26 TOBACCO BKEEDING. 



These conclusions of Darwin were based upon greenhouse and gar- 

 den tests, where, of course, it was not possible to study and compare 

 the characters of quality or the value of the tobacco from the inbred 

 and cross-fertilized seed. The observations of the writers upon to- 

 bacco grown in the field under normal conditions in the different 

 tobacco-growing sections bear out the conclusions of Darwin on this 

 subject, and show, further, that the inbred seed produces more profit- 

 able crops of tobacco than the seed resulting from open or cross fer- 

 tilization within the variety. 



THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SHAPE OF LEAVES. 



The shape of the leaves is a very important factor in determining 

 the value of all classes of tobacco, and is of first and particular im- 

 portance in cigar-wrapper varieties. Many varieties which possess 

 some of the most desirable characteristics of high-grade wrappers are 

 totally valueless for this purpose on account of the narrowness of the 

 leaves. From such leaves it is impossible to cut cigar wrappers eco- 

 nomically. The manufacturer of cigars demands a leaf which is wide 

 and well rounded at both ends. This shape admits of the best op- 

 portunity for cutting into wrappers of the desired shape and size 

 with the least possible waste, while the long, pointed leaf will yield 

 very few wrappers, and a very considerable proportion of it must be 

 consigned to the waste pile. 



The long, pointed leaf is not only undesirable because of its shape, 

 but the texture toward the basal end is poorly adapted for cigar 

 wrappers and the grain is usually unevenly distributed. In such 

 cases a large part of each leaf can be utilized only for binders or 

 low-grade fillers. A striking example of leaves of this character 

 may be found in the case of many strains of Connecticut and of 

 Pennsylvania Broadleaf varieties. When working these varieties 

 the manufacturer expects to cut wrappers from the middle portion 

 and tips of the leaves only, while the remainder of the leaves, often 

 half or more, must be used as binders or for filler purposes. A 

 wider leaf and one which is more nearly round would yield many 

 more wrappers to the pound and would be proportionately more 

 valuable. 



In addition to being wide, with well-rounded tips, the best wrap- 

 per leaves must have small, fine veins which are widely separated 

 and which form an obtuse or right angle with the midrib. The 

 veins in narrow leaves extend along down the leaf toward the tip, 

 are coarse, and present a very unattractive appearance when wrapt 

 on cigars, while in the case of wide leaves the veins usually extend 

 out toward the edge of the leaf and are almost perpendicular to the 

 midrib, smaller in size, and wider apart. In some of the strains of 



96 



