New-York tribune., 1901-04-14
TO IMPROVE CONNECTICUT LEAF.
THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONDUCT EXPERT
MENTS IN VARIOUS SOILS.

New-Haven Conn, April l3 (SpeciaD-Interesting
experiments will be undertaken this summer
throughout the Connecticut Valley In tobacco rails
ing. Not only will the growers themselves put into
effect methods of treating and raising the
plants but the national government will begin an
important series of scientific experiments, designed
last several seasons which will be directed tow
ard purifying the and bringing IT to the stand
ard required in the trade. Tobacco manufacturers
throughout the country will watch for the outcome
OF the experiments with interest. their success
will mean a great advantage TO the trade at large:
and private growers in the South will also be In
terested. the success of the Connecticut farmers
will serious -inroads their present
monopoly of the trade.
Connecticut valley growers produced about the
first high grade tobacco outside OF the tobacco belt,
and the first cigars manufactured in this country
made here. valley grower sending out the
first made in the year 1901. Since then the
farming has steadily increased. until it is the
main agricultural business OF this section. Last
year the government sent out a trained corps of
scientists study the soils in various sections of
the country, basis for work TO be started later
to better agricultural conditions and a complete
survey OF this section made. Some interesting
the direct result of this investigation.
1t found. for instance. that the tobacco grow
ers We're spending much unnecessary energy in
comparatively poor soils. that vast tracts OF farm
lands and unreCaimed lands admirably
adapted to tobacco growing which idle.
and that with proper fertilzing irrigation and
treatment the productiveness of the valley could
be increased many fold Wherever this report has
found way the farmers have profited by its
suggestions that this summer is many
individual attempts made better the conditions OF
the industry. The promised experiments of the
government also will be of great value to the grow
ers from Hartford TO Northampton, and on their
success will depend to a large degree the future
of the industry throughout the valley. 1t will be
possible now for much larger, better and more
uniform crop to be raised.
The experiments will aim at the development OF
a leaf nearer the Sumatra type regarded 5
the standard for cigar wrappngs The two i'm
portant tobacco growing districts. the so-caled
Windsor sands and Hartford loans. will be made
the basis of experiment The Windsor sands may
possibly bear irrigation TO considerable extent.
and by this method it may be that crop will be
cured at least four of five times where
or two of five is the rule. In the Hartford dis
trict Is proposed primarily to do away with the
peculiar "seedy' of the leaf by selection and
breeding. if by a radical change from the pres
ent method of cultivation. In other districts IL Is
proposed to experiment with what now waste
lands and by irrigation. treatment by fertilizers
and other scientific methods reclaim much territory
for this important industry. The valley is GER
tain o greatly benefited by the experiments.