New-York tribune., 1901-12-08
HOME GROWN ~SUMATRA.'
CIGAR WRAPPER TOBACCO SUCCESS
FULLY CULTIVATED IN T. CON
NECTICUT VALLEY.

Quietly, but with earnestness and enthusiasm,
the Agricultural Department has for the last two
years been carrying on in the Connecticut Val
ley a series Of experiments which are of national
importance These have related to tobacco cult
ure for which, as everybody knows, the valley
Is famous; specifically, to the grade known COM
merciaIly as wrapper tobacco. The object was
TO determine whether under special conditions
a tobacco could be grown in this country tt
would take the place of the imported article
For the last twenty years the cigar r1anufact-
urers have relied chiefly on the island OF
Sumatra fer their supply of wrapper tobacco, at
a cost of many millions of dollars annually The
departments idea was that the tobacco valley
might be brought to prod lis 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 bility of the scheme. at least so far
as growing the leaf = rncerned. has been de-
mons+rated bevond q uoubt and promises to
revolutionize an extremely important branch Of
national enterprise
For MANY years the United States has been
importing annIalN from Holland about 24ooo
bales of Sumatra leaf. for which product be
tween =, eouoD0 or S0,0Oo.U0e has been paid
Add TO this the duty-S1 50 a pound-and
other expenses incidental to importation. and
some idea be obtained OF the sum Nfllcn
the Department OF Agriculture hopes to save
The product of cigars this year win for the first
time in the country's history touch the six billion
mark and consumption is steadily growing
The experiments were at first conducted by
Professor Milton Whitney, chief Of the division
of soils. Sc successful was his first demonstra-
tion 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 ex-
pertinent, sparing pains to make it a great
commercial success, and has asked representa-
tive tobacco men to serve on 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 grow entirely under cover. The origi
nator Of the idea is admitted to be f. A
Schroeder once Mayor of Brooklyn, who ex-
perimented at great expense in Florida
John A Du Bon. the government tobacco
pert saw great possibilities in the scheme and
introduced it into Connecticut. He planted
third of an acre with Sumatra seed, built
framework of posts and crossbeams. and
stretched over the whole quantity of cheese
cloth, which not only covered the top, but came
down over the sides and Was fastened care
fully that even an enterprising fly could hardly
squeeze through Thus, insects We're 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.