Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-08-22
MERRITTS OPINION.
BLUEHtR ALSO MAS TOBACCO.


be. accompanied by W. >. Strickler.
vice president and cashier OF the Bank
of Commerce. and ID. A. Macpherson.
manager for the A. A. Grant estate,
visited the Rio Grande Tobacco com
pany's experimental obaeco farm,
north OF the city.
The public already knows the cir
cumstances under which this expert
ment OF tobacco growing in the Rio
Grande valley is being made. and also
that Mr.. Merritt ~ really the father
of the idea. II was suggested TO him
by two Boer generals. veteran tobac-
co growers. and 5 T.. Edmunds. the
Cincinnati tobacco expert now man
aging the Rio Grande company's ex-
perimental farm.
The Rio Grande Tobacco company
was organized last September. almost
a year ago. The services OF Edmunds
was secured through the recommend
alton of Commissioner Merritt. who
beforehand. on making inquiries about
Edmunds, had been told by tobacco
growers of Kentucky and Ohio that
he (Edmunds) was very competent
man. The company purchased forty
acres of land. chosen by the expert.
Tobacco seed was furnished by the
government; some from Italy, others
from Cuba and Of various sorts snd
varieties. Some OF the seed was slow
In arriving. and consequently made
late planting. However. the seed was
sown and grew nicely. About 147 900
plants were takea up and transplant
ed When the food came large
number of the plants were washed
out. or else scalded by standing water.
But. not being discouraged by the bad
luck. Mr.. Edmurls continued 10 tend
the remaining plants and now there
is promise OF a good harvest
viii Be Success.
Although Mr. Merritt has been deep.
ly interested in the experiment and
In it's success. that of yesterday was
his first visit to the field.
I'VE had hard drive" said Mr.
Merritt last night. but | feel well re-
paid for the hardships. There is lit
| tie doubt in my mind but what the
| experiment will prove a success. The
field is beautiful The plants OF early
planting now stand four and five feet
high and are going to seed We
found one plant with twenty-six leaves
and many with twenty-five and twen-
ty-three. The leaves are broad and In
my opinion nave an extra fine color.
But the strange and most gratifying
part OF the whole proposition Is that
the finer varieties Of tobacco are do
ing the pest. The Turkish. from whic"
Turkish cigarettes are made. and the
Havana tobacco, grown from seed
imported from Cuba, are the varie-
ties which have made the best growth.
These tobaccos bring from 81 to $3.50
a pound. and make a good yield.
Harvest will begin about Septem-
Der G, and last until frost. I have
been told that frost comes late In
the valley II so. so much the better
for the harvest and the chances Of the
Rio Grande valley becoming tobacco
growing locality. or course the quail
ity OF tobacco depends TO a certain
extent on the curing. but Edmunds Is
n good man, and the crop will be taken
care of in proper manner. But to
make sure OF the test being thorough
| will endeavor to have a government
expert here during the harvest and
assist Mr.. Edmunds with the work.
myself will try to be here again be-
fore harvest is over"
Mr.. Strickler said this morning that
~ was very much surprised wl'h wha
be saw nj the bacca farm yesterday,
, 70 tobacco j. iae q AL |. very lret-
~. lie expressed himsoif "a ss.isfie
that tobacco may be grown in the Rio
Grande valley successfully and profit
, ably. and that It is a new industry
; for the people Of the valley.
! Herman 6lueher Experimenting.
, Herman Butcher. the gardener, is ex
! perimenting with the growing of to-
: bacco. He has a small plat at his
! garden north Of Old Albuquerque. Mr.
Blueher's tobacco stands six and sew
Ell feet high and is very fine. The va
riety is about the same as that grown
I by the Rio Grande company. but the
= exceptional growth the plants have
. made is probably due 20 the fact that
they have been protected by canvas
I and possibly because being only few
p f. number, have received better care
d than the plants on the Rio Gsands
Z company's farm.
. But. nevertheless. care or no care
there rs every reason 20 believe thai
4 the Rio Grande valley will grow to
!. bacco.
q Mr.. Merritt, accompanied by his
h wife and brother T., l. Merritt, who Il
West Point cadet on on furlough
+ left this morning Cor Chicago.