138 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doe. 



SECOND DAY. 



The meeting was called to order by First Vice-President 

 Sessions, who said : Time was when I used to raise tobacco, 

 and was somewhat familiar with the business and the men 

 engaged in it, but that time has passed, and, in order that 

 we may get the most out of the discussion which will follow 

 the lecture, I have asked a man more familiar than I am 

 with the men engaged in the raising of tobacco about here 

 to preside, who will know who it is who asks questions of 

 the speaker. I therefore call on Mr. H. C. Comins of this 

 city, a member of this Board, to preside this morning. 



The Chairman. In making arrangements for this meet- 

 ing, the committee endeavored to select such subjects as 

 would be of interest to the farmers of this locality ; and, 

 while the business of tobacco raising and curing ma}" not be 



one of special interest to a good many locally, it is one of 

 the chief industries of the Connecticut valley, and one in 

 which our agriculturists are perhaps more interested than in 

 any other crop. We have been trying since the early days 

 of tobacco culture to raise and cure a 'good article, and we 

 have made some progress. We know pretty well how to 

 fertilize, but there are a great many things that we do not 

 know, and we have invited a gentleman to come here and 

 speak upon this subject this morning. He will give us the 

 latest and most scientific knowledge in regard to the culture 

 and curing of tobacco, and I now have the pleasure of 

 introducing to you Dr. E. H. Jenkins, director of the Con- 

 necticut Agricultural Experiment Station. 



