16 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 339 



any, later than that of most strains of common Havana Seed tobacco. 



Experimental results show that Strain 29 is highly resistant to black root- 

 rot, and that it yields a satisfactory amount of tobacco under soil conditions 

 suitable for the development of the disease. It ordinarily yields more heavily 

 under disease-free conditions. It, also, may possibly yield more tobacco under 

 favorable producing conditions than some growers can sometimes handle and 

 care for most conveniently. It exceeds Strain 13 in these respects. Like Strain 

 13, it needs somewhat more space per plant than may be necessary for common 

 Havana Seed tobacco, and cures best when it has been ripened well. It will 

 not, however, withstand ripening to the same degree that Strain 13 will, without 

 injury resulting to some of its lower leaves. It is much like Strain 13 in its 

 manner of curing. It is somewhat less satisfactory than Strain 13, tor type of 

 plant and type and quality of leaf. It is wider leafed than most strains of com- 

 mon Havana Seed tobacco, and like Strain 13, might be somewhat improved 

 in type of leaf, if the butt portion of its leaves, especially its lower leaves, grew 

 somewhat narrower. The strain resembles common Havana Seed tobacco less 

 closely in general appearance than Strain 13 does. Its date of maturity is a 

 few days later than that of Strain 13 and most strains of common Havana Seed 

 tobacco. 



Experimental results indicate that Strain 33 is somewhat less resistant to 

 black root-rot than Strains 13 and 29, and the resistant control strain. It does 

 not yield so heavily as these other strains do, under soil conditions suitable for 

 the development of the disease, but it produces a good quality tobacco under 

 these conditions. It does not yield so heavily under favorable producing con- 

 ditions as Strains 13 and 29 do, but it ordinarily produces enough tobacco under 

 these conditions to be profitable. It is satisfactory for type of plant, and type 

 and quality of leaf. It does not grow so wide butts of lower leaves as Strains 

 13 and 29 do, and is more satisfactory in this respect. The strain closely re- 

 sembles common Havana Seed tobacco in general appearance while growing 

 in the field as well as in its cured condition. Its date of maturity is about the 

 same as that of Strain 13 and most strains of common Havana Seed tobacco. 



Practical testing of Strains 13 and 29 in cooperation with tobacco growers 

 showed these strains to have merit. Both strains seemed to be acceptable to 

 most of the growers who grew them in cooperative trials. Strain 13 proved to 

 be promising enough to receive serious consideration and rather complete testing 

 by cigar manufacturers to determine its acceptability from their point of view. 

 Their decision on the matter has not yet been made. 



It seemed, in 1935, that the greatest need in further work with the strains 

 was more complete testing in small plot experiments to make certain that the 

 strains were not being estimated wrongly; and more extensive testing in 

 cooperation with tobacco growers and with cigar manufacturers, to determine 

 the acceptability of strains for practical purposes. Accordingly the strains were 

 grown in 1935 in well-organized and closely supervised small plot experiments, 

 and in practical production tests in cooperation with tobacco farmers. Strain 

 13 was continued in practical production tests in cooperation with tobacco 

 farmers and in demonstrational trial testing by the cigar manufacturers, in 1936. 



