DIVISION OF SOILS. 129 



proved perfectly successful, the quality of the leaf being greatly 

 improved, and no further development of the black rot appearing 

 while the tobacco was in bulk or afterwards. The results of this experi- 

 ment seemed to be of such marked value that several of the leading 

 packers of Lancaster opened their warehouses to us and installed at 

 considerable expense proper facilities for handling the crop. As a 

 result of this, during the winter and spring of 1901, over 4,000,000 

 pounds of tobacco was fermented in bulk under our direction, with a 

 total loss of not more than 35 pounds from black rot and all other dam- 

 age. It is a difficult matter to give any close estimate of the usual dam- 

 age from black rot, as the dealers hesitate very often before admitting 

 that there is any at all, but a conservative estimate would show a loss 

 annually of at least $500,000 per year in the Pennsylvania crop, and 

 in some years it must considerably exceed this figure. The success 

 of this method of fermenting the tobacco, both in improving the qual- 

 ity of the leaf, which is generally conceded, and in controlling the 

 dreaded black rot, about which there is no longer any doubt, is 

 assured, and it is confidently predicted by the packers themselves 

 that the new method will entirely supersede the old, especially where 

 large crops are to be handled. If this is done it will mean a saving 

 to the State of Pennsylvania alone of an amount far exceeding the 

 present cost of the whole Division of Soil. 



In the early spring arrangements were made with four prominent 

 growers on different soil types in Lancaster County to introduce some 

 of the finer Cuban seed, and these experiments are now progressing 

 under our control, the latest reports of the work being very promis- 

 ing. It will, of course, be several months before the actual results 

 can be determined, but if they seem to warrant it, all necessary atten- 

 tion will be given to the important experiments at this point, in the 

 endeavor to raise the quality of the Pennsylvania leaf. 



In my last report I announced the complete success of the small 

 experiment of growing a fine type of Sumatra leaf on certain soils in 

 the Connecticut Valley. This experiment had been made on a small 

 tract of one-third of an acre, and it was thought best to extend it to a 

 larger area, in order to see if, under the conditions prevailing and 

 with the large cost of production, the tobacco could be profitably 

 raised in the valley. Accordingly, in the spring of 1901, arrange, 

 ments were made with a number of farmers in Connecticut and Massa- 

 chusetts, in areas as widely separated as possible and on typical soils 

 which it was thought could be used for the Sumatra tobacco, and 

 nearly 43 acres were placed under our immediate control. It was 

 agreed that the farmers should furnish all needful material and labor, 

 and that the Department should assume direction of affairs in the 

 practical management of the crop. The understanding is that all the 

 necessary information regarding the actual cost of the work shall be 

 at the disposal of the Department to publish, and that the Department 

 itself shall have the right to sell the crop for the farmers, so as to insure 

 an absolutely impartial judgment from the leaf dealers as to the qual- 

 ity and value of the product. It will,* of course, be some time before 

 the actual results of this large experiment will be available for publi- 

 cation. I have estimated roughly, however, that about $20,000 has 

 been invested on the part of the farmers, with no expense whatever to 

 the Department except that of supervision. 



The experiment has attracted a most remarkable interest, and 

 prominent growers and packers have visited Tariffville, the Depart- 



AGR 1901 9 



