The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-17
AN EXHIBIT OF TOBACCO.
One of the Features of the Pan
American Exposition.

NEW YORK, Dec 16--Tobacco is now
officially tabulated as an important produc-
tion of thirty-three States and Territories
and every country of the Western Hemi-
! sphere. including nearly all the islands Of
the Atlantic Ocean.
| Special arrangements will be made at
the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo.
by individual growers, assisted by the
1 Federal Government. to show not only the
| different kinds and products of the leaf IS
grown in different sections, but to illus
trate the manner Of propagation and the
| many different methods employed in har
vestinS, curing, and manipulation OF the
| leaf with regard to the kind of manufac-
tured tobacco for which it is intended.
Methods of testing the seed for fertility
both in porous clay saucers and between
blotiers; the many successful methods Of
cultivation; kinds best adapted to differ
en-; soils and climate, together with COM
binations of American with foreign to-
| baccos. and the resultant effects on fbre
and havor will be carefully demonstrated.
Experiments in producing light or dark
colored leaf by utilizing different kinds of
soil and location fave proved partially sue
cessful. Further and more important re-
suits are anticipated in this direction as a
| better understanding of these influences ia
gained.
EtH IN growing
Havana seed and Sumatra tobacco on Con-
nectcut soil has recently been conducted
by Prof. J. Fl. Jenkens. Of the State Agri-
cultural Station, at New Haven. and Mar
Gus A. Floyd tobacco expert of the United
States Department OF Agriculture The
plants are grown under light covering
Of cheese CLOTH, which is placed nine feet
above the ground. stretched over light
framework support.
The covering offers advantages in retain
ing the moisture in the ground and in Sc
curing more uniform temperature. The
covering in preventing radiation from the
earth also raises the temperature between
hve and ten degrees and is also a protee-
;ion against heavy rain storms. The leaves
under cover grow smaller and finer the
color is a brighter green, and the plants
are stalker THAI those raised in the open.
This measure of success refers to Sumatra
tobacco, as the results in regard to the
Havana plant have not proved entirely
satisfactory
comprehensive exhibit is intended, as
the commercial Importance of tobacco is
such as to demand an elaborate recogni-
tion in an exposition of such internationa
Importance
The prominence Of tobacco dates back to
the earliest American records. One can
hardly think of the West Indies without
tion with each island. Historically, to-
bacco is intimately connected with the
earliest history OF the United States. At
time when money as n circulating medium
was exceedingly scarce tobacco. being a
staple article OF export was utilized in n
great measure to supply the deficiency.
In Virginia $50 years ago tobacco was
used in lieu of money. Maids were i'm
ported from England and sold to the young
planters for wives. the price for a wife
being 100 pounds of good tobacco. Tobac-
co was also accepted as legal tender in
Maryland. History records instances of
paying poll taxes in tobacco. the rate in
year lI17 being 1I2 pounds per poll. In
1892 Maryland is credited with the produc-
tion of 10000 hogsheads. an amount not
exceeded at the present time.
Notwithstanding the great arlount OF
tobacco grown on the American continent,
and the islands contiguous thereto, i'm
inense quantities are imported from other
parts of the world. As the leaf is indigo
nous 10 America. and the cultivation is so
generally successful. these imports seem
superfuous. With thorough understand
ing of proper methods scientifically ap-
piled to the production of popular flavors |
it is contended that America should supply |
the world.