642 



TOBACCO 



TOBACCO 



of the opinion that variation secured by means 

 other _ than crossing is much more likely to be 

 effective and valuable from a practical standpoint. 



The principal varieties now grown in the United 

 States are described in the following paragraphs, 

 together with directions for their culture. The 

 culture of the different varieties varies widely, 

 according to the variety and the purpose for which 

 it is grown. For this reason, a somewhat detailed 

 description of the leading and most important 

 kinds is essential. 



In a general way the varieties may be divided 

 into the following classes : (1) Cigar wrapper and 

 binder ; (2) cigar filler ; (3) chewing or plug ; (4) 

 smoking; (5) export tobaccos. In the following 

 descriptive notes the last group is not discussed 

 separately. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF VARIETIES 



Cigar-wrapper tobaccos. 



Sumatra (Pig. 867, 868). — This variety is used 

 wholly for the production of high-grade cigar 

 wrapyiers and is not considered of value for fillers. 

 In the United States it is grown under slat or cloth 

 shade. It is adapted to sandy 

 loam soil. In western Florida, 

 where it is grown extensively, 

 the surface soil is underlaid 

 by a red clay subsoil. The 

 leaves are very thin, of fine 

 texture, with small veins, and 

 vary from twelve to twenty 

 inches in length and eight to 

 sixteen inches in width. The 

 plants bear sixteen to thirty 

 erect leaves, with compara- 

 tively long internodes. Under 

 favorable conditions the 

 plants reach a height of seven 

 to nine feet. This variety pro- 

 duces the best grade of do- 

 mestic cigar wrappers. It is 

 grown in western Florida, 

 southern Georgia, and in the 

 Connecticut valley. 



Connecticut Havana (Fig. 

 869). — This variety is used 

 for cigar wrappers and bind- 

 ers, and the top leaves are 

 frequently used for fillers in 

 the inferior grades of domes- 

 tic cigars. It is adapted to 

 light alluvial, sandy soils, con- 

 taining a small percentage of 

 clay ; as a rule, the less the 

 clay, the higher the yield of 

 fine cigar wrappers. Where 

 this variety is grown for 

 fillers a rich clay yielding a heavy crop of leaf is 

 probably the most desirable type of soil. The 

 leaves are thin, of fine texture and delicate flavor, 

 set very close together on the stalk, with very 

 short internodes, and have a very erect habit of 

 growth. The plants bear ten to fifteen leaves. 



varying in average length from twenty to thirty- 

 two inches and in average width from ten to fifteen 

 inches. This variety was secured by continued seed 

 selection from crops grown from seed imported 

 from Cuba, and is probably a cross between these 



Fig. 867. Sumatra to- 

 bacco (Uncle Sam 

 variety) grown un- 

 der shelter. Connec- 

 ticut valley. 



Fig. 868. Uniformity of Belgian type of Sumatra tobacco 

 (from seed saved under bag) , grown in Connecticut valley 

 under cover. 



Cuban plants and the native Broadleaf of the Con- 

 necticut valley. It is grown in the Connecticut 

 valley, Wisconsin (mainly for binders), Ohio, Penn- 

 sylvania and New York. It is one of the best gen- 

 eral-purpose tobaccos. 



Connecticut Broadleaf. — This variety was for- 

 merly known and generally recognized in the trade 

 as Seedleaf. It is used for cigar wrappers and 

 binders, and the lower grades, to a limited extent, 

 for blending with other tobaccos for cigar fillers. 

 It is adapted to sandy loam soil. It makes an 

 exceedingly rapid growth. The leaves are very 

 broad, sweet tasting, thin, elastic, silky, and with 

 small veins. They are set very close together on 

 the plant, and have a very characteristic drooping 

 habit of growth. They vary in length from twenty- 

 four to thirty-six inches and in width from twelve 

 to twenty-two inches. The size of leaf varies 

 greatly in different sections and with the different 

 strains. The seed of this variety has \ieen sent to 

 many parts of the United States and a large num- 

 ber of important varieties have been secured, as in 

 the case of the Ohio Seedleaf, which can be traced 

 directly to Connecticut Broadleaf seed. It is grown 

 in the Connecticut valley. New Hampshire, Ver- 

 mont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, 

 Minnesota, and, to a small extent, in Indiana and 

 Illinois. 



Cigar-filler tobaccos. 



Cuban. — The Cuban variety is used for high- 

 grade cigar wrappers which are grown under shade, 

 but is generally grown outside for fillers. It is 

 adapted to alluvial or sandy soil resting on red clay 

 subsoil. This variety has a small leaf of fine tex- 

 ture. The leaves are short and round, with small 

 veins, medium to heavy body, varying from ten to 

 eighteen inches in length, and six to fourteen 

 inches in width. When this variety is taken north 

 the influence of the climate and soil conditions 



