Evening star., 1901-07-19
TOBAC IN TENTS
EXPERIMENTS BEING CARRIED on
IN CONNECTICUT.
visit by the Secretary of Agriculture
and Chief of bureau of Soils
How the Work in Done.


TARIFFVILLE, Conn.,, July 49, 1901
The little town of Tarifrville was honored
today with an unexpected visit from the
Secretary Of Agriculture and Prof. Milton
whitney, chief of the bureau of soils, who
SfrlVed mere at noon on their way to Bos
ton. The purpose of the visit of these two
agricultural officials to this locality was
to inspect the Sumatra tobacco which the
bureau Of soils is cultivating under cheese
cloth shades under the direct supervision
Of Mr.. M. L. Floyd. tobac expert of the
Department of Agriculture.
Secretary Wilson and Prof Whitney were
met at the station by Mr.. Floyd, Messrs.
Joseph and Ariel Nicholson and other
prominent citizens Of Tariffvile and Hart
ford. They were entertained at dinner at
the home Of Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Michel
son. who also had as their guests Repre-
sentative Henry of Rockville and Mr.. l..
B. Haas Of Hartford.
Courtesies Extended.
After dinner they spent the afternoon
driving over the country, visiting the va
rious tobacco fields under shades and get
ting at the same time some beautiful views
Of the surrounding scenery. Both the Sec
retary and Prof. Whitney expressed them
selves as being thoroughly delighted With
the work that had been done and well
pleased and almost surprised with the
bright prospect that was in view for tie
harvesting which Is near at hand. The
citizens desired to give these officials a re-
ception. in the evening, while the town
band had prepared serenade, but Secre-
tary Wilson and Prof. Whitney were
obliged to return to Hartford on the
route to Boston. This hasty departure
was much regretted both by the officials
and the citizens. The town was decked
with flags and the residents were ready
q ND yHyi1lf lf,cy 70 av,1 hot. fo~ ma
entertainment OF the Secretary and the
chief of the bureau of soils.
Two years ago the bureau of soils con-
Quoted soil survey in the Connecticut
valley, discovering in this investigation
that there were certain areas in this To-
cality where the soil was similar to that
In Florida on which the finest Sumatra to-
bacco is grown. On one Of these areas last
year the bureau of soils cultivated an eX-
perimental crop Of Sumatra in cooperation
with the Connecticut experiment station.
This tobacco was grown under cheese
cloth shade, as is done in Florida, to insure
a quick growth and firm, thin leaf, unin-
jured by worms and bugs. This expert
ment was SO successful that the bureau de-
termined to increase it's acreage in the
Connecticut valley this year In order to
test the true commercial value of the Con-
necticutgrow Sumatra leaf. The Florida
grown Sumatra tobacco has found great
favor in the tobacco trade. but the Con-
necticut Sumatra Is a new departure.
6ApcFH"cue Ills
Early this spring six seed beds, eighty
feet long and six feet wide, were sown in
TariffvilIe with the best Sumatra seed.
These were lined on the long sides by
steam pipes, so as to keep the ground from
freezing and to give the plants summer
heat. There was also a third pipe in each
bed by which any excess Of steam might
escape, while on warm, sunny days the
sashes were opened to allow air to enter.
In this way large, healthy tobacco plants
were produced, which We're ready for trans
planting at the opening Of warm weather.
These six beds furnished plants for twenty
five acres and could have supplied as many
more.
While the young plants were thriving in
the seed beds the farmers, under the direc-
ton Of Mr. Floyd, were constructing the
cheesecloth shades, which were to receive
the plants when they had attained the
proper size. These shades may be of any
size, the largest in this vicinity being eight
acres, and is located In Tariffville. Posts
nine feet high are arranged in rows sixteen
and a quarter feet apart, along the top of
which run stringers Of light weight. The
posts are also connected by wires to assist
In keeping the covering in position, and
over the entire structure Is placed cheese
cloth which is sixteen and a quarter feet
wide. stretching across the rows from
stringer to stringer, where 1t is securely
fastened. This shade gives a warm, even
temperature, which promotes rapid growth
and insures a leaf of delicate texture and
frmness. 1t also protects the plant from
the cool nights and the injuries which the
tobacco in the field suffers in wind and
storm. The protection Of the cheesecioth
shades was demonstrated in the recent
storms IN this vicinity, when wind and hail
carried off large barns, uprooted trees and
demolished fences and small houses. AL
though the shades were damaged in many
cases the tobacco was not injured in the
slightest and the shades withstood the ele-
vNnv, fc hot fHnyn Of 1a~ h,~,
A further use OF this covering is the keep
ing out Of worms, which are so detrimental
to tobacco.
The tobacco is placed in rows fifteen inch
es apart, making five rows between the
posts. The soil is well pulverized to
great depth and the young plants are fire.
quently cultivated. After the tobacco has
attained good size shallow cultivation is
practiced, SO as not to disturb the roots.
The wet spring this year almost discour-
aged the farmers, but the tobacco does not
appear to have suffered from it. A rain
gauge is placed in close proximity to the
field to record the rainfall.
Extent of the Crops.
The acreage Of Sumatra tobacco In this
vicinity under shades Is forty-three acres,
scattered among the towns Of Tariffville,
Windsor, Suffield. Barkham-
stead and Avon in Connecticut and South
wark in Massachusetts,. These crops are in
contrast to that grown in the open field.
both in color, texture and advancement of
growth The tobacco is expected to be
ready to be harvested by the first Of Au-
gust, at which time the plants will have
attained a height Of nine feet, reaching to
the top of the covering There will be from
twenty to twenty-four leaves to the stalk
which will be primed one by one as they
ripen. Barns are now being prepared to
receive the tobacco when this time arrives
1t must be understood that these expert
mental crops are being cultivated by the
farmers who are desirous of improving the
Sumatra leaf in the United States and in
creasing its cultivation. This work has
been conducted under the direct supervis-
ion Of Mr.. M. L. Floyd, tobacco expert Of
the bureau of soils, who has labored with
courage and earnestness for the success Of
these crops. He has been directed in his
movements by Professor Milton Whitney at
Washington. Mr.. Floyd has as his assist
ants Mr.. McNess Mr.. Henry Lott, Mr..
McDuffey and Mr. Cobey.
Already the tobacco Is attracting con-
siderable attention from the tobacco trade.
many of the leading men Of which have
visited these fields where the tobacco is
camping out in large white tents The out
look at present Is that with so successful