The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-09
TOBACCO UNDER COVER.
raor,yn correspondence contribute


she following,
Editor OF The Times:
Sir.-Hav,ng seen ono or two articles
in The Times regarding tobacco cul-
.ui'e under shade, / thought It might In
terest some OF your readers TO know
something Of the shaded tobacco indus
try In Georgia and Florida. They are to-
Ga5 opesaung IN Decatur county, Georgia.
and Gadsden county, Florida, three COM
panies whose annual product of shade to-
.bacco amounts to over a million pounds
eEhese enterprises are the results of some
experimenting done in a small way about
ten years ago by private parties and
without the assistance Of scientific help
or the aid of the state. and as a practi-
cal result they are to-day competing with
imported Cuba and Sumatra tobaccos In
all the markets OF the world. 1t is also
well known that this tobacco took the
8old medal a. the Paris exhibit in 1900
Tbs experiments made in Connecticut
last year have been highly satisfactory,
and rs result the shaded area is to be
. largely increased this year, especially II
tho sales soon to take place are satisfac-
tory. These experiments were conducted
by the State Experiment Station. aided
Fly private individuals and the Depart
gnent of Agriculture at Washington.
Virginia has enjoyed the reputation OF
producing the finest plug wrappers known
: 70 the trade, and the Same conditions that
! made this possible might enable her to
! rival tho Islands Of Sunatra or CUBA,
especially by the use of shade
The writer of this article lived for
number of years in Virginia, and is per
fecIly familiar with the tobacco indus
try there, and from long experience In
tho cigar industry here, 1 am in posi-
ton to Judge as to whether it would be
wise for the State to take up this work.
Since following up these experiments
made In Connecticut, and knowing that
this shade grown "Sunlatra" tobacco
IN Georgia does compete with the I'M
ported and has been pronounced by eX-
-pert Judges from Sunatra to equal ana
.sometimes excel the imported goods. l
: therefore think it is well worth while
for the leading tobacco men, in co-opera-
fion with the State. to make some Sclen-
tiiic experiments on thoroughly busi-
ness scale and for the purpose OF making
a complete commercial test.
There is no doubt but that Suinatra VIII
find a formidable rival i'll some sections
OF the United States, and in competing
for this trade / think Virginia,s chance
is equal, IL not superior, to any other
State.
we E1tE - $500
cation, as The Times mas frequently
called attention to the subject under dis
russion and urged that some experiments
be made in Virginia with the bright leaf.
we should be gratiiied If the State Dc
partment Of Agriculture would under
lake some experiments on its own &C
count. The department would be In Do-
sition to get the best information from
the authorities in Washington and TO
conouct the experiment on purely scien-
tiGc basis.
If the tobacco Of Connecticut and the
tobacco of Georgia and Floriua can be
improved by this process and made more
valuable. it is fair to presume that var
cinia tobacco, under the same treatment
and process, could be improved in quality
and price. Virginia was pioneer in to-
bacco culture in this country. and 1t
IS to-day one Of our greatest industries
Anything which tends to improve the
quality OF our tobacco will help the to-
bacco industry, and we should not be
slow to make experiments which give
a reasonable promise of success.