The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-06-25
The Improvement of Wisconsin To-
bacco Through Seed Selection.
BY E. P. sANDsTEN.


ing quality, and this fact has been the
main cause of its popularity with cigar
manufacturers. In the past, the sole
aim of the grower has been to produce
a high yield, while little attention has
been paid to other qualities, such as
spread and shape of leaves, texture and
prominence of mid-rib. The yield per
acre of tobacco in the state has been
quite satisfactory in the past, but
shows slow decline. The reason for
this decline can be traced to two main
causes first, the decline in fertility of
tobacco land; second, to the use of poor
and impure seed. The question of to-
bacco fertilizers will be left for future
consideration and seed improvement
only will be discussed here.
The work of improving Wisconsin to-
bacco seed was started by the Horti-
cultural department of the Experiment
Station about five years ago. This line
of work was selected because of the
complaints of tobacco manufacturers as
to the quality and size of the leaf. A
large number of strains or types of to-
bacco were grown in the state, which
naturally resulted in mixed and infer
ior product. After a conference with
leading tobacco buyers and growers as
to the most desirable type of tobacco
adapted to Wisconsin conditions, it was
decided that a type of Connecticut
Havana Wisconsin-grown would best
meet the requirements, not only of the
farmer, but of the buyers and manu-
facturers. Seed of this type was Sc
cured and one acre Of land was planted
for seed. It was found that more than
one-half of the plants were not true to
type, that the seed procured was badly
mixed, and that there was a decided
need for Improvement. The seed plants
were carefully ''rogued' during the
growing period, and about two-thirds
of the original number of plants were
culled out. Only those showing the
most desirable type were permitted to
grow and produce seed.
SELECTING SEED FOR IMPROVEMENT
With this seed as starting point,
careful selection has been practlced for
the last three years under the direct
control of the Horticultural department
and as result we have today pure
type of tobacco with good spread of
leaves, with fine texture, which will
also produce very satisfactory yield.
This seed has in the past been distrib-
uted free to tobacco growers all over
the state, and as an evidence OF its
superinity over other strains, the pro-
duct has invariably taken the highest
awards or prizes at the yearly meetings
of the Wisconsin Tobacco Growers As
sociation. Numerous letters from grow
ers expressing their approval OF the.
seed are on file in this office
Previous to this year over 700 pounds
of this seed was distributed to growers
in all the tobacco growing counties IN
the state. For the present year there
is on hand for distribution a quantity OF
seed of the highest quality thus far
produced by the Experiment Station.
This seed is distributed free to tobacco
growers in the state, and preference
given to those who have not previously
received tobacco seed. The object Of
this distribution is to acquaint farmers
with the value of pure high-grade seed
better grade of tobacco, and also to
encourage farmers to grow and select
seed for themselves.
BETTER LEAF WILL BRING BETTER PRICES
The buyers have made little or no
distinction, up to the present time, be-
tween grades of tobacco as grown by
the average farmer, and hence there
has been relatively little inducementt
for him to produce a superior grade OF
tobacco. But this state OF affairs is
only temporary. First-class tobacco
will in the future command a relatively
higher price than the ordinary or poor
kinds. The market is generally well
supplied with the ordinary tobacco,
while really high grade crops are scarce
and command a good price. There has
always been a premium on intelligence,
though it is only recently that tobacco
buyers are recognizing this fact by pay
ing higher prices for the better crops.
The buyers have generally paid stand
ard price and relied on making their
profits on the good crops. This prac-
tice has worked great injury to the
tobacco industry in that it has put a
premium on carlessness and lndlffer-
ence.
The aim Of this bulletin is to give
simple, detailed directions which, It fol-
lowed, will enable the grower to select
and grow his own seed and to improve
the quality and yield of his crop with
relatively little extra expense or trOu-
BILE. Tobacco is as susceptible of i'm
provement as any crop that can be
grown on the farm, in fact, more so
than most crops, and there is no reason
why the value of the tobacco crop IN
Wisconsin could not be increased from
20 to 80 per cent by the continuous Sc
lection of tobacco seed alone. Not only
this, but it will further increase the
demand and price of this tobacco, and
establish high reputation for the Wis
consin product.
BASIS FOR SEED SELECTION BY THE
GROWER
In beginning the selection of seed, it
is always advisable to obtain the best
existing variety adapted to the state
and to local conditions. With this as a
starting point, the farmer should care
fully inspect his field during the grow
ing period, and when superior plants
are found in the field, these should be
marked with stakes and permitted to
produce seed. Only individual plants
should be selected. The custom of re-
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