The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-05
TOBACCO GROWN UNDER CLOTH
a Connecticut Experiment Which l.
Watched with Much Interest.


Northampton Letter in Springfield Repub-
lcan-
Hatfield cannot yet say of its own knowl-
edge whether or not it pays to raise to-
bacco as an exotic under cloth better than
it does to develop a hardy but less valuable
growth in more natural conditions. There
have been about two acres Of Havana
seed tobacco raised under cloth i'm Hatfield
this year. But it is not yet fully harvested.
and the market value depends quite as
much upon the success gained in prepar-
ing the leaf for the market as in raising
it. 1t is said that 3. N. Warner has an
offer of 80 cents a pound in bulk. y high
market price for tobacco bought in the
field, to be delivered in the bundle, has been
20 cents a pound, and the discussion in
Hatfield concerning tent tobacco is just
now based on this amount OF difference
in price. It seems to be the general opin-
ion that the higher price will meet the
extra cost and leave a moderate profit, pro-
vided the greater difficulties of preparing
this tobacco for market are successfully
met. Tobacco raised under cloth is not har-
vested by cutting the stalk. 1t grows 70 a
greater height and develops from half a
dozen to a dozen more leaves than outside
tobacco. The field is harvested three or
four times, the lower leaves being taken
NaNA INV 1AAt 0A4AA u NAC AfdNNo ENNa
rated from the stalk requires "A more care
ful and more expensive process. When it
is known how well this can be managed
ana at NhdJ cost, ana whether there VIII
be a still greater difference in price than
above mentioned, then Hatfield Will have
made a definite contribution TO the new
idea of tobacco culture. At present the
raising of tobacco under cloth appears in
the light of raising biOOded stock. There
is probably money in it for those who have
the means and the skill 10 properly conduct
an enterprise of the kind. but there is risk
OF heavy loss, which people of more mod
crate means cannot afford to take.
The final triumph OF forced tobacco rails
ing Gf it succeeds) will be the raising OF
Sumatra seed-leaf. There is only one man
in this section who has Ventured upon n
practical demonstration of this more iutri-
cate phase OF the problem. He IS Lemucl
+. Graves, of East Whately, who has three
quarters of an acre of Sumatra tobacco
under cloth. His crop promises good re-
suits. A party of Hatfield growers recently
visited by invitation the tents of Ariel
Nicholson, at Tariffville, Conn. Judging
by the size of the venture at that place
and other Connecticut towns, Connecticut
growers seem to consider that the profitable
growing of tobacco under cloth is estab-
lisbed beyond doubt. The word tent
hardly gives a fair impression of tho scene
afforded by the extensive operations of Mr..
Nicholson. The tents of any one of the
numerous largest shows on earth would
hardly be considered a mammoth display
compared 10 II tent nine acres in extent.
Mr.. Nicholson has two complete inclOs-
ures Of this area formed by covering a
framework at the top and sides with 6.Ull
yards OF cheeSeclOth. The frame consists Of
posts of the required height. connected at
the top with strips Of wood TO which the
cheesecloth is nailed. The plants are et-
| feCtiVcly protected from insects. but there
might arise the mischanCe Of damage to the
tent by hail or the transportation of A few
thousand square yards OF cheesecloth into
the next county by spOrtive winds.
1t may be fairly assumed that it was
with the intense feeling of interest OF a
boy at a circus that the substantial citizens
of Hatfield entered the big tents at Tariff
vile TO view the experiment which might
indicate the possibility for them and theil
feliow-tOwnsmen TO gain thousands of dol
lars in increased profits every year. They
saw two nine-acre tracts of perfect tobacco
every plant extending nine feet in height {,
the top OF the tent, and bearing fine-veineC
leaves with q remarkable proportion N
wrapping surface. The Hatfield men cam.
home thoughtful. Wrappers are the prod
uct which the Connecticut valley grOwel
aims to secure. II he raises anything els
it is because he has hitherto known OF n,
way TO produce a plant that hears goo,
wrapper leaves exclusively. and leaves tina
will cut up like a well-SeleCted piece of dr.
goods without waste. But the Connecticut
growers say that 80 per cent. of the Su
matra leaves under cloth are wraDpe
leaves, and there is an extremely SINAI
amount Of waste in the individual leaf
They evidently have faith in their crop. he
cause some Of them have refused $50
pound. in view of the fact that the dut,
| alone on Sumatra Seed-leaf is about S1.S5.