New-York tribune., 1901-12-08
HONE GROWN "SUN4TR4."
CIGAR WRAPPER TOBACCO SUCCESSFULLY
CULTIVATED IN THE CONNECTI-
CUT VALLEY

Quietly but with earnestness and enthusiasm.
the Agricultural Department has for the last two
years been carrying on in the Connecticut VAL
ley series of experiments which are or natlo1ai
importance. These have related TO tobacco cult
ure for which as everybody knows. the valley
is famous; specifically, to the grade known COM
rnercialIy as wrapper tobacco The OBJECT was
to determine whether under special conditions
a tobacco could be grown in this country that
would take the place of the imported article
For the last twenty years the cigar manufact-
urers have relied chiefly on the island Of
Surnatra for their supply of wrapper tobacco, at
a cost of many millions of dollars annually The
departments idea was that the TOBACCO Vailey
might be brought to produce this delicate elastic
outer covering that is necessary TO every cigar
and thus save the money from going out OF the
country, at the same time adding an important
source of revenue to the people Of that section
The practica biIity of the scheme at least SO far
as growing the leaf is concerned has been de-
rnonstrated beyond doubt, and promises TO
revolutionize an extremely important branch OF
national enterprise
For many years the United States has been
innortipg annually from Holland about $4,000
baIes of Suu1atra leaf for which product be-
tween S5OOOOOO and S6.O0O.OOO has been paid
Add to this the duty-S1 So a Pound-and
other expenses incidental to Importation. and
some idea may be obtained Of the sum wnicn
the Department of Agriculture hopes TO save.
The product of cigars this year will for the first
time in the countrys history touch the six billion
mark, and consumption is steadily growing
The experiments were at first conducted oy
Professor Milton Whitney. chief Of the division
of soils So successful was his first denonstra-
ton that more than a dozen growers went into
the culture of Sumatra leaf because they believe
that there is money in it. This last fact cannot
be definitely known until the special board Of
brokers appointed by the Agricultural Depart
rnent has disposed OF the tobacco; but the leaf
has been grown and is admitted TO be OF quite
as fine a texture the imported article. The
department is deeply in earnest about this e1-
pertinent sparing pains to make it great
commercial success and has asked representa-
tive tobacco men to serve on a committee to ar
range the details of the sale. which will prob
ably be held in February
The tobacco which such high hopes are
based is grown entirely under cover. The origi-
nator of the idea IS admitted to be F. A.
Schroeder once Mayor of Brooklyn, who exr
perinnented at great expense in Florida
John A Du Bon. the government tobacco ex-
pert saw great possibilities in the scheme, and
introduced it into Connecticut He planted one
third Of an acre with SUmatra seed. built q
framework of posts and erossbeams. and
stretched the whole Il quantity OF cheese
cloth which not only covered the top. but came
down over the sides and was fastened so care
fully that even an enterprising fly could hardly
squeeze through. Thus insects were prevented
from getting at the crop and the delicate leaves
were protected from wind and hail, which are
the plaques of the Connecticut tobacco grower.
AT the time the rain fell through unfrn-
peded and the air circulated freely The ter1-
perature was that CT a modified hOthouse. and
the plants grew high and beautiful
At present the largest grower is Ariel Mitchell
son. OF Tariffville. Conn He owns about
eighteen acres of the Sumatra leaf. nearly half
the total amount Of the covered crop He and
his brother Joseph Nicholson. were the pioneers
among those who followed the governments
lead but a dozen others are working enthusiaStt
caiIY on a smaller scale.