164 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



certain grave defects in our domestic leaf as it is at present ; 

 and, whatever the future has in store, to remedy present de- 

 fects is sound business policy. 



Let us then briefly consider what we can do towards im- 

 proving our leaf to fit it better for present competition with 

 otlier tobaccos. Let us set these defects, this indictment of 

 New England tobacco, once more before us in order : — 



1. Being sorted before sweating, tlie colors of the finished 

 leaf are not even and uniform. 



2. The sweat is not even all through the case ; the leaf 

 next the case is less perfectly sweated than the middle. 



3. The sorted leaves, while of one length, differ both in 

 width and shape. 



4. The leaf is too large, and in consequence" unprofit- 

 able " to the cigar maker. It cuts so as to leave much waste, 

 — binder, cuttings and trash. 



5. The strains of tobacco grown are numerous; the plan- 

 tations are small ; soil, fertilizers and handling vary a good 

 deal, — all of which makes the small packings dift'er too much 

 in quality. 



What can we do about it all ? 



Two of these items concern the packer alone, being defects 

 in the method of sweating the leaf. 



Some packers have tried the bulk method of fermentation 

 with indifferent success, and some have concluded that it is 

 ina})plicable to our New England leaf. It is more expensive 

 than casing, and the bulk-sweat goods, when cased to age, 

 as I believe is necessary for any tobacco, look, when sam- 

 pled, like recased goods, and excite the suspicion of the 

 buyer and call for explanation . 



It is claimed also, I l)elieve, that bulk-sweat domestic leaf 

 sometimes retains the- strong, plug tobacco smell of the bulk, 

 even after aofins:. I have not heard it claimed, however, 

 that this smell persists in the cigars, or that the actual value 

 of the leaf for wrapping is any less when bulk-sweated. 



If it is not, then the rest is prejudice which might be over- 

 come in time, in view of three apparent advantages of the 

 method, namely: The leaf can be sorted after it is finished, 

 when the colors and quality are fixed. This, to be sure, is 



