3 



considerably as the trade becomes acquainted with the tobacco, and 

 channels for its distribution become established. 



The value of this tobacco, as far as the Bureau has informed itself to 

 the present time, varies considerably, the prices for the finished product 

 ranging from 25 to 40 cents a pound, according to the grade and qual- 

 ity of the leaf, but the grower can not expect to obtain at the outset 

 more than 15 or 20 cents for the unfermented leaf. From computations 

 based on the past work of the Bureau, it is estimated that the cost of 

 growing the tobacco, under normal conditions, should not exceed 10 

 cents a pound. The average yield is estimated to be 600 pounds or 

 more per acre. 



During the past two years the Bureau has also conducted experiments 

 in Perry County, Ala., and in Darlington and Orangeburg counties, S. C, 

 upon the same types of soil as in Texas. 



The tobacco grown in Alabama, while not considered quite so good 

 as the Texas product, meets with much approval from the trade, but 

 the leaf so far produced in South Carolina is pronounced less satisfac- 

 tory, and while the Bureau will continue its experiments in that State 

 on a small scale, in the hope that methods for the improvement of the 

 leaf produced there may be discovered, it does not for the present 

 recommend that the farmers enter into its production. 



In Texas and Alabama, on the other hand, the indications are so 

 favorable that the Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of 

 Soils, will encourage the farmers to undertake the growing of the 

 crop to a limited extent. As a preliminary step an eflort is to be made 

 to have a limited number of farmers undertake the production of a rela- 

 tively small area of tobacco, with the advice and supervision of the 

 Bureau experts. It is not thought advisable to grow more than 150 

 acres in Texas, to be distributed on the Orangeburg soils in Nacog- 

 doches, Anderson, and Houston counties; nor more than 50 acres in 

 Alabama, to be limited to the same soils in Perry County, Ala.; and 

 the area planted by one person should not exceed 10 acres or be less 

 than 2 acres. 



As indicated above, it is the plan of the Bureau to give, during the 

 present season, expert advice and general supervision to those growers 

 in Nacogdoches, Anderson, and Houston counties, Tex., and in Perry 

 County, Ala., who apply for such advice and supervision. Those who 

 desire to cooperate with the Bureau must be men of means adequate to 

 take care of a crop of filler tobacco, for the Bureau will assume no 

 financial responsibility and will render no financial assistance. They 

 must have soils of the Orangeburg types within their farms and barns 

 suitable for curing the tobacco. In the event that such barn facilities 

 are wanting, they should erect buildings for the purpose. A barn at 

 least 60 feet long and 30 feet wide would be required to accommodate 

 the tobacco from a 5-acre field. Such a building would cost about $400. 



