The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-12-15
An OPENING
FOR TOBACCO

WI INV -
Mr Mike wurhi. the head ~ the
Mike Wrirhi Clear Havana cigar Fac-
fsfy ~ Seattle. wash one Of the we'll.
a known manufacturers " cigars on the
Pacific Coast passes % nH his expert
opinion as manufactures that the
time is now ripe Tor the Introduction
" the tobacco Industry into Hawaii on
a large scale. he feels that the quail
ity OF tobacco raised here il fully equal
10 anything produced IN Manila, Is as
Wine in appearance as the famous Cuban
or Havana" growth. and well able.
with proper cultivation by experts Inn
ported from Cuba. to be high pay
+ ing investment for the agriculturalist.
Experiments covering three or four
months with samples from various dis
tricts Of the Territory have convinced
him Of the commercial value OF the
Hawaiian product. especially in the
case Of that raised from the imported
Havana seed. Mr.. Wright is taking
quite an amount OF tobacco to Seattle
with him which viii be made up and
returned here for sale
A reporter of the Advertiser found
Mr.. Wright yesterday afternoon and
Inquired about the prospects of tobac-
co from a manufacturer standpoint.
Mr.. Wright had been on Hawaii and
the windward side of this island.
did you examine the soils supposed
10 be good for producing tobacco?" he
was asked.
II do not pretend to be an expert
on soils, but merely upon the product
when ready for the manufacturer, but
have been making a good many ex-
perlments at the experiment station of
the Federal Department OF Agriculture
here with tobaccos kindly furnished me
10y Mr.. Jared Sn it'll. thu director of the
station, from different parts of the is
lands. l was especially pleased with
the Hamakua district product"
- what particular point pleased you
most?" was asked.
'Wen," said Mr.. Wright, IT was very
lmuch pleased with the appearance of
The tobacco to start with and after
1making it up into cigars and smoking
1t. thought better of it still. 1 think
that it is the equal If not the superior
of Manila tobacco"
wherein does the superiority lie.
Mr.. Wright"
Il believe" said he that the res-
son 1t is such a good and favorable
quality is on account of the quality
of the seed. The Hawaiian tobacco
= was grown from seed of Havana to-
Ubacco."
us it all Havana tobacco" was the
1neft question.
finley also grow various other kinds
n tobacco" said Mr.. Wright, "such as
NE Cuban leaf and various kinds of
he IDaV, 10.
State tobacco and the Connecticut
broad leaf, and this is as fine quality
as any / have ever seen grown in the
United States"
what is your opinion regarding the
experiments which have been made by
The Federal government and others?"
Replying to that Mr.. Wright said:
9After a thorough investigation OF the
obacco and after consideration with
ar. Smith and others, who are posted
IN the growing of tobacco here, 1 be-
ieve that Mr.. Smith has brought the
Experiments about as far as he can go.
n other words, II has been demonstrat-
u that tobacco of a very fine quality
ian be raised here. People have raised
i and have cured it and, as they say
themselves 1t is now up to the expert
obacco farmer who practically under
ikands the growing of tobacco-the
PLANTING and afterwards the cultivation
Df it, and then the curing of it."
"What relation has the curing of it
q its value?'
fThe curing" said Mr. Wright, 'is
he most essential part. 1t takes a
nan of years and years of experience
o bring out the best results in curing
md fermenting the leaf to produce the
required colors. If the tobacco stays
90 Aong in the fermenting process, the
eaf is too dark for use as a wrapper
'uf it can be used for filler"
F'How much land is there in the Ter
1tory that is suitable for tobacco
towing?"
ITO that question" said Mr.. Wright
II would have to refer you to Mr.
S}mith, but he tells me that there is
1ite a lot of land that would be suit
tlble both in soil and what I might
filill loca ton. When / speak of loca-
Mon. I mean where there is not too
nuGh wind to break the leaves. Storms
rye bad for breaking the leaves and
estroying the crop. But even in such
place, If one wanted to grow to-
acco, the difficulty could be overcome
Y planting a hedge of trees to break
NE wind"
t'What seems to be the general local
ptinion as to the practicability of the
! rtp here?"
II ~ have spoken to a great many"
Aid Mr.. Wright, "and every person so
pr would like to see the experiments
hrried farther and the crop given a
borough trial, and am sure IL 1t is
thoroughly tried 1t will produce the
est Of results"
what would It require to start a
1bacco plantation"
THAT would depend" said the Sc
tile man, ION whether you had to
Far your land first. 1t does not cost
fuch to start tobacco plantation, be-
use you can grow it the same as any |
,her crop. 1t does not require as
ugh labor as cane. SO am told. You J
ogild have to import thoroughly ex-
trienced and practical tobacco grower |
H. .~t.v Ill.