26 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



past year experimental patches were cultivated in five of 

 the southern States. A bale of Egyptian cotton raised on 

 one of these patches in southern Georgia was sent to a Con- 

 necticut mill, and there thoroughly tested as to spinning 

 qualities, the verdict being that it was quite equal to the 

 imported article. Those who are familiar with the subject 

 no longer doubt the possibility of growing enough Egyptian 

 cotton on American soil to meet the requirements of our 



mills. 



Sumatra Tobacco. 



One of the most interesting agricultural experiments con- 

 ducted under the supervision of the department last year 

 was the growing of Sumatra tobacco in the Connecticut 

 valley. On selected soils at places distributed along the 

 valley in Connecticut and southern Massachusetts, amount- 

 ing in all to over 40 acres, quite a crop of this peculiar type 

 of tobacco was raised. The plants were grown under shade, 

 the areas cultivated bein*? covered with tent cloth. The 

 experiment resulted most successfully. In the opinion of 

 experts, the tobacco produced was fully equal to the best 

 imported Sumatra. Owing to the success of last year's 

 trial, which showed conclusively that the Sumatra leaf could 

 be grown commercially in the Connecticut valley, plans 

 were made looking to a further extension of the industry 

 during the present season. As a wrapper for cigars, no 

 other tobacco has been found to take the place of Sumatra ; 

 and we have been obliged to import annually from $4,000,- 

 000 to $5,000,000 worth for that purpose. In view of the 

 success attending the experiments in the Connecticut valley, 

 there is a likelihood that-a large part, if not all, of the money 

 expended in importation will in the future go to American 

 producers. 



Macaroni Wheat. 



A considerable sum of money is spent each year in the 

 importation of macaroni. This product is manufactured 

 from a special kind of wheat grown largely in southern 

 Russia and in Algeria. A study of the macaroni wheats in 

 those countries led to the belief that they could be grown 

 to advantage in certain parts of the United States and 



