14 



started a new growth. This generally increases the yield, but almost totally destroys 

 the quality of the tobacco. At present the cultivation stops as soon as the plants 

 are topped. 



When the Sumatra seed was first introduced into Florida, the land selected, the 

 amount of fertilizers used, and the methods of cultivation and harvesting employed 

 were the same as those practiced in growing the Cuban variety. With this treat- 

 ment Sumatra proved to be an absolute failure; many abandoned the seed, while 

 others continued to experiment. It was soon found that the soil had to be exceed- 

 ingly rich, the growth quick; that low topping was ruinous, and that each stalk 

 should have from twenty-four to thirty leaves, according to the strength of the soil. 

 When the land was exceedingly rich it was found best not to top at all, but to allow 

 the plants to go to bloom. Then the leaves would be of desirable size, thin and 

 smooth; whereas if topped the leaves would curl and thicken. This tobacco is also 

 crowded into the drill, the plants being given only from 12 to 14 inches. The 

 growth is rapid; the top leaves soon serve as a shade for the middle and lower 

 leaves, and the results have been most gratifying. New land proved to be more 

 desirable for this variety of tobacco, and it was noticed that when trees were left 

 standing in the field the plants shaded by trees were far superior to the plants not 

 so shaded. From this the idea of building artificial shade had its birth. It was also 

 found that no good results could be obtained if the plants were cut, but the leaves 

 should be primed off just as they ripen, and at a very early stage of ripeness. 



Further experiments along these lines are very much to be desired, 

 but the purpose of the investigation should be determined beforehand 

 and the work should tend toward certain ends. For example, to use 

 an illustration already referred to, the Connecticut growers are inter- 

 ested in the production of a fine wrapper leaf of moderate size, small 

 veins, elastic, and with very little flavor. The size of the leaf, thick- 

 ness, elasticity, and size of the veins may all be more or less modified 

 by giving space or by crowding in the row. The undesirable qualities 

 of the Connecticut wrapper should be recognized, as has been done in 

 the case of the Florida tobacco, and such qualities eliminated by 

 attention to just such conditions as the distance apart in the row and the 

 height at which the plants should be topped. On the heavier soils of 

 Pennsylvania, on the other hand, efforts should be directed to the pro- 

 duction of a highly flavored leaf of moderate size. These are qualities 

 which can also be sensibly affected by the distance of planting and by 

 the time and manner of topping. In the same way in the development 

 of the tobacco industry in the export and manufacturing districts, the 

 undesirable qualities in the leaf may often be eliminated by a change 

 in the method of planting, cultivation, or topping of the tobacco. 



FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS. 



Fertilizer tests with tobacco were conducted at the Kentucky Experi- 

 ment Station during several seasons. The results of experiments made 

 in 1889 * indicated that muriate of potash and sulphate of potash gave 

 equally good results as fertilizers for tobacco and that nitrate of soda 



1 Kentucky Station Bui. No. 28. 



