The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-08-19
EXPERIMENTAL CULTURE OF sUMATRA
TOBACCO.
An Agricultural Department Official Talks OF
sending Experts to North Carolina

6e0Q1nR Experts " NVARA
Mr.. Thomas J.. Pence, writing from
Washington City, in Sundays Raleigh
Post, gives the following interesting
information regarding the Sumatra
tobacco experiment in this State:
The culture of Sumatra tobacco in
North Carolina, the growth of which
has yielded net profits of one thou
sand an acre in other States, was dis
cussed this morning by Representa-
tive Blackburn with Professor Whit
neg of the Department of Agricul-
ture. 1t was the desire of the North
Carolina Congressman to begin these
tests with the growth of Cuban and
| Sumatra tobaccos in his district. He
had heard of the efforts of the Depart
ment of Agriculture in experimenting
with the growth of these fine tobaccos
in the States of Connecticut Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio, where most remarka-
bic success has been obtained. Mr..
Blackburn told Professor Whitney
that his district was possibly the finest
tobacco producing section in the
South and he expressed the hope that
experts could be sent there for the
purpose of i~nstructing farmers how to
grow this extra quality of tobacco.
Professor Whitney's answer was
very favorable, but he is handicapped
in his tobacco culture experiments by
reason of the fact that Congress fail
ed at the last session to make ample
provision for this work.
The experiments in the culture of
Sumatra tobacco were first begun in
Connecticut, then in Ohio and Penn
syIvania. Success resulted, and now
the growth of this tobacco is a well
established industry in each of these
States. Three experts were sent to
each State and many of the farmers
Melted $1,000 an acre for their crops.
1t was the intention of the Depart
ment to send a party of experts to
North Carolina this year to begin ex-
periments with both Cuban and Su-
matra tobacco, but the failure of Con-
gress to make the necessary appro-
priation prevented this. However,
Professor Whitney sent a lot of Cuban
and Sumatra tobacco seed to Profess
sor Kilgore TO be experimental with
on the test farm of the State Agricul-
tural Department in E~dgecombe
County. 1t is understood that a good
crop was grown, and it is Professor
Whitney's intention to send an expert
to the State to give instructions in
curing this crop. Only an expert can
cure Sumatra tobacco, for it has to go
through a process of fermentation.
Professor Whitney told me that the
section beginning in Wake and ex-
tending direct to Craven was possibly
the best adapted to the growth of SUI
matra tobacco in North Carolina. He
frankly stated that upon the result of
the experiment at the test farm de-
pended the future culture of Sumatra
tobacco in North Carolina. If it is
successful next year a party of ex-
perts will be sent to the State.
Congressman Blackburn was as
sured that his district would receive
the most favorable consideration,
though as yet the Department is una
bic to make any promises. Mr.. Black
burn learned while at the Department
that two experts had been sent to his
district to make surveys of fruit soils.
At present the party is in Caldwell
County. They will continue to Mitch
ell County. They will continue to
Mitchell County. Professor Whitney
expressed the opinion that that was
one of the finest apple growing sec
tiOns in the country.