lo Dec, 1910.] 



Tobacco Culture. 



745 



The meadow lands of the Connecticut Valley, which were formerly cultivated in 

 tobacco when a dark heavy leaf was in demand, contain on an average from 20 to 

 28 per cent, of water. As already stated, these soils are entirely unfit for the 

 production of the grade of tobacco necessary to meet the present market demands. 



" The tobacco soils of Pennsylvania are heavier than those of Connecticut 

 Valley, and maintain on an average about 18 per cent, of water. 



" The soils of the tobacco district of Ohio are as heavy in texture as the lime- 

 stone tobacco lands of Pennsylvania. It is probable that the mean water content 

 of these soils in an average season would amount to about 23 to 24 per cent, of 

 water. The tobacco grown under these conditions is used almost exclusively as a 

 filler leaf. 



" Soils of Manufacturing and Export Tobacco Districts. 



" The typical soils for the highest yellow tobacco of Virginia, North Carolina, 

 and East Tennessee maintain on an average about 7 per cent, of water. Where 

 the soils contain less than this, the leaf is inclined to be thinner in texture and 

 to have a better colour, but the yield per acre is small, and the most economical 

 conditions on the whole are maintained by those soils having from 7 to 8 per 

 cent, of clay, and maintaining on an average 7 or 8 per cent, of water. As the 

 soil becomes heavier in texture, and the amount of water increases, other grades 

 and types of tobacco are produced. 



" The export tobacco lands of Kentucky and Tennessee contain about 22 or 23 

 per cent, of clay, and, as a characteristic feature, they contain from 40 to 60 per 

 cent, of silt. These soils contain on an average about 15 per cent, of water. 



" The characteristic soil of the limestone area of Kentucky, adapted to the 

 White Burley tobacco, may be said to maintain on an average about 20 per cent, 

 of water. 



" Records have not been kept of the manufacturing tobacco soils of Virginia, 

 but from investigations which have been made on adjacent lands, it is probable 

 that the mean water content of these soils, having as much as 40 per cent, of clay, 

 will not be far from 20 to 22 per cent, of moisture." 



The Mechanical Analysis of a few Typical American Subsoils. 



For comparison v^'ith the figures of the Edi soils, the returns are given below 

 of the average results of the mechanical analysis of a large number of typical 

 American subsoils. The very great difference in the relative clay percentage of 

 the various soils adapted to each type of tobacco, will indicate the very important 

 part the physical properties of the soil plav in the production of the various 

 characteristics of the product. 



