BDEEAU OF SOILS. 185 



and afterwards in Cuban packages, this harshness can be smoothed out and a con- 

 siderable portion of the leaf brought up to the standard of the Cuban trade. 



We believe that this investigation should be continued along the same lines, 

 giving careful attention to the cultivation of the crop, to its fermentation and 

 aging, so as to produce a rich, mellow leaf, and that then more attention should 

 be given to assorting the leaves, so as to arrange them in different classes and 

 determine in this way the proportion of very desirable leaf, and the physical charac- 

 teristics of this leaf, and then endeavor to decide whether the proportion can not 

 be increased. We believe it wise at present to confine the work to a narrow line 

 which seems to promise success, using no commercial fertilizers, but relying upon 

 a liberal application of stable manure, close planting, good cultivation, and the 

 most careful and thorough fermentation. So far as anj^ change in the character 

 of the leaf is concerned, the committee feels that at this time it would be inadvis- 

 able to depart, in any way, from the lines that have been laid down, as the leaf 

 that has been produced appears to have a perfect form, size, and texture, and we 

 believe that more careful handling will develop the other qualities desired. 



Objection is made by the Ohio growers that the cost of production of the Cuban 

 type exceeds that of the Zimmer Spanish and other Ohio tj^es of tobacco, and 

 unless they are guaranteed a higher price for the Cuban they are not going to grow 

 it. It appears from the evidence, however, that the yield of Zimmer Spanish 

 tobacco ranges from 800 to 1,000 pounds per acre. The Zimmer Spanish is planted 

 24 inches in the row. in rows 3 feet apart. The plant from the imported Cuban 

 seed is a smaller plant and the leaves are smaller and thinner than the Zimmer 

 Spanish, but the plants are grown 12 inches apart, in rows 3 feet 6 inches apart, 

 so that the yield per acre from the first-year crop of Cuban seed tobacco is the same 

 or possibly more than of the heavier bodied Zimmer Spanish. The crop from the 

 imported seed, however, is more delicate, needs more careful cultivation, much 

 more frequent suckering. and is more difficult and expensive to harvest, on account 

 of the more fragile nature of the stalk and the greater number of plants to the 

 acre. It is believed, however, that the cost of production will not be 1 cent per 

 pound more than for the Zimmer Spanish. 



In regard to the methods of continuing the investigations in Ohio, the committee 

 believes that a single experiment of 10 acres, located on the Miami clay loam, with 

 an additional 5-acre tract located on the Miami gravelly loam of the second bot- 

 tom, should be carried on by the Department. Mr. Massey and his assistants 

 should have complete control of the gi'owing and handling of the crop. We believe 

 that the Department should not extend its operations to any other localities in the 

 State at this time. We consider it unwise to attempt any fertilizer experiments, 

 but would rely upon liberal applications of stable manure, giving careful attention 

 to the methods of ciUtivation and attending particularly to the fermentation and 

 aging of the leaf. 



As respects the final disposition of the tobacco, we are of the opinion that the own- 

 ership should rest in the owner of the land, biit that the Department should reserve 

 the right to take such samples as may be needed and actually to offer the tobacco 

 for sale, in order to secure an official estimate of the views of commercial tobacco 

 men. but that it should be under no obligation to advertise the tobacco except 

 in the interest of a fair and impartial estimate of its commercial value, in case the 

 Department thinks it would be to the public interest to have such information. 



Report on the Texas work. 



A large number of samples of Texas-grown tobacco were submitted by Mr. 

 Shelfer. These samples represent different parts of the State, and full informa- 

 tion as to the conditions of the different localities was given by Mr. Shelfer. espe- 

 cially as to soils upon which the tobaccos were grown. It is evident from this 

 examination that the character of the soil has a very remarkable effect upon the 

 character of the leaf, even where the same seed is used. The leaf grown on 

 the "red lands" (unnamed and unmapped as yet by the soil survey), as appears 

 from the samples, if grown from freshly imported Cuban seed has the physical 

 characteristics of the Cuban leaf, and when properly fermented can not be told 

 by a physical examination. It has the same style of leaf as that submitted by Mr. 

 Massey from crops grown in Ohio from imported Cuban seed. The flavor and 

 aroma, however, are slightly more harsh than in the case of the Ohio tobacco, and 

 the leaf needs toning down and mellowing. We believe this can be done in the 

 manipulation of the fermentation and aging of the leaf. Crops grown, even on 

 this land, from Texas-raised seed depart very materially from the Cuban type of 

 filler tobacco, so that it is advisable to at present use only the imported Cuban seed. 



