Slate Seed Co., Seedsmen Since 1866, South Boston, Virginia 
The New 
Uellow Special Tobacco 

YELLOW SPECIAL 
BRINGS RECORD PRICES 
(Reprint from the Danville Com- 
mercial Appeal of Sept. 21, 1942) 
Of the sixteen most promising va- 
rieties and selections which have been 
included in the experiment station 
tests at Chatham every year for the 
past eight years, the Yellow Special 
has led all others in both average 
yield and money returns per acre. Its 
eight year average yield and value 
were 1093 Ibs. and $281.65 per acre as 
compared with 1035 lbs. and $263.82 
per acre received from the nearest 
competitive, variety, Yellow Mam- 
moth, averaged over the same eight 
year period. 
During the past season, a larger 
scale test was made comparing the 
two leading varieties grown on the 
Chatham station. In the source of 
nitrogen experiment 27 different ferti- 
lizer formulas were tested side by 
side in 27 different plots of four rows 
each. In the first 27 plots Yellow 
Special was used and produced on the 
average of all 27 treatments, 1215 lbs. 
and $390.14 per acre, with a yield of 
1364 Ibs. and $452.00 for the best plot 
in the series. 
Many farmers throughout Pittsyl- 
vania and adjoining counties in Vir- 
ginia who have tried this variety, 
have reported for two or more years 
results equally as impressive as those 
obtained on the experiment station. 
Several farmers last year reported 
that their crop of Yellow Special 
brought them on the auction market 
$600.00 per acre, which was approxi- 
mately $100.00 per acre more than 
they realized from their next best va- 
riety planted on the same farms. 



3011—-YELLOW SPECIAL.—This variety has 
created quite a sensation among the growers of the 
“Old Belt” where it has been grown for the past two 
or three years. According to Mr. E. M. Matthews of 
the Chatham Experiment Station who introduced 
Yellow Special, the original strain was a cross be- 
tween Harrison Special and one of the smaller leaf 
sorts having fine texture. The original selection first 
reached the Chatham experiment station from the 
farm of J. C. Keesee of Pittsylvania County, Vir- 
ginia. From the very first year that this variety was 
included in the tests on the experiment station farm, 
it was recognized as a definitely high yielding sort 
with a very superior quality to Harrison Special. For 
eight years, Mr. Matthews bred and improved and 
tested Yellow Special before releasing it to the farm- 
ers. He claims that in this period of breeding, con- 
siderable improvement was made in the original 
strain. The most important characteristics of Yellow 
Special are: First, it makes a big yield. It has vig- 
orous habits of growth and stands up well under 
adverse conditions. It seems to resist both root-rot 
and leaf spot to a remarkable degree. Second, it is 
early maturing a week or two ahead of many of the 
standard sorts. This shorter growing period cuts 
down labor and risks of weather damage. Third, the 
leaf is large but of good texture and they are held up 
by good stems, thus cutting down sand damage. The 
cured leaf is bright and thin and seems to be just 
what cigarette manufacturers are wanting now. The 
plants grow tall and strong with the tips pointing up 
and the lower leaves held off the ground. It is well 
spaced on the stalk but will fill out even when topped 
very high on strong land. It has every characteristic 
of a high yielding, easy curing, bright lug. 
Oz. $1.25, 14 Ib. $3.75, lb. $12.00, postpaid. 


SHORTAGE OF TOBACCO SEED 
Our yield of tobacco seed this year was lower than we have ever known. The 
1943 crop was the smallest we have had in over fifty years. This means that many 
of the leading sorts will be sold out early. If possible, name a second choice when 
ordering so that if the first is sold out, we can save delay in writing you. 

