growing season with the soils and climatic conditions of Sumatra, 

 Cuba, and Florida seem to indicate that a type of leaf could be pro- 

 duced which would at least be more acceptable to the trade and bring 

 a higher price per pound than the present product. 



After Congress authorized the investigations the first thing to do 

 was to make a careful survey of the soils of the Connecticut Valley, 

 examine carefully the crops grown on each type of soil, note the influ- 

 ence of soil on the quality of the tobacco, and see what could be 

 developed from the present leaf by the most improved methods of 

 fermentation used in Sumatra, Cuba, and Florida. After that, if the 

 product was not satisfactory, to try a radical change in the methods 

 of planting, cultivation, curing, and fermentation in order to change 

 altogether the character of the leaf. 



Accordingly an accurate soil survey was made in the summer of 

 1899 of that portion of the Connecticut Valley between South Glas- 

 tonbury, Conn., and South Hadley, Mass. a distance of about 40 

 miles, with an average width of 10 miles, and embracing in all approxi- 

 mately 256,000 acres. Ten distinct types of soil were recognized and 

 mapped, on a scale of 1 inch to the mile, and many notes were taken 

 as to the influence of the different soils on the quality and style of the 

 tobacco produced. This soil map, with the accompanying report, is 

 now, by special act of Congress, being published. 



The present circular deals with the efforts that have been made and 

 the results attained in fermenting the Connecticut tobacco by the bulk 

 method used in Sumatra, Cuba, and Florida. 



THE ORDINARY METHOD OF FERMENTING IN CASES. 



The method of fermenting the Connecticut tobacco in cases was 

 described in Farmers' Bulletin No. 60 and in Report No. 60 of this 

 Department, as follows: 



The fermentation, or sweating, is usually managed by the packers, and not by the 

 farmers. The sweating is done in wooden cases, strongly put together, holding on 

 an average about 300 pounds of tobacco. These cases are not tight, but have a space 

 of one-half inch between the boards. A good crop in sweating loses from 10 to 

 14 per cent of its weight, and there must be sufficient ventilation to allow this moist- 

 ure to escape. On the bottom of the box is put a layer of top leaves, or seconds, as 

 the outside does not sweat readily. The leaves are well shaken out and packed with 

 the butts outside and tightly pressed down to exclude the air as much as possible. 

 The tobacco is piled into the box and pressed down with a moderate pressure, and 

 then the top of the box is nailed on. The cases are then marked and piled up in the 

 warehouse in rows 3 or 4 boxes high, for the sweat. Once at least during the season 

 good packers turn the boxes upside down and put the top boxes at the bottom. 



The tobacco is cased in the fall or winter, and so remains through the next sum- 

 mer. The temperature of the warehouse is quite even during the winter. After the 

 summer's sweat the operation is finished and the cases are opened and sampled. 

 This is one year after the harvest. After sampling the tobacco is returned to the 

 case without breaking the bulk, and remains in the case until it is wanted by the 

 cigar manufacturer. 



