Oct. 1, 1903.] THE TROPICAL AGEICULTURlST. 
227 
the greatest care and attention, from the pre- 
paration of the seed bed to the final fermen- 
prices ever obtained for the finest of (he old 
standard crop. And this has been the expe- 
Fig. 4.— Framework used in Connecticut, 
cation and baling of the ripened leaves. 
While anyone unfamiliar with tobacco culture 
can probably produce a crop, it is to be 
doubted if it will be of such a character tis to 
command a good price. Judgment, only to 
be gained through experience in growing the 
crop, is necessary at so many stages of the 
growth of the plant that it is doubtful if it is 
profitable for the planter to undertake its 
cultivation unless he can engage the services 
of some one who has had such experience, 
And yet it is possible for the careful planter, 
who persistently studies the requirements of 
the crop, in a very few years to produce to- 
bacco of a (luality superior to that grown in 
regions where its cultivation has been prac- 
ticed for scores of years. When the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture attempted growing 
Sumatra tobacco under shade in the Connec- 
ticut Valley, the idea was greatly ridiculed 
by conservative New England planters, who 
scoffed at the idea of trying to grow a new 
kind of tobacco. They maintained they had 
grown tobacco for years, and knew the limi- 
tations of the soils and climate and the kind 
of tobacco best suited to the conditions. It 
took only one year to convince them that a 
new type of tobacco could be grown and sold 
£ui' prices many times n advance of the best 
rience of tobacco cultivation the Avorld over. 
Experiments have been tried in tobacco grow- 
ing in new areas and in a few years, in many 
ca!ies, have entirely revolutionized the^agricul- 
ture in certain districts. New areas are cons- 
tantly being opened up, with results that are 
very gratifying, even to the most sanguine 
experimenters. 
In the districts where tobacco cultivation 
has been carried on for years, no one should 
be contented with the results obtained, but 
should by constant experimentation with new 
seed and improved cultivation endeavour to 
improve the quality of the crop. Here in the 
Philippines it is commonly stated that the 
tobacco grown to-day is inferior to that for- 
merly grown. This is greatly to be regretted, 
and it should be the especial effort of every 
planter to produce tobacco not equal to that 
grown a few years ago, but far superior to 
the finest crops that were ever harvested. 
The tobacco markets of the world willingly 
pay, and pay well too, for tobacco of a supe- 
rior quality, whether it is to be used for 
cigars, cigarettes or manufacturing purposes. 
The trade does not pay well for common to- 
bacco for anyone can grow coarse, common 
tobacco of low grade. The quality of the to- 
bacco must be superior tu that formerly 
