Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-28
CUBAN TOBACCO IN TEXAS.
The Naval Experiment Meets with
Great Success.

Na"OSdoches, Tex, Sept. 27.-Mr. l..
III. Shelter. tobacco expert of the United
States Department of Agriculture. has
announced that he has resigned his
position With the Government. and has
retired to private life. his purpose being
to engage in the culture of hgh-grade
Cuban leaf tobacco. which can be
grown in the soil of East Texas in this
vicinity. The announcement caused
considerable surprise here, but at the
same tine q great amount of satisfac-
ton ana congratulation among the citl
zens of East Texas. and particularly at
NacoGdOC hes. where the United States
Government has established the larG-
est curing warehouse in the Southern
States and where all leaf tobaccos
grown at Government experimental
stations in the South will be brought
for curing and testing.
For the past wear and n half Mr..
Shelter has been in East Texas con-
Quoting extensive experiments tc prove
the fact that the very highest grade of
uban leaf tobacco can be grown in
East Texas. and his efforts in this
direction met with signal and unouali-
fed success. Mr.. Shelter declines TO
discuss details Of his plans for the
future further than to say that his re-
signatinn takes effect At once and that
he will Immediately engage in the
planting of large quantity OF Cuban
seed to be grown for next seasons
harvest. which is expected to add ma
teriall- to the quantity and most cay
tainly to the quality of American
grown tobaccos for 1904.
There is not the least doubt in the
world" said Mr.. Shelter. that thc
prOspects for raising q most magnifi-
cent quality of Cuban leaf tobacco IN
East Texas are unlimited, particularly
for those who proceed upon the lines of
scientific and intelligent cultivation OF
the plant. The experiments. which l
have conducted in this vicinity, as to-
bacco expert for the United States Gov
ernment, have so strongly presented to
me the advantages and opportunities
ahead that 7 deemed myself justified
in resigning to become q cultivator of
Texas tobacco, and L may add that
there is no doubt in my mind that
Texas will shortly become rival or
Cuba and Sumatra for the growing OF
the highest types of cigar tobaccos.
The Government tests which were con-
Quoted here demonstrate that the SOIL
and climate of East Texas are practlc-
ally identical with those of the famous
Nuelta Abajo district of Pinar del Rio,
Cuba The rich, chocolate, loamy SOIL
is the same, and. as in Cuba, the at
1nosphere is affected by the Gulf clouds
and the morning fogs and dews, all of
RI in1n1rt that delicious
aromatic quality which so strongly
characterizes the tobacco leaf or Plnar
del Rio. 1t did not take me very long
after I came to Texas to become con-
WINGED that magnificent opportunities
Law here in the cultivation of high grade
tobaccos. Not only have you the soil
and climate above referred to. but I'M
usual facilities for handling and ship
ping"
The resignation of Mr.. Shelter, to be-
come a citizen Of Texas and tobacco
grower is considered matter OF deep
importance and of high significance,
for il is considered here as self-evident
that he would not abandon lucrative
and important position with the Gov
eminent unless he were certain or great
advantage to himself. The people of
Nacogdoches believe that the engage
ment Of the former tobacco expert of
the United States Government in the
culture of tobacco at this place demon
stra.es the correctness of the Govern
ment's discovery, and the next few
months hid fair to witness tremen-
| dous activity in the line OF tobacco
culture on a large scale in east Texas.