186 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



Samples submitted from one soil of San Patricio County come next in appear- 

 ance and quality to the leaf grown on the red lands above referred to, indicating 

 that some desirable resiilts might be attained from investigations carried on in 

 this soil. The leaf from all other soils submitted, however, departs widely from 

 the Cuban type of filler, and is considered imdesirable for filler grades. Even 

 leaf grown this year from imported seed by Mr. Shelter on the Willis sand and 

 the Norfolk sand in Montgomery County has not the physical characteristics of 

 the desirable filler type of leaf. ' ^ 



Regarding the continuance of the experiments in Texas, we recommend that 

 Mr. Shelter continue his work on the fermentation and aging of the leaf to try 

 to produce a more mellow article. In our judgment there is not sufficient leaf at 

 present available to test in any satisfactory way its commercial value, and it will 

 be necessary before this can be determined to have a larger quantity of leaf for 

 the Department to handle. We think it advisable for Mr. Shelter to arrange next 

 year to establish his headquarters at some point convenient to the red lands area 

 and arrange with some responsible grower for about 10 acres of tobacco to be 

 grown on the red lands from seed furnished by the Department and under Mr. 

 Shelter's supervision. In addition to this it appears from the evidence submitted 

 that there is a fair prospect of producing a good quality of filler leaf on the soils 

 in the vicinity of Rockport, San Patricio County, and it would appear desirable 

 to try the Cuban tobacco under the climatic conditions prevailing there. It seems 

 wise, therefore, to arrange with one grower in that locality to provide sufficient 

 leaf grown under the direction of the Department to enable an' experiment in 

 grading, assorting, and fermenting the leaf under exjiert supervision. 



We believe it woiild be unwise to excite any very great or general interest in 

 the work or any high expectations of producing tobacco of fine commercial grade, 

 or which will bring a large price, until the Department has had a chance in this 

 comparatively small way, but with thoroiigh methods, to see if the unfavorable 

 qualities recognized in the Texas leaf can be overcome and a leaf of desirable 

 quality obtained. 



The Department should reserve the same rights as regards samples and the sale 

 of the tobacco as are provided for in the case of the Ohio-grown tobacco. 



Geo. T. McNess. 

 Geo. B. Massey. 

 L. H. Shelfer. 

 Washington, September 1, 1902. 



On the adjournment of this meeting;, as the prospects seemed to all 

 veiy favorable for the ultimate success of the work, two of the tobacco 

 experts were sent to Cuba for a short time to obtain certain informa- 

 tion that will be of benefit to the Department in its work. 



SALARIES OF TOBACCO EXPERTS. 



The demand for experts to carrj'^ on tobacco investigations has been 

 so great that Mr. Floyd, although receiving as high a salary as, in 

 justice to other oflBcers of dejmrtments, it seemed possible to pay him, 

 and who at the time was getting a larger salary than the chief of the 

 Bureau who was directing the work, was induced to leave by the offer 

 of compensation about three times as great as he was receiving in the 

 Department. Quite recentl}^ his successor has been approached in 

 the same Avay by a corporation intending to operate in the Connecticut 

 Valley, and it is likely that he will leave the Department to accept a 

 much more remunerative position outside. Two years ago I had to 

 note the loss to the Department of a geutleman who had made some 

 important discoveries in tobacco fermentation, and who was called to 

 Japan at a salary about four times as great as he was receiving in the 

 Department 



It is gratifying to feel that the Department's experts are looked 

 upon with such favor in the commercial world, but these experts are 

 so difficult to obtain, and to train them requires so long a time, that the 

 Department is very greatl}" embarrassed when they are thus removed 



