The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-06

Tho CROWNS q sumatrs Tsbaccs In New
England New IN Assured Success.

ENGLAND Now an Assured Success.
It has been conclusively proved at last
that sumatra leaf. which we have long
been importing to the value Of 100000
a year on account of its superiority as
cigar wrapper. may be perfectly grownin.
the valley OF the Connecticut River, IN
Connecticut and In the neighboring parts
Of Massachusetts,.
II il necessary to grow the leaf under
shade, which necessitates very large
expenditure for cloth and posts; but the
ready market for this superior tobacco
at high prices ineures a large profit. A
new industry has been introduced, and
we may hereafter. as the growing OIL
Sumatra tobacco increases, produce al
Of this leaf needed by our manufacturers
and keep in the country the large sums OF
money heretofore expended for imported
leaf.
The crop grown under shade in Con-
necticut valley this year is only about 7oo
acres. but the product will be about / ,OOo,ooo
pounds of cured tobacco. or 10000 pounds
OF baled tobacco, exclusive of trash. The
total cost is put at SeS7l7 per acre; the
average for the preceding year amounted
to 34l6.Ol9 The total value OF the baled
tobacco at 81. 20 per pound, which was OBJ
tanned last year at auction. Will be So6o So0 y;
This will give profit OF $500, 81, which VII
be yer fine return on the 700 acres cultl.
waited. These figures are estimates based
upon the crop OF last year, but are certain
to be approximately accurate.
The Department Of Agriculture says that
the industry has been successfully placed
on commercial basis and that there will
be considerable increase in the crop grown
next year We have demonstrated our
ability to produce leaf which is desired
by our people and for which We have ex-
pended immense sums in the purchase
Of the foreign leaf The demand for this
product has always been greater than the
supply. and Prices have been maintained
in remarkable manner.
1t may seem strange to the uninitiated
that manufacturers can ahord to pay such
prices for wrapper leaf The mystery Ia
explained by the fact that the Sumatra
leaf is very large, It's wrapping qualities
are enormous, there is little lost in weight
Of stems. other waste is inconsiderable and
the leaf can be more easily worked by cigar
makers than any other wrapper These
are the reasons that make Sumatra zeal
superior as a cigar wrapper.
Our manufacturers are saying that even
at IS a pound for our Connecticut grown
Sumatra leaf, two pounds OF 1t will wrap
900 cigars, the cost OF the wrapper being
therefore, only about six-tenths OF cent
Even at this price the leaf may probably
be used on a Ave-cent cigar. There " 90
the manufacture Of cigars, the color is 90
uniform and the grading is 80 perfect that
manufacturers find it actually cheaper to
pay 81 a pound for such leaf than to buy
ordinary domestic wrappers at an average
Of 20 cents a pound, or selected domestic
wrappers at from so to 90 cents.
The Agricultural Department has been
the Sumatra tobacco industry to other
States. The Investigations, thus far. do
not indicate that results so successful as
In the Connecticut Valley can be obtained
In large areas elsewhere, though fair
measure Of success has been met with on
the narrow strip Of gravelly loan border
ing the Susquehanna River in Pennsyl-
vile, Wis. The Department is Of the
opinion that the conditions essential for
the raising Of the high-grade OF Sumatra
tobacco are limited in extent.
Tho results Of only two years expert
mentation with Sumatra tobacco In our
country are certainly most gratifying
In fact, 1t is surprising that the economic
outcome Of the work done in SO short a
time has reached 30 high figure
It Is not only that about 900 900 pounds
Of the tobacco have been gown in the
Connecticut Valley this year but the great
value Of the crop has also increased the
value Of land, has supplied market for
thousands Of chestnut posts from the
ridges adjoining the valley. which have
been idle and unproductive for years. has
given employment at good wages to large
numbers Of men and women and has made
a market for millions Of yards of cloth
under which the plant has been thoroughly
shielded from winds and the hotter rays
of tho s,,p