeness when
ed stalk is cut. II the fermentation Is !
,ss carried on with the utmost care and
ed grading has not been carefully done, 81
be gle hand OF tobacco will not only be
be form in color, but will contain le1y
an which are mild or strong or sweet or bit
zee or harsh or biting. These should be ca
fully graded out for him and before ne
en- asked TO buy.
Another thing which should be boz