CROPriNO SYSTEMS FOR TORACCO 5 



decade. In Table 1 are uiven yield averages for the seven decades between 1860 

 and 1930, calculated from figures given by Hendrickson (10). In attempting to 

 analyze these data, it should be remembered that the figures are only close 

 estimates subject to the limitations of all such figures collected by the crop report- 

 ing service. However, they are the only official figures available for the area 

 considered and probably accurate enough for the pnrpose in mind. 



Tari.e 1 — AvER.\GE Yield of Tob.\cco in Massachusetts by 10- Year Periods* 



Average 

 Period Yield 



1862 - 1869, except 1866 1256 



1870 - 1879, except 1877 1505 



1880 - 1889, except 1889 1486 



1890 - 1899, except 1890, '91, '92, '94, '97, '98, and '99 1623 



1900 - 1909 1679 



1910-1919 1558 



1920 - 1929 l.«5 



*Hendrickson, C. I. A history of tobacco production in New England. Conn. (Storrs) Agr. 

 E.xpt. Sta. Bui. 174. 1931. 



It will be seen from the table that there was a rather gradual increase in yield 

 lip to the first flecade of the present century, smce which time there has been a 

 decline^. The data support the general opinion among farmers that yields have 

 been declining. This decline is especially obvious when recent decades are con- 

 sidered in comparison with the peak of production of the period 1900-1909, rather 

 than with the mean of the period 1870-1910. The former would seem to be a 

 better basis for comparison than the latter because there was considerable variation 

 in cultural practices during the period 1870 - 1910. It was within the latter part 

 of that period that continuous culture of tobacco and a more intensive use of 

 fertilizers became common, both practices tending to increase yields. 



Chapman (7) concluded from his study of meteorological data for the period 

 1901-1917 that "excessive seasonal rainfall is invariably followed by a reduction 

 in yield independent of temperature," but that subnormal rainfall may or may not 

 reduce yields, depending on accompanying temperatures and how far below nor- 

 mal the rainfall is. Data accumulated since 1917 appear in general to support 

 these contentions, but there are some exceptions. The close relationship between 

 heavy rainfall and low yields appears pretty well established by the data of the 

 past few years. This is especially interesting and probably significant in view of 

 the belief that the root rots of tobacco have become more prevalent in this section 

 in recent years and that the root-rots are largely the cause of declining yields. 

 This phase of the subject will be discussed later. 



Cropping Systems Studied 



The principal objective of the experiment was to determine the effect of certain 

 cropping systems on the yield and quality of tobacco. The crops selected were 

 among those grown more or less in the Connecticut Valley, and the combinations 

 were either used by farmers or advocated by certain agricultural leaders. 



The cropping systems studied may be classified into three general groups: 



'Havana seed tobacco was introduced into the Connecticut Valley about 1870, and this type 

 gradually and almost entirely displaced Broadleaf in Massachusetts. Shade tobacco began to assume 

 importance in Massachusetts in 1915 when 586 acres were grown. While the shift of growers from 

 one type to another, or the temporary increase of acreage of a given type, may have influenced the 

 average yields, the trends indicated in Table 1 appear to have been due largely to other factors. 



