FIELD CROPS. 137 



soil to this industry is discussed, and the results of experiments during L902, L903, 

 and l'.'iil are reported. 



The temperature and precipitation for 6 months of the growing season in eastern 

 Texas and Havana, Cuba, are compared, the averages showing a close correspond 

 ence for Palestine and Nacogdoches, Texas, with those for Havana. The monthly 

 differences shov greater variations, the temperature al Havana varying only aboul 

 s 1'.. w hile in Texas the variation is l •">". The rainfall al 1 iavana was much heaA ier 

 during the first - months of the period and very much less the third month than in 

 Texas, while for the remainder of the period the differences were not so great. The 

 ii iran range of humidity is aboul the same in both regions, bul at Havana the rela- 

 tive humidity appears higher for a Longer period during the -I hours than at Pales- 

 tine, Texas. 



The soils used in these experiments were the ( Orangeburg fine sandy loam and the 

 Orangeburg clay. The Orangeburg fine sandy loam is described as a compact red 

 Bandy loam containing considerable silt, with an average depth of aboul 12 in., and 

 the subsoil a heavy sandy clay reaching a depth of '■> ft. <»r more. Both the soil and 

 Bubsoil contain rounded iron concretions aboul one-quarter of an inch in diameter. 

 The Orangeburg day. which differs from the fine sandy Loam in having a much 

 lighter soil over the red clay subsoil, is described as being from 5 to 9 in. deep, of a 

 dark-red color, and ranging in texture from a heavy sandy loam to a clay loam, with 

 a subsoil of stiff dark-red flay, generally reaching to considerable depths. 



Mechanical analyses of both soils and the content of soluble salts in the soil ami 

 Bubsoil are given in tables. It is stated that both soils contain enough potash salts 

 to make them desirable for tobacco, and thai the chemical analyses of the two com- 

 pare favorably with those of the tobacco soils of Cuba, especially with the red soils 

 in the Partidos district. 



In 1903 work was conducted on 4 different fields representing the - Orangeburg 

 soils. The lighter soils received about 15 loads of well-rotted manure and the 

 heavier soils 20 loads per acre, the manure being plowed under- and allowed todeca} 

 BOme time before planting. The plants were set 12 and 14 in. apart in :i ft. rows. 

 The crops obtained showed a very wide range in yield, believed to be due to differ- 

 ences in the local weather conditions, in the type of soil, and in the amount of ferti- 

 lizer used. 



The tobacco after being thoroughly fermented was examined and graded early in 

 January, 1904, bul at this time from 72 to 84 percent of the crop classified as of good 

 aroma was insufficiently aged, while only 10 to 11 per cent was judged a filler of 

 U. I aroma with sufficient age. This tobacco was packed and baled and put OH the 



market to determine its c mercial value. The firms purchasing it seemed to regard 



|t as satisfactory, although some considered it tacking in aroma and smoothness as 

 compared with the Cuban leaf. Nearly all agreed that the leaf was the best domestic 

 tiller they had evei tested, but in the opinion of one firm the quality <>f the leaf 

 was not as good as the tobacco now being grown in Pennsylvania. The prices 

 received ranged from 28 to 10 cts. a pound. 



These experiments were continued in 1904 on 4 different fields, the methods of 

 culture, curing, etc., being quite fully described. The cost of production on the 

 fields varied from 19.3 cts. to 26.4 cts. per pound. As in the previous year, a wide 

 range in the rates of yield was shown. The total yield from the entire area, 8£ 

 acres. «;h 5,461 lbs., or 624. 1 lbs. per acre, with an average cost of production ol 

 $1.6 cts. per pound. "It is believed that the farmer having ail the facilities on Ins 

 plantation can <;row this tobacco at a coat not exceeding 10 cts. a pound." 



In 1905 this type of tobacco was planted on about 150 acres of Orangeburg soils in 

 three counties, and a tobacco firm has agreed to purchase the barn-cured product at 

 a remunerative price. •• It therefore appears that in the course of a few years, it the 



