COOLEY HYBRID VARIETY. 



65 



The Havana Seed variety has long, rather pointed leaves with 

 large veins. Only the tips of these leaves are suited to cigar-wrapper 

 manufacture, the middle and basal portions lacking the necessary 

 quality for good wrappers. This portion of the leaves is used for 

 binders and in some cases for blending with cigar-filler tobacco. Inas- 

 much as the value of the tobacco depends on its capacity for pro- 

 ducing cigar wrappers, it is highly desirable and important that as 

 much of the leaf be utilized for wrapper purposes as possible. By 

 crossing this acclimated variety with the standard Sumatra variety 

 a hybrid was secured which produces short, broad, well-rounded 

 leaves with fine veins. In other 

 words, the hybrid combines the 

 hardy and acclimated charac- 

 ters of the Havana Seed with 

 some of the important charac- 

 ters of the Sumatra variety. 

 From the variations in the 

 plants of this hybrid it has been 

 found possible to produce about 

 the type of plant that is best 

 suited to cigar-wrapper manu- 

 facture which can be grown 

 under the soil and climatic con- 

 ditions of the Connecticut Yal- 

 ley. 



The general characters of the 

 Cooley Hybrid distinguishing- 

 it from the mother Havana Seed 

 variety are increased number of 

 leaves; shorter, broader leaves 

 with very small, fine veins; re- 

 duced seed production, and 

 more even texture of leaf from 

 tip to base. The average num- 

 ber of leaves is 16; length, 27 

 inches; breadth, 17^ inches; shape, very round; number of suckers, 

 2; size of suckers, small; height of plant, 29 inches; circumference 

 of stem, 2| inches ; length of internode, 2 inches ; time of maturity, 

 ninety- five days. 



It is necessary that the seed of this hybrid be saved under bag 

 to avoid the possibility of cross-pollination. If the seed is crost 

 with other plants, particularly with plants belonging to other 

 varieties grown in a region, it is probable that there will be con- 

 siderable breaking up in type and consequent deterioration of the 

 15507— Xo. 96—07 m 5 



Fig. 12. — Typical leaf of the Cooley Hybrid tobacco. 

 Connecticut Havana Seed, female parent; Suma- 

 tra, male parent. 



