The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-09-12
WILL TRY
TOBACCO

The cultivation ~ smyrna tobacco
viii neSt be attempted by Special
Ascent Jared smith of the United states
Agricultural Experiment station MIR
smith believes that this grade of to-
bacco can not only be successfully
grown IN Hawaii, hut also at con-
siderable pront TO the planter. Acting
ON his belief he has already sent to
smyrna FOR tobacco seed In large guam
titles and the experiment will be made
here on an extensive scale as soon as
the expected consignment arrives.
Tobacco is at present grown in the
islands. but only on a very small scale,
and the varieties now under cultivation
are OF the poorer grades on Hawaii
tobacco is grown FOR private consump-
ton and but very little is sold any
where. The internal revenue laws pro-
vide for a tax upon all grades of to-
bacco. but the grower is not included
in this tax. He is allowed To sell his
product to anyone he wishes without
stamping 1t, but as soon as this pur-
chaser attempts to dispose of the leaf
either in cigars or in bulk Uncle Sam
steps in with a demand that 1t be
stamped.
Mr.. Smith believes that the soil on
this island is well adapted to the cul-
tivation of tobacco, and he has picked
out the Smyrna leaf as being most
available for the purpose. and also as
being the most likely to bring a hand
some profit to the proven.
! a recent bulletin on the subject issued
| from the Department OF Agriculture
says that tobacco can be grown I'M
nearly all parts of the country, even
| where wheat and corn can not be
economically produced. The plant read
| lily adapts itself to a great range Of
climatic conditions, will grown on near
ly all kinds of soil, and has a com
paratively short season of growth. But
while 1t can be so universally grown.
the flavor and quality of the leaf are
greatly Influenced by the conditions of
been very highly specialized, and there
is only demand now for tobacco pos
sessing certain qualities adapted to GER
tain specific purposes. A nondescript
tobacco is not worth growing and
should not be grown, as it lowers the
price of really good types of tobacco,
! to the detriment alike of the grower
and the consumer. AS climate and soil
conditions determine the character of
the tobacco it is important to under
stand what kinds of tobacco are in
demand and what the climatic and soil
conditions are which will most easily
produce the qualities desired.
1.-The principal kinds of tobacco
grown in this country are the cigar
types, for our domestic supply of
cigars; the manufacturing types, for
smoking and chewing, for our domestic
use; the bright yellow tobacco, for
cigarettes, smoking, and plug wrappers;
White Burley, for smoking and chew
ing, both for domestic and export trade;
and the export types proper, which are
not suited to our domestic use, but
which are mainly exported to foreign
countries to be used both for cigar and
manufacturing purposes"
Smyrna tobacco is grown also in cuba
and Florida and tobacco is raised in
I many of the states, including Massa-
chusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin,
and in many of the southern states.
The Sumatra leaf has been lately in
troduced in Florida, and its cultivation
has been very successful. In Florida
, the tobacco grown from this seed loses
much of the bitter taste, which is char
acteristic Of the imported article. Wa
ter in the soil plays an important part
in the cultivation of tobacco, and as
Hawaii Is specially favored in this way,
it is another reason why tobacco grow
, ing here should be a success. In Flori-
da two and three crops are raised IN
one year, and in Hawaii even better re-
suits are obtainable, in the opinion Of
Jared Smith.