316 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



niadc to oxteiid (lie industry into new territory. In some of tl;c dis- 

 tricts whicli lKi\e received considerable attention in the past the. in- 

 vestigations have been discontinued in order to take up work in other 

 tobacco sections in Avhich nothing has previously been done. 



There are three fundamental problems included in the tobacco 

 work, as now organized, one or more of which are receiving attention 

 in each of the districts in which investigations are being conducted. 

 These problems are: (1) Tobacco-breeding investigations and variety 

 tests; (2) fertilizer experiments, qualitative and quantitative; (3) 

 crop-rotation experiments and demonstrations. The breeding inves- 

 tigations include a study of the fundamental principles which need to 

 be applied in the improvement of the crop by breeding and selection, 

 as well as the practical work of developing better varieties and 

 strains for the dilFerent tobacco sections. In some cases this feature 

 is limited to a comparative study of local varieties. The extensive 

 fertilizer experiments under way are for the purpose of determining 

 the best sources of plant-food elements for the various types of tobacco 

 and the most profitable quantities to be applied from the standpoints 

 both of yield and of quality. The crop-rotation w^ork is designed to 

 collect data based on direct experiments and to afford practical dem- 

 onstrations as to the most profitable systems for use where tobacco is 

 the leading money crop, with due consideration given to the special 

 requirements of the crop as regards quality. In addition to these 

 three general lines of investigation a number of special problems in 

 harvesting, curing, fermentation, the control of diseases, etc., receive 

 attention in those districts where such Avork is most needed. 



In conducting the investigations along the lines indicated above, 

 field stations are maintained in representative districts producing con- 

 trasted types of tobacco and at each station the work is shaped to 

 meet local conditions. The investigations are so planned, however, 

 that the breeding, fertilizer, and crop-rotation studies in each section 

 shall not onh^ supply necessary information bearing on the local 

 situation but shall also contribute data for reaching important gen- 

 eralizations, the work in each locality thus fitting into a general 

 scheme with definite objects in view. Correlation of the results of 

 the work S3^stematically followed up will form a substantial basis for 

 the introduction of more profitable and permanent systems of farm- 

 ing with tobacco as the central money crop. 



INVESTIGATIONS IN CIGAR-TOBACCO DISTRICTS. 



During the past year studies with cigar types have been carried out 

 in the States of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Ohio, and 

 Texas. Work has also been begun in Pennsylvania in cooperation 

 with the state experiment station. 



Fertilizer and crop-rotation experiments. — In the broadleaf 

 belt of the Connecticut Valley, the yield has been falling off in recent 

 years, and fertilizer experiments, mainly with various forms of 

 phosphates, have been undertaken for the purpose of restoring the 

 former large yields. In New York experiments have been under- 

 taken in cooperation with the state experiment station to develop the 

 best systems of rotation and the most profitable use of fertilizers for 

 the tobacco crop of the State. In Texas an experiment farm has 



