Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-08-10
NOVELTY IN TOBACCO CULTURE.


Plants Grown ia Connecticut Under
Cheese Cloth Are OF Unusual Size and
Fine Texture.
The most interesting and important ex-
pertinent in tobacco culture that has ever
been made in this country, and one which
promises TO have results of great value, is
now in progress at the grounds of the Con
necticut Tobacco Exeriment company at
Poquonock, Conn, where nine rows of to-
bacco, 500 feet long, are growing under
covering of cheese-cloth. One half of this
tobacco is Sumatra and the other half
"Connectcut Havana" the kind grown al
most exclusively on the wrst side OF the
Connecticut river, in the towns of Windsor
and Sutfield.
More than 1000 yards Of cheese-cloth
were used in covering these nine rows,
which comprise about one-third of an acre.
A lattice work of wood was first construct
ed. This is about nine feet in hight.
Wires were laid across the lattice, and on
these wires the light cloth is supported and
fastened. There is only one entrance to
the Enclosure, and this has been kept care
fully closed throughout the season, making
bug proof, fy-proof structure, through
which the sun and the rain may enter with
very slight obstruction.
The most important result attained is
the increase in the evenness of the temper
ature. The winds do not sweep through
the rows of nclOsed tobacco as they do
through the open fields. The air remains
almost still, even when brisk breeze is
blowing outside. Another natural result
of the exclusion of the wind from the in
closed field is the retention of the moisture
81 1g,ff Iat tn
bacco and in the inner atmosphere, there
by greatly improving the conditions which
favor the growth of the plants. 1t is this
steady maintenance of moisture and
warmth in the soil and air which has en-
abled Sumatra tobacco to be grown sue
cessfully for the first time in a Connecticut
tobacco field.
The Sumatra tobacco plants at Poquo-
mock are pushing their tops up against the
cheese-cloth nine feet from the ground and
show luxuriance and perfection which
would delight the eye of any tobacco-grow-
er in the world. The Connecticut Havana
under cover is markedly superior to that
growing outside There is a superior fine
ness and softness in the leaves that is APP
parent even to the unsklled observer. But
the wonderful thing is that nearly every
leaf on the whole 1900 plants is without
hole or bemish. This is something that
has never before been seen in a Connect
cut tobacco field Nearly all the tobacco
produced in this section in a good year sells
for 20 to 30 cents pound. But there are
grades of foreign tobacco in the market
which sell for 81 a pound, or nearly II
times the average price of Connecticut to
bacco. If it is possible to raise the quality
of a field of tobacco here so that it vii
sell for Is or 80, or even 40 cents pound
by the expenditure of $500 or 5000 in in
closing the field with cloth, the operation
will be an exceedingly profitable one TO
the growers and the smokers of the cOuntr.
may have very much better cigars for
comparatively small increase in price.
Another interesting experiment which i
to be tried in Poquonock this year is in tn
method of curing the tobacco raised in tn
cloth Enclosure. 1t is to be cut leaf by leaf
and the leaves are to be strung on wires
The wires will be placed in a wel-seale,
barn, and there method of artificial heat
ing is to be provided to guard against pos
sible injury during a prolonged spell o
damp weather while the curing process
continues.
Iii probable that the spotting process viii