158 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 193. 



wrapper type so far as the trade is concerned, since 60 per cent of the crop 

 is used for wrappers. For a similar reason Wisconsin is known as the 

 binder-producing district. Nevertheless, there is considerable overlapping, 

 and Wisconsin, New York and Pennsylvania all produce a certain amount 

 of wrappers, varying somewhat from year to year. 



Several factors determine whether the leaf will be used as wrapper, filler 

 or binder, such as the length of leaf, aroma, toughness and the condition 

 of leaf, i.e., whether damaged by hail or wind. Under normal conditions 

 a light sandy loam produces a light wrapper leaf. The coarser leaf is used 

 for birders, and the broken, frost-bitten, short and worm-eaten leaves for 

 fillers. 



Tobacco Soils. 



Tobacco may be grown on a great variety of soils, but the climatic con- 

 ditions, texture and physical properties of the soil determine the distribu- 

 tion of the different classes and types. Climatic conditions control, of 

 course, the general distribution, but the influence of the texture of the soil 

 in modifying the effect of these climatic conditions determines the local 

 distribution of types. Tobacco readily adapts itself to a wide range of 

 climatic conditions, as is seen in the distribution of the plant in our country 

 from Florida to Wisconsin. While it adapts itself very readily to the differ- 

 ent conditions of temperature and rainfall which normally prevail during 

 the growing season throughout this wide range of territory, seasons which 

 are either too wet or too dry very often reduce the yield per acre and impair 

 the quality of the product. The plant is, furthermore, peculiarly sensitive 

 to the conditions of moisture and heat. 



The best soils for the different types of tobacco in the United States 

 range from the light, sandy lands for the fine bright wrappers of the Con- 

 necticut valley, to the heavy clay soils of the limestone areas of the South 

 for the heavier grades of tobacco. 



The influence of soil upon the quality of the leaf grown in the Con- 

 necticut valley is very marked. Where the soil is a heavy clay loam or 

 is normally very moist, a thick leaf is produced which has considerable oil 

 and gum in its tissues. It cures a dark color, and will bear sweating well, 

 but it is not suitable for cigar wrappers. Upon light, sandy soils, the 

 quality is very fine, the texture of the leaf is thin and the color is light. It 

 is this type of tobacco which is at present in demand for cigar wrappers. 



Varieties of Tobacco. 



The Connecticut valley produces three varieties of wrapper leaf, — the 

 broadleaf, the Havana seed leaf and shade-grown. This area is classed 

 as a wrapper and binder section. The tobacco is produced mainly in the 

 open, without shade, under intensive methods of cultivation, fertilization 

 and handling. The highest quality leaf makes acceptable wrappers for 

 cigars, and the remainder is principally used for binder purposes. Since 

 1901 a considerable acreage of shade-grown tobacco has been cultivated 

 in the Connecticut valley each year. 



