REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. LXXI 



about 51i cents a pound. The ordinary tobacco grown in the open fields 

 in Connecticut brings on an average from 18 to 20 cents a pound. The 

 average price paid for the shade-grown tobacco was $1.20 a pound, the 

 price varying from $2.80 per pound for the best to 2.5 cents a pound 

 for some of the mixed bales. The crop that brought the best price 

 sold for $1.63 per pound on the average. 



On the whole, it is believed that the auction sale was very satisfac- 

 tor}", but it is thought that the prices for this year's crop will be even 

 higher, as indicated by the great demands for the product and b}" the 

 favorable reports that are coming in from the cigar manufacturers 

 who have used this leaf. The aggregate of the prices obtained at the 

 auction shows a very handsome financial transaction. 



The total area cultivated in Sumatra tobacco in 1901 was 35.88 acres. 

 There were produced 51,308 pounds of cured tobacco, and actually 

 baled 11, 016 pounds, the difference being the loss on account of fer- 

 mentation, trash, and filler leaves. The total cost of production, esti- 

 mated at $657.17 per acre, was $23,579.26. The total value, estimated 

 at $1.20 per pound, the average price obtained at the sale, was 

 $49,255.20. This gave a net profit to the growers of $25,675.91, or 

 108.8 per cent. This does not include the cost of the land, barns, or 

 warehouses, nor the interest on the investment so represented, but 

 does include the whole cost of the shade, the framework of which is 

 expected to last for from five to eight years. The profits per acre were 

 as follows: Of baled tobacco, exclusive of trash, there was obtained 

 1,114 pounds per acre; the cost of this was approximately $657.17 per 

 acre; the value, at $1.20 per pound, was $1,372.80, giving a net profit 

 of $715.63. The best crop, which was raised on a lot of^about 6 acres, 

 gave a yield of 1,026 pounds per acre; the estimated cost was $649.86 

 per acre; the total value at $1.63 per pound, the average price obtained 

 for this lot, was $1,672.38, giving a net profit of $1,022.52 per acre. 



A great deal of interest has been felt, of course, as to the experi- 

 ence of the cigar manufacturers in handling this product, and the 

 reports have been anxiously awaited. Very favorable notices have 

 been published from time to time in the press and various trade 

 journals, but in order to obtain direct and reliable information the 

 Department addressed three of the largest cigar manufacturers in 

 Hartford and vicinity, who it was known had purchased some of the 

 stock at auction. In reply to these inquiries the following letters were 

 received: 



Hartford, Conn. , August 25, 1902. 

 Dear Sir: I beg to inclose you my foreman's report on shade-grown tobacco. 

 (Mitchelson, 1901 crop. )• The appearance of the crop in the sheds this year shows 

 an improvement in color; there are more brown leaves, with less of the green cast 

 so much in evidence last season. I hope the growers will make a special effort to 

 raise shade-grown wrappers only on land that produces a sure burn. This type is 

 only for wrappers, and a perfect burn is quite important. 



Respectfully, yours, Charles Soby. 



