2 
growing season with the soils and climatic conditions of Sumatra, 
Cuba, and Florida seem to indicate that a type of leaf could be pro- 
duced which would at least be more acceptable to the trade and bring 
a higher price per pound than the present product. 
After Congress authorized the investigations the first thing to do 
was to make a careful survey of the soils of the Connecticut Valley, 
examine carefully the crops grown on each type of soil, note the influ- 
ence of soil on the quality of the tobacco, and see what could be 
developed from the present leaf by the most improved methods of 
fermentation used in Sumatra, Cuba, and Florida. After that, if the 
product was not satisfactory, to try a radical change in the methods 
of planting, cultivation, curing, and fermentation in order to enemys 
altogether the daencte of the leaf. 
Accordingly an accurate soil survey was made in the summer of 
1899 of that portion of the Connecticut Valley between South Glas- 
tonbury, Conn., and South Hadley, Mass.—a distance of about 40 
miles, with an average width of 10 miles, and embracing in all approxi- 
mately 256,000 acres. Ten distinct types of soil were recognized and 
mapped, ona scale of 1 inch to the mile, and many notes were taken 
as to the influence of the different soils on the quality and style of the 
tobacco produced. This soil map, with the accompanying report, is 
now, by special act of Congress, being published. 
The present circular deals with the efforts that have been made and 
the results attained in fermenting the Connecticut tobacco by the bulk 
method used in Sumatra, Cuba, and Florida. 
THE ORDINARY METHOD OF FERMENTING IN CASES. 
The method of fermenting the Connecticut tobacco in cases was 
described in Farmers’ Bulletin No. 60 and in Report No. 60 of this 
Department, as follows: 
The fermentation, or sweating, is usually managed by the packers, and not by the 
farmers. The sweating is done in wooden cases, strongly put together, holding on 
an average about 300 pounds of tobacco. These cases are not tight, but have a space 
of one-half inch between the boards. A good crop in sweating loses from 10 to 
14 per cent of its weight, and there must be sufficient ventilation to allow this moist- 
ure to escape. On the bottom of the box is put a layer of top leaves, or seconds, as 
the outside does not sweat readily. The leaves are well shaken out and packed with 
the butts outside and tightly pressed down to exclude the air as much as possible. 
The tobacco is piled into the box and pressed down with a moderate pressure, and 
then the top of the box is nailed on. The cases are then marked and piled up in the 
warehouse in rows 3 or 4 boxes high, for the sweat. Once at least during the season 
good packers turn the boxes upside down and put the top boxes at the bottom. 
The tobacco is cased in the fall or winter, and so remains through the next sum- 
mer. The temperature of the warehouse is quite even during the winter. After the 
summer’s sweat the operation is finished and the cases are opened and sampled. 
This is one year after the harvest. After sampling the tobacco is returned to the 
case without breaking the bulk, and remains in the case until it is wanted by the 
cigar manufacturer. 
