8 



If the soil is light and well drained, the leaves will be light in color 

 and elastic. 



Climate, also, has an iniiuence on tobacco, in that it determine? 

 in part the flavor, aroma, and burning qualities of the leaf. Tobacco 

 grown near the sea is of no value as a cigar tobacco. This is because 

 the sea air contains a certain amount of chlorin. Whenever chlorin 

 enters into the composition of the tobacco leaf it injures its burning 

 qualities, one of the most important qualities of cigar tobacco. 



The soils in Cagayan province are almost identical with those in 

 Isabela province, but the tobacco grown in Isabela is acknowledged to 

 be far superior to that produced in Cagayan. This may be explained 

 by the fact that the larger part of Cagayan province is exposed to 

 the sea breezes. Isabela province being farther in the interior and sur- 

 rounded by high mountains which exclude the sea air, produces a better 

 quality of tobacco. The demand for Isabela tobacco is greater than that 

 for the tobacco gi-own in Cagayan province. 



Along the Cagayan Valley there are two, and in some places three, 

 distinct flood plains. The lower flood }Dlains are usually inundated several 

 times during each season, and the flood waters carry much flne material 

 gathered from the slopes lying within the basin of the river. When 

 the river overflows its immediate banks, the current is checked by slirubs, 

 grasses and other obstructions. By reason of this loss of velocity much 

 of the material carried down by the water is deposited over the land 

 in the form of sand and fine alluvial silt which is exceptionally ricli 

 in plant food. Hence soils of these flood plains vary considerably in 

 composition and fertility from a light sandy loam, deposited by the 

 swift current, to a dark alluvial clay deposited by slower currents. 

 and are, therefore, adapted to the production of different types of tobacco. 



Certain districts of Cebu and Panay have a very fertile soil which 

 is adapted to the growth of tobacco; but, owing to the iniiuence of the 

 sea air only a small quantity of leaf having good burning qualities can 

 be produced in these provinces. 



PREPARATION OF SEKD BKI>8. 



The first step in connection with the growing of a tobacco crop is 

 the selection of a suitable location and the preparation of the seed bed. 



The making of the seed bed is of great importance and neither time 

 nor labor should be spared, as the failure to have an abundant supply 

 of good strong plants may cause a partial or total failure of the crop. 



The seed bed should not be located where there is danger of its being 

 destroyed by floods or heavy rains. Many Filipino planters persistently 

 place their seed beds along the banks of rivers where they are often de- 

 stroyed by the high waters whicli are of frequent oocurronee during the 



