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In this State, with its range of climate from semi-tropical 

 to temperate, a wide margin is permitted to the grower, and 

 seed can be procured suitable to all parts of the State. In 

 tobacco, as in all other crops, the aim of the grower should 

 be to produce the kind which will command the highest 

 price. The most valuable tobaccos are the Cuban and Ma- 

 nilla, and they owe their fame mostly to the favorable condi- 

 tions under which they are grown. These places possess a 

 tropical heat, but at the same time are tempered with the 

 sea breeze, and there are, no doubt, parts of the coastal dis- 

 tricts of this State which may produce an article that could 

 favorably compare with these tobaccos. 



Tobacco thrives best in a good rich soil, rich in vegetable 

 mould, but light soil containing a good amount of organic 

 matter and well drained will produce an excellent smoking 

 tobacco, and on such soil the finest leaves are grown. The 

 more clay in the soil the thicker the leaves become, and the 

 aroma becomes less, and is consequently less suited for the 

 finer qualities of smoking tobacco, although the weight of 

 yield may be heavier. 



From the many samples of tobacco sent to this station to 

 judge of their .value, I find that the black prairie land will 

 yield more to the acre than any other kind of land in this 

 State, but the tobacco will not possess so fine a quality — on 

 such soil it grows larger, has coarser stems and a heavier 

 leaf, and is not so good for wrappers, or fine cut or cigarettes 

 and cigars as the upland tobacco on sandy soils. Though 

 tobacco is a hardy plant and will grow under varied condi- 

 tions, yet to become a profitable crop, it must not be grown 

 in a situation very different from that to which it is suited 

 by nature. It must be remembered that the plant is a native 

 of a warm climate, and thrives best in a moist atmosphere ; 

 therefore, in such a climate, by employing ordinary means, 

 tobacco may be made to yield a profit not attainable in less 

 favored situations. A warm, moist climate will permit of 

 the selection of the varieties that sell at the highest price 

 in the market, and in a suitable soil the profit will be such 

 as is not often or easily realized from any other crop. 



