XLVIII REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



great and is increasing-, and as the publication of the reports, illustra- 

 tions, and soil maps is expensive, I recommend that Congress make pro- 

 vision for the publication of an annual report of the Held operations of 

 the Division of Soils — as is now done with the Annual Report of the 

 Chief of the Weather Bureau and with the Annual Report of the Chief 

 of the Bureau of Animal Industry — through an amendment to the print- 

 ing bill providing for the publication of 30,000 copies, 10,000 of which 

 to be placed at the disposal of the Secretary of Agriculture, and 

 the rest to be distributed through Senators, Representatives, and 

 Delegates, 



The details of the soil-survey work, together with the physical and 

 chemical investigations done in support of this, are given in the 

 report of the chief of the Division of Soils. 



TOBACCO INVESTIGATIONS. 



Several years ago, as a result of the soil investigations in the Con- 

 necticut Valley by this Department, a prediction was made that the 

 Sumatra type of tobacco could be grown there. After some prelimi- 

 nary experiments in the summer of 1899 some Sumatra tobacco was 

 planted under shade in the spring of 1900, the experiments being under 

 the direction of the Division of Soils cooperating with the Connecticut 

 experiment station. The leaf produced has been so fine that the New 

 York tobacco men say that it can not be told from the imported 

 Sumatra leaf. They predict as a result of this work a complete revo- 

 lution in the tobacco industry of the Connecticut Valley and the sub- 

 stitution of Sumatra tobacco, as has already been done in the State of 

 Florida. We import into this countrj^, in spite of the high import 

 duty of $1.85 per pound upon wrapper leaf, about 40,000 bales of 

 Sumatra tobacco, which, with the duty added, costs about $15,000,000, 

 of which nearly $6,000,000 are annually paid to foreign producers. It 

 is believed that in a very short time we will be able to save this to pay 

 our own producers. 



Experiments are now being made in the improvement of the flavor 

 and aroma of the tiller tobacco of Pennsylvania and Ohio. It is 

 believed that with the introduction of the methods of fermentation 

 now being tried in Pennsylvania that the saving in that State alone 

 from case rot will amount to at least $1,000,000 annually. Further- 

 more, it is reas^onable to hope that the aroma and flavor of the present 

 crop can be improved, which will greatly enhance the value of the 

 product. 



This tobacco work has been so eminently practical and so successful 

 that it has received the hearty support of the tobacco men. Not only 

 the growers, but the leaf tobacco associations and the large tobacco 

 dealers, are urging us to continue and to considerably extend the inves- 

 tigations. I should like very much, in addition to the present work, 



