The Washington times., 1903-07-27
PHILIPPINE TOBACCO
OF GREATEST VALUE
Properly Cultivated Viii Equal Best
Cuban and Sumatra Goods.

Prof. Clarence w. Dorsey. soil physi-
cist. connected with the Philippine Blu
reau of Agriculture. has prepared bull
lotin on the cultivation Of tobacco which
has just been received by the Insuiar
Bureau Of the War Department and con-
tains many items OF interest relative 10
tobacco growing in the Philippines, and
also gives instructions to growers as 10
the best methods of cultivating. harvest
ing. and curing the crop.
Philippine tobacco has long been held
in high esteem in the orient. end Ma
Fila cigars maintain the same rank in
the Eastern countries that Havana CT
Ears occupy in Europe and America. To-
day tobacco stands third among the ex-
ports from the Philippines.
Philippine tobacco is nearly all util-
ized in the manufacture of cigars and
cigarettes. and finds a ready sale in
Spain (which consumes more than one
half of the total production), England.
Hongkong (where II is shipped to Asiatic
poIts). and British East India During
the year 1860 these countries bought
HOre than seven-tenths OF the entire
crop. The agreeable aroma and flavor
CT the better grades Of tobacco grown ir.
the islands have won for IL high place
among the fine cigar tobaccos of the
world. and for a long time Il ranked
Eext to the celebrated Cuban toabcco.
When We consider the desirable qualities
Of Philippine tobacco with the imperfect
cultivation. curing. and fermentation it
receives. ard the improvements and ad-
yances that have been made in other
tobacco countries. It becomes at once
evident that every care aud attention
should be given the crop to enable IT to
regain its former position. ii not TO
make IL superior to the finest tobacco
grown in the world
The market Of the United States offers
every inducement for the Improvement
and spread OF the Philippine tobacco
Industry. This becomes all the more
evident when We consider the vast sums
OF money annually expended by the
United States for foreign tobacco. Dur
ing the year ended June 80. 1900. the
United States paid for Cuban tobacco
s7.615. .991. and 81. sos. III for sumatra to-
bzcco. During this same year the Phil
fppines exported to the United States
only a few hundred dollars worth of to-
becco. or less than one-hundredth OF one
per cent Of the tobacco importations Of
that country. While Il may be true that
Philippine tobacco may never entirely
supplant Cuban and Sumatra tobacco
in the United States. there IS certainly
every inducement 20 encourage and I'M
prove the industry until modern cul-
tural methods have realized 10 the full
est extent the highest perfection OF the
crop.
The author believes that the islands
can and should produce cigar-Hller to-
bacco that Is fully equal TO the finest
product of the Vuelta AbaJo district of
Cuba, and q cigar wrapper equal 10 Su-
matra tobacco With careful attention
10 soil and climatic conditions. II is be
lieved districts can be found that Will
raise tobacco similar In favor and aroms
20 that grown ia the best districts Of
Turkey. Philippine tobacco today does
not occupy the position Il should, and
every planter or company engaged in its
cultivation should strive to place IL on
the high standard 1t deserves.