The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-06
TOBACCO IN CONNECTICUT.
Its Culture Under Cloth Commenced
With Gratifying Results.


HARTFORD. Conn. Nov 6.-The OK
pertinent Of growing Sumatra tobacco un-
der cloth in this valley has resulted. so
far as appears by the condition Of the
tobacco as il comes from the sweating
process and IS wrapped up for the mar
kCt. Is exceeding by far the expectations
Of those who put their money into IT, The
first of this leaf that mas been cured and
made into cigars has been from the large
farm Of Ariel Nicholson. OF TariGvuIe
who has eighteen acres under cloth and
as many more contracted for by farmers
in his vicinity. Representative Henry.
Prof. Milton Whitney. of the Soils Blu
reau Of the Agricultural Department. at
Washington. and Marcus L. Floyd. the
tobacco eXper, Of the department were
al the curing sheds the present week and
watched the process OF turning in bulk
from The swea- and the sorting and grad
ing Of the leaf
II was the unanimous expression. not
only 81 the eNuerts, bat of a large num-
Der Of growers and dealers present that
inner tobacco has never been grown I'm
this country, and that en- some respects
Is was even finer thll the Sumatra-gr grown
leaf.
1t comes out Of sweat with a splendid
color. and the spot eject. especially on
the upper leaves. has never been eN-
cvlIcd. they said. The texture is fine
the lraf thin. and actual tests Of wrap
ping cigars show that nineteen ounces
wrapped So cigars. and the official report
OF the maker 90 Mr. FLOYD saws thar the
wrapping Of 1000 cigars from pound and
quarter Of the leaf is about what may
be expected Heretofore il has been con-
sIdcrec very line Sumatra from which TWO
pounds would wrap loo cigars The leaf
requires great care In stripping, because
Of its extreme dneness, and appears TO be
a remaTlIab BILE product.
The growing and curing Of the Sumatra
tobacco has been under the direct super
vision Of the Government experts and
every scientific advantage was taken at
the proper moment, bringing the crop
under COnsids ration as about The only
crop in the country that is grown upon
a che mical basis, the conditions Of soil
The quality OF nltTaICS. and the like esJi-
mated in advance. and the leaf presenting
the exact qualities that have been eX-
pected from the start In grading and
sorting the leaf nine lengths three quail
ties and sew eral shades are uOted. 50 that
each crop il prepared for the market in
lS different grades CloscnesS Of sort
ing heretofore wholly unknown in tobacco
preparation The price the tobacco is TO
bring pound Will be determined IN omen
market under the direction Of a commit
Tee appointed by the growers AT a meeting
on the Nicholson farm ON "Wednesday
all the growers Of Sumatra under cloth
being represented II Is likely that the
leaf may De put into market By the aUC-
tiou plan observed at Amsterdam in the
sale of the real SUmatra. but. at an events
some method will be adopted which al
a
can be done with the tobacco
The only crop that has been sold in this
State. So far. is small one, Of ouc-guar-
ter of an acre, and this was bought for
$l-5D a pound. The growers based their
possible price III 81. ana figure out that
their profit nj that price would be- go cents
net. but the indications are that the, Leaf
Will bring much more The outlook * for
"a revolution Iu tobacco growing IA the
valley. the Governments experts agreeing
that the soil IS especially adapted 60 this
sort of crop. The difficulties that arise
from this plan OF raising tobacco is not
I'm the growing but in the curing and in
getting 10 ready for the market This
can only be done with the Sumatra leaf
by the most careful attention 20 scientific.
processes. which would not be possible
with the average grower
II is probable therefore that s,udiCates
may De established 10 care FOR the curing
Of the leaf The growing is a simpler
matter. the cloth protection IrsSeuin2
labor 90 great extent. as insects are kept
away from the plant. and ;he leaf comes
10 the packing shed absolutely free from
breaks or holes The leaf is picked I,y
naud. the stripping being done in advance.
The leaves are Sewed together by threads
hung in the curing shed. space being econ
OmiZed 10y leaving the stalks entirely out
side. The number OF acres of Surnatrit
toharcu raised in this valley IN the last
year under cloth Is not far from $50.