8 



The following temperatures were obtained near the middle of the 

 bulk in the first wrappers at 9 a. m. of each date. 



a Bulk turned. 



The Connecticut tobacco is not supposed to have any desirable filler 

 leaves for domestic cigars, but this year's experience has shown that 

 the short top leaves, if properly fermented, will make a fairly good 

 filler and that it will even pay to pick out such heavy -bodied top 

 leaves from what is commonly classed as trash and ferment them for 

 filler goods. Some of these heavy -bodied leaves were thoroughly fer- 

 mented with very good results. Of course the flimsy wrapper leaves 

 will not make a desirable filler with any method of fermentation. 



OPINION OF DEALERS. 



Samples of the fermented tobacco were sent to three of the largest 

 packers of Connecticut tobacco in New York City and to one expert 

 packer of Hartford. Two of the New York houses sent members of 

 the firm to New Haven to inspect the tobacco in the bulk, as did the 

 Hartford firm and also one of the large New Haven cigar manufactur- 

 ers. They were all much pleased with the results. They .pronounced 

 the leaf perfectly sound in every respect, the color very desirable and 

 even, the whole leaf perfectly fermented and having the appearance 

 of old tobacco, while the grain was perfectly developed and the style 

 excellent. The burn was also good. Great surprise was expressed 

 by all of these gentlemen that no damage had been done to the body 

 of the leaf where the butts of the next layer above rested upon it. 

 The bulk was carefully examined by them, but no single leaf could be 

 found on which butts rested that showed the least discoloration, bruise, 

 stain, or other sign of damage. 



Some of the top leaves of the trash which had been heavily fer- 

 mented were rolled up into smokers and pronounced very good. 

 Some of this was made into "booked fillers" and submitted to two 

 cigar manufacturers and two dealers in leaf tobacco in New York City 

 and to one leaf dealer in Philadelphia. The reports from all sources 

 were that it was very satisfactory. The estimation of the value of 

 this booked filler from the various sources varied from 15 cents, the 



