Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-01-24
1 ii T. CITIZ F. \.
TOBACCO PROGRESS.
Developments In Connecticut Valley,
PennsyINanfa and Ohio.

Our Investigations Of the soils of the
Connecticut valley. together with the
study of the climatic conditions pre-
yailing there and the conditions OF
growth in Florida. Cuba and Sumatra,
convinced me that finer commercial
grade Of lear should be grown upon
some Of the soils in that state. The
completion of the soil map of portion
Of the Connecticut valley from South
Glastonbury, Conn. TO South Hadley,
Mass. gave a basis for an intelligent
line of investigation looking to the i'm
provement Of the Connecticut leaf In
December. 1899, Mr.. Floyd went to
New Haven and in cooperation with
the Connecticut experiment station fer
mented a lot Of tobacco according to
the most improved Florida methods
which have been developed from the
methods used in Cuba and Sumatra.
The products Of this experiment were
admitted by the growers and dealers to
be superior in the uniformity of color
TO the results obtained by the usual
method of case fermentation. 1t was
found Furthermore that much Of the
top leaves and trash Ordinarily sold
for from ! to IL cents per poundl If
properly fermented made fair filters,
which were valued by several firms
who had no knowledge Of the origin of
the tobacco at from IS to 40 cents per
pound.
Not being satisfied that the change
in the method of fermentation improv-
ed the quality Of the leaf as much as
the soil and climatic conditions seem
ed to warrant, a further line of ex-
periments was planned in co-opera-
ton with the Connecticut experiment
station on closer planting and partial
shading Of the growing plants. Florida
grown Sumatra seed was also intro
duced, and the experiment is being
watched with profound interest by the
Connecticut growers and dealers. The
plants have made wonderful growth,
the leaves appear perfect in form and
texture, and the results of the fer
mentation are awaited with the most
lively interest.
From the work so far done in the
Connecticut valley | am satisfied that
the Sumatra type Of leaf can be pro-
duced there under shade, having all
the desirable qualities Of a small leaf,
with small veins and great elasticity, |
as well as a desirable uniform color |
and excellent grain and style. Sam
pies Of the unfermented leaf grown this |
year 5000 have been shown to the
different New York packers, who have
pronounced it as perfect in texture
and style as anything which has ever
been grown.
1t is proposed to experiment with the
Pennsylvania and Ohio leaf to see
how the aroma Of these may be Inn
proved by the Cuban method of fer
mentation. From my study Of the soil
and climatic conditions of these two
localities and the products which have
already been produced | am convinced
that leaf more closely approxlmating
the more desirable leaf from Cuba can
be produced. If these results cannot
be obtained by the fermentation OF the
present crop. II is my purpose next
year TO introduce other methods Of
planting and cultivation and probably
n change of seed, with the expectation
that we win be as successful In I'M
proving the quality OF the filer leaf
In these two states as we have been In |
approxlmating the qualities OF the
Sumatra leaf in Connecticut, concludes
Milton Whitney Of the department OF
agriculture In n recent report.