CULTIVATION OF TOBACCO. 17 



tobacco, especially as to how moist it was when placed in the pile. The 

 leaves from the upper part of the stalk must be fermented more slowly 

 than the lower leaves; consequently, the piles must be torn down and 

 rebuilt more often. The principal fermentation is one before the 

 sorting as, after the sorting, there are so many grades which have to be 

 kept separate. Often these different grades are refremented to improve 

 the quality of the leaf. 



Jn the Cagayan Valley the tobacco is placed into packs of four bundles 

 of from 20 to 40 leaves. These bundles are then placed into bales of 

 80 packs. From 1 hectare an average yield for a number of years is 612 

 kilos of dry leaves. The tobacco is frequently assorted with the follow- 

 ing results : From 1 hectare, 10 packs of superior tobacco, 30 packs of 

 first-class, 40 packs of second-class, 80 packs of third-class, 160 packs of 

 fourth-class, and a number of packs of fifth-class tobacco. The sorting is 

 generally carried on with reference to the colors, absence or presence of 

 spots, length and soundness of leaf. Many divisions and subdivisions 

 are made, according to market demands and the intended use of the 

 tobacco. After the work of sorting and grading has been completed, 

 it is baled into compact bales, when it is ready for shipment. 



GROWING TOBACCO UNDER SHADE. 



The growing of crops under shade is not a new idea, but was practiced 

 perhaps hundreds of years ago; but the cultivation of fields of tobacco 

 under a light cloth shelter of some character is comparatively recent. 

 The idea of using shade started in the United States in Florida, where in 

 the last few years tobacco cultivation has made enormous advances. It 

 was noticed that in new land, only partially cleared of the forest growth, 

 the plants grown under the scattered trees were far superior to plants not 

 so shaded. From this the idea of artificial shade had its birth and now 

 large fields, nearly 5 hectares in size, are grown under shade with great 

 success. 



In addition to the experiments in Florida, many trials have been 

 made in the State of Connecticut, with equal success. The character 

 and quality of the tobacco was considerably modified and profits greatly 

 increased. It was determined that tobacco fully equal to the finest 

 Sumatra leaf could 'be grown in the Connecticut Valley on a commercial 

 scale, and the experiments received widespread attention, and large 

 companies have been formed to grow tobacco exclusively under shade. By 

 using the shade, the damage from insect pests is reduced to a minimum, 

 the moisture content of the soils is increased, while the evaporation from 

 the leaves is largely retained, favoring a more rapid and luxurious 

 growth. The shelter tempers to some extent the intense heat of the sun 

 and at the same time readily allows the free passage of even the slightest 

 showers through i't. 

 5364 2 



