The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-11
TOBACCO OUTLOOK
IS ENCOURAGING
North Carolina Will Try the
Cuban Filler.
TEST TO BE IN EDGECOMBE
What Commissioner Patterson Says Of
His Washington Trip.
STATE CHEMIST NLGORE INTERVIEWED
Government Aid viii Depend Upon The Fate Of
the Bill Now Pending in the House.
We viii Probably Have an
Expert by July iSt

Commissioner of Agriculture S. L. Pat
terson and DIR. B. w. Kilgore, State
Chemist are both much encouraged at
the result of their trip to Washington
last week to interest Secretary Wilson
and the Department of Agriculture in
the cultivation in North Carolina of the
wrappers. The immediate object of the
visit was to insure the sending to North
Carolina by the Department at least one
expert this season to experiment on the
test farms with this Tobacco.
Commissioner Patterson yesterday,
speaking of the trip, said:
In some correspondence We had had
with the Washington officials, we had
been promised the first available experts
that could be spared, men who had had
experience in growing and especially in
curing the Cuban filler, which has
proved SO profitable in Connecticut. We
are satisfied that we have in this State
types of soil equally we'll adapted to
the cultivation of this tobacco as any
in Connecticut, or possibly even better
They have just commenced in Connecti-
cut experiments with Sumatra wrappers
also. and it is proving a great success.
Preparations have already been made
on our test farms for the planting of
several acres of the Cuban filler. We
had been originally promised two ex-
perts some two months ago, and arrange
ments had been made for their recep-
ton, but there was so great a demand
in ho
the Department did not like to take
them away from the work there. Now,
however, if the Agricultural Bill which
is at present pending goes through with
the appropriations Secretary Wilson
asks for they will be able to furnish us
all the men we need
The principal object of our visit being
to see if the Department could not fur
nish us one or two experts, we feel that
the propect now is very encouraging
Congressman Moody of North Carolina
is On the House Committee of Agricul-
ture, before which the bill is now pend
ing, and Senator Simmons is on the Sen
ate Committee. Both are influential
members of their respective committees
who are especially interested in the de-
velopment of new agricultural enter
Wilson's able address to the committee,
in which he outlined the scope of the
work undertaken by his department, and
the need of the additional appropria-
tion he asks to carry on the work, /
am encouraged to believe that the APP
preparation will be granted as asked for
by the Secretary. One thing is certain
if the bill is passed in anything like it's
- H.,
for studying tobacco in a scientific way
that we never have had before.
81 want to say here that we are es-
pecially indebted to Senator Simmons
and Congressman Moody for the many
kindnesses and courtesies extended to
us and for the interest shown in the
object of our visit. We were allowed to
go personally before the committee, a
privilege not generally awarded, owing
to Mr.. Moodys courtesy"
DR.. Kilgore likewise expressed him
self as greatly encouraged by the visit,
although nothing definite had been Sc
cured.
IF it is any way possible for them to
do so,' said he, ''the Department of
Agriculture will send us an expert by
the first of July, and he will remain with
us in all probability for several years,
TO advise the farmers. In Connecticut
there are now three or four such men.
who started the first curing of this to-
baco, and have remained there ever
since. and we hope that eventually the
Government will do as much for us.
Connecticut last year raised about 40
acres of Sumatra wrappers. This tobac
co brings from two to four dollars a
pound and most of it about three and a
half. We now import in round numbers
sG,000000 worth of it. This year eight
hundred acres are being cultivated in
this crop in Connecticut. and it is calcu
lated that the industry will amount to
about 81 ,000,0 900.
THE test in North Carolina will be
made in the East, where the bright to-
baccos are grown. Edgecombe county
has been selected, and the planting will
be done the latter part of April or the
first of May. Later on we want to ex-
tend the test to other portions of the
State and other types of soil. We are
also going to take up in pretty thorough
way a study of our bright tobaccos. and
see if We cannot improve their quality
and yield.
1.-The soil survey that has been going
on in certain parts of the State is the
basis of the present investigation. We
will use the work already done along
that line to help in this work. 1t will
show US where the best localities are
for experimenting. That is another re-
suit of our trip to Washington. 1t has
been arranged for a continuation, if
possible, of the soil survey work in this
state, which was carried on so success
fuily last year. Arrangements have been
made to conduct this work in twenty
I'VE states this year. and North Caro-
ma Is one of those twenty-five States"