Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-21
INSPECTING TOBACCO FIELD
SUCCESS OF AGRICULTURAL DEPART
MENT EXPERIMENTS.
Prof. Whitney and Members of Con
gress Satisfied With Results OF
Growing Tobacco Under Shades.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.


TARIFFVILLE, Conn, August 10, 1901.
Today this little village was again visited
by Prof. Milton Whitney. chief of the bu-
reau of soils of the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture, who arrived on the
morning train and spent the entire day
visiting the Sumatra tobacco under cultiva-
ton here under cheese cloth shades. and
In looking after matters pertaining to this
experimental crop. There were other dis
tinguished visitors at this village on this
occasion, who also take a deep interest in
the growing of this tobacco in the Con-
necticut valley. These were Representa-
tives Henry and Russell and Senator Piatt
of Connecticut, Mr.. Memo M. Frye, presi-
dent of the New England Tobacco Growers
Association Of Lancaster, Pa, and the
Messrs. Ward of Elmira, N. Y.
The representatives and Mr.. Frye arrived
on the O'Clock train and We're met by
Mr. Floyd. Prof. Whitney and the Messrs.
Nicholson. They were taken to the home
of Mr.. Joseph Nicholson, where they were
entertained at luncheon. The afternoon
was spent In looking over the tobacco
fields and in going through the barns where
the tobacco is curing.
Pleased mt the Result.
Prof. Whitney and Representative Henry,
who visited the Sumatra tobacco shades in
the middle of July, when Secretary Wilson
was also guest of Tariffvlle. were great
ly surprised and pleased at the wonderful
growth of the tobacco during the past
month. The other members of Congress
and those interested in the tobacco trade
were also amazed at the great success this
experiment in the Connecticut valley has
shown.
The harvesting of this tobacco which is
now in progress is an interesting sight. The
leaves are primed-that is taken from the
stalk as they ripen-put in large baskets
and carried to the barns, where women and
girls string them back to back by the use
of large needles. These strings, which con-
tain about thirty-SiX leaves, are tied to the
end of laths which are hung in the curing
barns The printing and stringing are new
processes to the tobacco growers of the
Connecticut valley, but they have taken
hold of this work with interest and intel
hgence In this method of harvesting the
curing process is shortened, recurring only
three weeks. BY the former method of
cutting the entire stalks and placing them
in the curing barns period of four or five
weeks was necessary to cure the tobacco.
The new method also fnSures the full ripe
ness of each leaf, which was not always
possible in the cutting of the entire stalk.
Curing Well Under Way.
Some of the barns are already filled with
the Sumatra tobacco and curing is well
under way Even at this early date 1t can
be predicted that great success will be the
result of this experiment. 1t has been the
custom in Florida, where shaded tobacco
and this method of harvesting has been
practiced for several years, to leave the
barns open at night and close them during
the day; but II the present cool weather
continues in this vicinity it will be neces-
sary to open the barns during the day and
close then at night and build fires within
in order to give the tobacco the proper con-
dition for curing.
Before leaving Tariffyilla the ron
men and the members Of the tobacco fra
ternity expressed themselves as being
much pleased with the success of the grow
Ing of Sumatra tobacco In this vicinity un-
der cheese cloth. They considered that II
this experiment accomplishes its aim.
which Is to assist in excluding the import
ed Sumatra tobacco from this country, the
Department OF Agriculture will have
achieved a victory, the value of which can
not be estimated Representatives Henry
and Russell, Senator Platt, Mr.. Frye and
the Messrs. Ward left at o'clock, but
Professor Whitney will remain until tomor-
row afternoon as the guest of Mr. Floyd