The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-18

duction of the oriental quality farmers
accustomed from generation to genera
ton since the first Introduction OF the
cultivation of the plant in 1745 (about)
to a certain style of cultivation -rebelled
against what they termed the severity
of the conditions imposed regarding the
cultivation of the new quality. One
point of which they complained bitterly
as a great hardship was the requirement
sine qua non that only manure should
be used 1t was demonstrated to them
that the bovine manure they had been
accustomed to could not be tolerated IN
consequence of the strong rank flavor
and taste.
AS a result of continuous experiment
a code of regulations was drawn up by
the department, in which was given
every possible information as 10 now
the oriental plants were to be reared,
and the landowners were invited to take
note of the conditions the government
offered, the cultivation of the American
leaf being restricted SO that the farmer
had no longer the option of continuing
cultivating the qualities he had raised
in former years. The offers were that
the department would supply all seeds,
which were to be sown in specially pre-
pared and ovine MANFRED beds In Octo-
ber During the infancy of the seeding
plants a most careful treatment was re-
Quired. such as covering with mating
at certain hours of the day and night,
precautionary measures against nox1ous
insects. and constant wedding out of
parasitic and other growths; in May ths
young plants were to be tranSplanted
with all due care TO the open fields,
which had been plowed to the depth or
IS centimeters. and carefully manured
with ovine matter; the young plants
were to be set in rows not less than two
feet apart, the plants being eight or
nine inches one from the other, ana due
attention paid to irrigation when water
was obtainable, the department paying
a higher price for irrigated than for
plants which had grown without any
but natural irrigation. During the whole
time of the rearing of the plant, from
the sowing until the leaves were finally
delivered at the government establish
ments. the producer was exposed TO sur
prise visits at all times. The inspectors
rers 0ved any defective or worthless
leaves. burning them Immediately. The
farmer was prohibited from removing
a leaf from plant for any reason
whatever.
Between September Is and 20 the
whole crop was to be carried and the
leaves collected in bundles of 200 and
dried in sheds on the property and then
conveyed to Lecce for delivery at the
government classifying floors, when the
producer was paid the price of the
leaves; and later. when these had been
thoroughly examined, classified and re-
bundled he was paid further pre-
cultivated should give as many as four
teen leaves but of these. approximate
" one-half would be of second quality
and the remainder would be classified
in at least two or three grades of fine
ness. only, possibly, two or three leaves
off a plant giving the whole of the
characteristics required to be classified
as super excellent" one of the condi-
lions being a perfectly uniform lemon
gold color. The necessitv for this dis
elimination in the classification of the
leaves arises from the fact that leaves
which have grown near the ground
level are far more rank and do not
possess the pure aroma required for
first-class tobacco, while those closest
to the flower are found to be too rich
in nicotine. the best esteemed leaves
being consequently some of those from
the middle growth of the plant. For the
1909 crop. now under. cultivation. the
total requests to be permitted to Guilt
vate amounted in all to 10000. 600 of
plants of the Oriental qualities alone:
while the administration was unable to
entertain proposals for more than 49,.
SOC. 900.
The reason why the department could
not permit more than the quantity