The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-05
Learned American Methods

Expert advice from America was OBJ
tanned, and in 1904 the government came
to Colonel Everards assistance. The
industry is now supervised by govern
ment official who possesses expert knowl-
edge gained by considerable experience
in America, to which he added first-hand
knowledge of local conditions and infiu-
ences. The number of centers and areas
gradually increased, so that at the pres
ent time tobacco is being grown in
Louth. Meath. Kings, Kilkenny, Wex-
ford. Tipperary and Limerick. Gradually
ether landed proprietors initiated Colonel
Everard in his venture, and the result
is that now, in addition to his % acres,
there are Lord Barrymore with 10 acres,
Lord Dunraven with 25 acres, the Hon.
Otway Cuffe with seven acres, and many
others who are growing tobacco. Up to
date the total area under cultivation is
100 acres, comprising 70 acres of pipe TO-
bacco, IS acres of cigarette and IL acres
of cigar tobaccos.
1t will be noted that all three of the
principal classes into which tobaccos are
divided are grown. Nearly every kind of
tobacco can be grown in Ireland. Colonel
Everard says, THE tobacco manufacture
ers have only to tell us what they can
find use for and we can produce it."
Heavy Yield Per Acre
The tobacco plant thrives exceedingly
well there, one acre of some varieties
producing as much as 1900 pounds of
tobacco. One of the latest productions
has been hybrid plant from genuine
Irish and Turkish varieties and brand
ed "Turc-lrish." 1t possesses a flavor
all its own, and a market has been estab-
lished for it even as far away as the
United States. Lately the department of
agriculture has started a scheme for ex-
tending the industry amongst small farm
ers, to whom as a class tobacco grow
Ing is especially suited, although five
years ago several small growers in County
Wexford formed limited liability COM
pany, and grade. pack and market their
crops of one acre each comparatively
By the aforementioned government
scheme however, the larger growers are
encouraged to provide local cash markets
for smaller growers in their vicinity, and
to perform the functions of middlemen in
grading, packing and selling their to-
-bacco according to market requirements.
Portable Curing Barns
One of the chief drawbacks to the
small farmer undertaking to cure ihs
own tobaccos has been the expensive
equipment requisite Of curing barn of
the necessary type out within this
summer even this difficulty has been
overcome, thanks again mainly to Col.
Everards exertions. A cheap porta-
BILE curing barn has been devised, which
makes the above mentioned rehandling
scheme now on trial capable of unlim-
tied extension 1t is assumed that the
rehandler or large grower would hire
out these barns to the small farmer nt
cost not exceeding thirty shillings,
thus lessening the cost of production
very much. With this new discovery
before them, the Irish Tobacco Grow
ers' association are now about to ap-
proach the development commissioners
with a definite scheme to extend the
Irish tobacco industry on the lines of
the departments rehandling schem to
about 1000 acres A most interesting
experiment is also being conducted to
determine the possibilities of growing
tobaccos specially for nicotine, which
is In ever-increasing demand as an in
sectlcide. VIII it pay the British man.
ufacturer to use Irish grown leaf!
Will 1t suit the English trade? Genu-
inc Irish grown tobaccos have hardly
as yet been placed on the English mar
ket, but there is an ever increasing
demand FIR the Irish product. In Dub
demand for tho Irish product In Dub
people and manufactures pipe tobaccos,
cigars and cigarets, all from the home
grown product. Its business is rapidly
increasing.