The transmitting power of the tobacco plant is very marked. From seed saved under bag, plants are produced resembling very closely and uniformly the character of the parent plants. For this reason it is possible to improve the varieties of tobacco by careful selection of seed plants of the type desired. If the crop does not vary enough as regards the individual plants to enable the grower or breeder to make the selection desired, this variation can be induced through a change of seed, hybridization or, to a slight extent, by the method of fertilization of the soil. In saving seed from the selected plants, the flower-heads should be enclosed by a strong but light paper bag to prevent cross-pollination. The bag should be applied just before the flowers open, and can remain until the seed-heads are cut off and hung up to dry.
Cross-fertilization is easily effected among the different varieties. By careful selection and propa gation of the desirable forms that result, and con tinued seed selection from these, new varieties are established. Indiscriminate crossing has been of very little use except in rare cases. The writer is of the opinion that variation secured by means other than crossing is much more likely to be effective and valuable from a practical standpoint.
The principal varieties now grown in the United States are described in the following paragraphs, together with directions for their culture. The culture of the different varieties varies widely, according to the variety and the purpose for which it is grown. For this reason, a somewhat detailed description of the leading and most important kinds is essential.
In a general way the varieties may be divided into the following classes : (1) Cigar wrapper and binder ; (2) cigar filler ; (3) chewing or plug ; (4) smoking ; (5) export tobaccos. In the following descriptive notes the last group is not discussed separately.
Cigar-wrapper tobaccos.
Sumatra (Fig. 867, 868).—This variety is used wholly for the production of high -grade cigar wrap.ers and is not considered of value for fillers.
In the United States it is grown under slat or cloth shade. It is adapted to sandy loam soil. In western Florida, where it is grown extensively, the surface soil is underlaid by a red clay subsoil. The leaves are very thin, of fine texture, with small veins, and vary from twelve to twenty inches in length and eight to sixteen inches in width. The plants bear sixteen to thirty erect leaves, with compara tively long internodes. Under
favorable conditions the plants reach a height of seven to nine feet. This variety pro duces the best grade of do mestic cigar wrappers. It is grown in western Florida, southern Georgia, and in the Connecticut valley.
Connecticut Havana (Fig. 869).—This variety is used for cigar wrappers and bind ers, and the top leaves are frequently used for fillers in the inferior grades of domes tic cigars. It is adapted to light alluvial, sandy soils, con taining a small percentage of clay ; as a rule, the less the clay, the higher the yield of fine cigar wrappers. Where this variety is grown for fillers a rich clay yielding a heavy crop of leaf is probably the most desirable type of soil. The leaves are thin, of fine texture and delicate flavor, set very close together on the stalk, with very short internodes, and have a very erect habit of growth. The plants bear ten to fifteen leaves, varying in average length from twenty to thirty two inches and in average width from ten to fifteen inches. This variety was secured by continued seed selection from crops grown from seed imported from Cuba, and is probably a cross between these Cuban plants and the native Broadleaf of the Con necticut valley. It is grown in the Connecticut valley, Wisconsin (mainly for binders), Ohio, Penn sylvania and New York. It is one of the best gen eral-purpose tobaccos.
Connecticut Broadlear—This variety was for merly known and generally recognized in the trade as Seedleaf. It is used for cigar wrappers and binders, and the lower grades, to a limited extent, for blending with other tobaccos for cigar fillers. It is adapted to sandy loam soil. It makes an exceedingly rapid growth. The leaves are very broad, sweet tasting, thin, elastic, silky, and with small veins. They are set very close together on the plant, and have a very characteristic drooping habit of growth. They vary in length from twenty four to thirty-six inches and in width from twelve to twenty-two inches. The size of leaf varies greatly in different sections and with the different strains. The seed of this variety has been sent to many parts of the United States and a large num ber of important varieties have been secured, as in the case of the Ohio Seedleaf, which can be traced directly to Connecticut Broadleaf seed. It is grown in the Connecticut valley, New Hampshire, Ver mont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and, to a small extent, in Indiana and Illinois.