The Washington herald., 1909-04-15
By FREDERIC ]. HASKTN.

The tobacco growers OF the United
States are entering upon their crop sea-
son with every prospect that the produc-
ton OF the. weed this year viii be more
profitable than ever before. Competing
among themselves, in the light of the
best scientific knowledge. and with Fed
eraI and State government aid. there is
every reason why the American tobacco
producers should feel satisfied with their
lot, even though the tariff bill may not
altogether suit them.
AS is usually the case, the growers of
cigar wrapper tobacco can look forward
20 the largest returns from their labor.
albeit their initial Investment and SUBJ
sequent expenses may be greater. The
production Of wrapper tobacco has been
most successful in the Connecticut River
valley and in Florida The product OF
those districts has been pronounced equal
TO the best Sunatra wrapper tobacco, and
that is the worlds standard of quality.
II seems strange that two climates so
different as are those Of New England
and the Land OF Flowers should foster
similar crops as well as the tropical
islands Of Cuba and Sumatra do. but
such is the case.
To accomplish so much the Connecticut
and Florida growers have had TO pass
through a struggle that was dishearten-
ing AT times. Through steadfast perse-
verance the Connecticut growers have al
Etost reached the point where Connec-
ticut's tobacco Is as well known as their
mythical wooden nutmegs, or her clocks,
which tick around the world. Twenty
per cent OF Connecticut's population is
interested financially in her tobacco crop.
Although the acreage or that crop is only
2 per cent Of the total acreage OF the
American tobacco crop. 1t yields one
fifth OF the gross returns from the tots
tobacco production OF the United States.
A few thousand acres in a little district
IN Connecticut and Massachusetts, have
been producing one OF the most valuable
crops In the country. Last year the Pro
duction was over 81, 600 pounds. valued
at more than S5,O00,0O0 on the farms,
which value was increased greatly
through the various processes OF cur
ing. marketing. and manufacturing. This
value was greater than that OF the entire
cotton crop in some Southern States.
To produce wrapper tobacco success
fully in the Connecticut Valley requires
constant care from start to finish. First,
seed beds are prepared and sterilized
with steam. or are burned over. 10 kill
fungi which attack the roots Of the young
plants. The field is heavily fertiliZed
sometimes at cost OF $500 per acre The
seedlings are transplanted and cultivated
with great care Probably the best re-
suits are obtained in producing wrapper
tobacco by the use OF Havana seed
which has been acclimated in New Eng
land. and is grown under shade This
shade Is usually a tent about nine feet
high. covering an entire field In Flor
ida growing under shade Is also prac-
ticed, but Sumatra seed Is said to dc
best The shade IN Florida may be OBJ
tained from lattice work built over fields
The latter plan is not satisfactory in
Connecticut because the structure is
broken down by the winter snow The
damage TO the crop from hail stones is
sometimes great.
When ready for harvest Connecticut
wrapper leaves are stripped from the
stalks, strung on strings, and hung up
in barns to dry. The drying and curing
processes are mostly delicate, and many
a fine crop has been ruined because eli
matte conditions have been unfavorable
or the grower was inexperienced. Dur.
ing those processes an even temperature
good ventilation. and certain degree OF
moisture are necessary After the leaf Is
dried Il cannot be packed until damp
weather comes. so that it Will not break
when handled Then the leaves are tied
into hands" and ready for curing.
This latter process Is said TO be a sort
OF fermentation. The tobacco is arranged
in huge piles in a warm. humid atmos-
phere. II soon begins to heat, and al
times reaches a temperature Of 40 de-
grees. This is ascertained by a clever
arrangement whereby a thermometer is
lowered into the center Of the pile When
a high temperature is reached the pile
is taken down and the tobacco carefully
rearranged with the outside hands" on
the inside Of the new pile. and vice versa
This process may be repeated several
times before the tobacco is ready for the
market
Good wrapper tobacco is being grown
in Hawaii without shade. the heavy fog
blanket hanging over certain portions OF
those islands serving as a substitute for
tents. Tobacco is grown under shade in
Porto Rico ard Cuba. OF course. the
cost Of this system Of cultivation is very
heavy. but the financial returns are com.
pensatory. Some OF the first shade-growr
tobacco in Connecticut was sold for s. Sc
pound. being net profit of $1,000 ar
acre.
The benefits conferred upon the tobacco
industry by the Department Of Agricul-
ture are almost incalculable. The De