REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. LXXIII 



In another communication Messrs. Leichke & Fletcher report that 

 they could wrap 1,000 of their 5-inch cigars with 1 pound 10 ounces 

 of the leaf, while Mr. Bissell, of Suffield, reported that he was using- 

 2 pounds of the shade-grown leaf to wrap 1,000 of his cigars, and that 

 with a bale of wrappers weighing 140 pounds 102,000 cigars were 

 wrapped. It can safely be said, therefore, that the leaf has success- 

 fully stood the test of the cigar manufacturer. , 



Even before the tobacco was ready for the market or the results of 

 the sale announced preparations were made by the growers to largely 

 increase the acreage. Although the commercial success of the investi- 

 gations had been fully demonstrated, the industry was so important 

 and involved such an expenditure of labor and capital that, at the 

 earnest solicitation of the growers, the Department's experts were left 

 in the Connecticut Valley for another year to advise with such of the 

 growers as needed their assistance. At the present time the Depart- 

 ment is advising and instructing in this way 38 growers in Connecticut 

 and Massachusetts, cultivating 045 acres of shade tobacco. The efforts 

 of the Department in this direction seem to be very highl}^ appreciated. 



The season has been distinctly unfavorable. There has been an 

 unprecedented amount of rain, falling in very severe showers, and 

 the season as a whole has been characterized by cool spells and 

 especially cool nights. This has apparently not affected the crop 

 materially, as it is the general belief that the crop at this time is bet- 

 ter than that of last year. The season has also been one of unusually 

 severe wind and hail storms. Considerable damage has been done to 

 the outside crops in certain sections of the State, but no damage has 

 been done to the shaded tobacco, as the cloth has protected the leaf 

 from all injury from hail. The damage from wind has also been 

 exceedingly light. The winds have been so strong in places that the 

 posts have been lifted from the ground, ])ut the damage to the tents 

 has been exceedingly slight and there has been practically no injury 

 to the crop. 



As to the financial prospects for this year, the following estimate is 

 based on the experience of last year: There are about 700 acres of 

 tobacco under shade, which will produce about 1,000,000 pounds of 

 cured tobacco, or 800,800 pounds of baled tobacco, exclusive of trash. 

 The total cost, at $657.17 per acre — the average for last year — will 

 amount to 1460,019. The total value of the baled tobacco at $1.20 

 per pound, the average price obtained at the auction, will be $960,960. 

 The net profit will be $500,941. It is believed, however, that the cost 

 per acre will be considerably less than last year, and that the price 

 per pound will be greater. The Department believes that this indus- 

 try has been successfully placed upon a commercial basis, and that 

 there will be a considerable increase in the crop grown next year. 

 We have demonstrated our ability to produce a leaf which is desired 



