30 



that rational seed selection is thought to be a most important prob- 

 lem for tobacco culture in Porto Rico. Only good seed should be 

 used. The best seed comes from the best plants, and these alone 

 should be chosen for seed production. 



The heaviest tobacco seed is usually produced by the largest cap- 

 sules. In a vitality test made by the United States Department of 

 Agriculture with heavy, medium, and light weight seeds from the 

 same tobacco plant, it was found that 95 to 100 per cent of the heavy 

 ones germinated, 50 to 85 per cent of the medium ones, and 0 to 12 

 per cent of the light ones. It is important, therefore, to use only the 

 heavy seeds. 



As a general rule it is a sign of degeneration when the plants in the 

 seed bed show a scanty growth and when diseases appear in the field, 

 resulting in a diminished yield. This degeneracy is also evidenced 

 in the curing house b} 7 variegated colors and spotted leaves and by 

 the rigidity and contraction of the leaves. If these symptoms are 

 present a renewal of the seed, or at least a rigorous selection of the 

 propagating plants, is necessary. Whenever a superior product is 

 obtained from the seed planted everything possible should be done 

 to prevent hybridization and to secure the perpetuation of the vari- 

 ety. It is thus advised, whenever a large number of proper plants 

 for seed purposes are at hand, to get a large quantity of that seed 

 from the crop and to use this seed for following years as long as it 

 keeps its vitality, usually about ten years. 



The Connecticut State Agricultural Experiment Station found that 

 the leaf of both broad leaf and Connecticut Habana of favorite 

 strains generally show a tendency to become larger from successive 

 crops of seed; in fact, the leaves are frequently so large that they 

 cut to waste. The same has also been noticed in regard to Porto 

 Rico wrappers, and it is a common fault that after all the wrap- 

 pers possible have been cut from a leaf which cost the cigarmaker 

 25 to 75 cents per pound, and even $1 to $3 per pound for shade- 

 grown, there is left too much tobacco which can be used only for 

 scrap, valued at 3 to 6 cents per pound. This, then, is another 

 instance in favor of using from good seed as long as it will retain its 

 vitality, rather than use seed from each succeeding crop. 



It must be borne in mind that selection should be made for differ- 

 ent purposes, and that a good wrapper leaf has very different charac- 

 teristics than one required for a filler. 



In case of wrapper, a light-colored, thin, elastic, and somewhat 

 round leaf, with small veins, is desirable. The most desirable size is 

 18 to 20 inches long in the field, which gives leaves 16 to 18 inches 

 long after the shrinkage due to curing, fermenting, and seasoning. 

 The plants should also be early maturing, vigorous, free from dis- 

 ease, and possess a uniform type of leaf from top to bottom, the 

 leaves being close together on the stem. 



