_ ‘A; ’ I

‘ A   A   F“: _ A
TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIM 1W“ STATHHYS.

  

BULLETIN NO. 61 .

Chemical Secti0n—()c1"oBER, I901~FieZOZ Crops and Horticulture.
 WILLIS AN DAHUNTSVILLE _
AATJTOBAACGO soILs.  

(BY_ORDER OI‘ THE COUNCIL.)

POSTOFFIGE:
COLLEGE STATION, BRAZOS COUNTY, TEXAS.

 

k AUSTIN, TEXAS:
1;, w ’ von BOECKMANN, SCHUTZE s» 00., STATE conrrmomons.
1" 1902.

[l]

 
 
  
   
  

TEXASJAGRIGULTURAL EXPERIMENT STiATlllNSi/g

GOVERNING BOARD. A

(BOARD OF DIRECTORS A. s; M. COLLEGE.)

M. SANsoM, President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A1va.rado. l?

F. A. REICHARDT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . .Houston. 

P. H. ‘TOBIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Denis0n. 

A. P. SMYTEI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mart.\

J OHN W. KOKERNOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .San Antonio. 7

JEFFERSON JOHNSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Austin. 

DR. A. C. OLIVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D0ug1asvi11e. 

WM. MALQNE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hunter. 

SETATION COUNCIL.

R. H. WHITLOCK, President. 
J EFFERSON J OHNSON, J. H. GoNNELL, H. H. HARRINGTON, M. FRANCIS. in

    
   
  
  

STATION STAFF. T;
J. H. CONNELL, M. Sc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Direct0r._ 

H. H. HARRINGTON, M. Sc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Chemist. 

M. FRANCIS, D. V. M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Veterina.rian. 

R. H. PRICE, B. S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . .H0rticu1turist and Mycologist. 

B.  PITTUOK, B. S. A . . . . . . . . . . . ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Agricu1turist. ‘BY,

W. C. MARTIN, B. S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Assistant Chemist. 

E. A. WHITE, B. S . . . . . . . . . . .Assistant Horticulturist and Mycologist. 

J. W. CAEsoN, B. S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Farm Superintendent; '7

J. G. HARRISON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Bookkeeper. '5.
i SUB-EXPERIMENT STATION. p
Beeville, Bee county . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .S. A. MCHENRY, Superintendent. ‘I;

NOTE.—The main station is located on the grounds of the Agricultural 
and Mechanical College, in Brazos County. The postofiice address is 
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS. Reports, are sent free of cost to
farmers, horticulturists, and stockmen of the State upon application to 3'
the Director. l ~ ' 

L2]

 

-  A Preliminary



‘l’; the farmer.
f methods of farming, Within his control.

 

WILLIS AND HUNTSVILLE ‘TOBWCCO SOILS.

I

Report Upon the Study of Texas Tobacco
Soils and Texas Tobacco.

H. H. Harrington,
and
P. S. Tilson.

INTRODUCTION.

The subject of soil study is oneof constant and increasing interest to
The soil is the only one condition, under the ordinary
When, therefore, With some

l  special kind of farming it becomes necessary to have a particular type
a  of soil, the subject is of vastly increased interest. How far any particu-
 lar type of soil affects the quality and tyipe of tobacco which can be
 grown upon it has not been definitely determined. Still, the soil does
 exercise a most important influence. For example, the Perique Tobacco

District of Louisiana.
l any land that will produce corn and in all climates.

“Tobacco can be grown on
In fact, tobacco

Dr. Whitney says :

 will grow on some lands that will not raise corn. But fine cigar tobacco
jR will grow only in a few small localities of this earth, where there is a
 peculiar formation of soil necessary to its growth. To learn where these
 localities are, soils must be studied, and studied carefully. I have found
"{ that all the bright yellow tobacco of Virginia, the Carolinas, and other

 States of the South is grown on the poorest kind of soil.
fflook like they are not worth cultivating, but there is something in the
‘l soil that produces this bright tobacco that no other soil contains.

The lands
This

‘ is conclusive proof that knowing the ingredients of the soil is a very
j necessary attribute to successful tobacco growing. The finest cigar

-' 2
9'.
;‘

1.,’

i

“tobacco should be grown on a closer soil than that used for growth of
 the Wrapper. The filler is strong and hardy, and a close soil only makes

it more vigorous. But the Wrapper is tender and can not stand the

vicissitudes of climate a.nd unfavorable conditions of soil like the filler.”

Montgomery and Walker counties at least——perhaps others—have both

l these types of soil—that which will produce the finest of wrappers: a _
thin, light leaf with fine venation producing the finest wrapper grown .

in this country, and vieing with the best Cuban growth; or a leaf of
more body, and of course greater weight. So that not only do we find

_' the soil in the localities mentioned to be of the right type, but as a rule
the climate is favorable. The conditions prevailing during some seasons

L3l

4 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS.

 
 
   
   

are especially conducive to the production of fine wrappers; for example,f.
the rainy season of I898. ‘ 

With the same care and expense that is devoted to tobacco culture ini
other localities, Willis, Texas, could soon acquire a national reputation‘,
as a tobacco district. But it will require care and expense. The coarser
and heavier smoking and chewing tobaccos should never be grown 1n_
the Willis district. They will thrive and do Well there, to be sure; but '
they are so easily grown in many other localities that the soil of Willis _
should not be encumbered with this plebeian crop. A good wrapper leaf
requires the right soil, a suitable climate, skillful and careful labor-
this to get it ready for the barn. From this time on, to make of it a
salable product, requires expert labor, and no other kind should ever f
be allowed to supervise its treatment. It will then be in value beyond c,
the reach of the nomadic cigar-maker, a genus homo, from which Willis
has suffered rather severely. Her goods, while of the finest kind if prop- v
erly assorted and put up, have frequently brought her into disrepute 1
because handled by men who did not know how to classify or grade
tobacco to start with, and were not willing to pay the price for fine 1
goods when recognized. This explains how it has been that Willis cigars ’
are frequently of an uneven grade when made by the same firm. Grad- 
ing and classification was not properly done, and unconsciously a poor f"
box of cigars would follow or precede a box of fine grade. Then the 1
rambling cigar-maker, who expected to stay but a~few weeks or months, f
sometimes one with expert knowledge, would make a cheap cigar with a j
fine wrapper, a case of “quick sales and large profits.” But this kind 
of business, as might be expected, has gradually worn itself out. Incom- 
petent workmen and inferior goods, whether by design or ignorance, 1T
must in time result in its own failure. The result has been to dishearten ,
for a time some of the most enthusiastic growers in the Willis district; y
but the experience will ultimately prove beneficial to the locality and to i;
the industry. The opportunities there need to be more widely known, 
so that men of capital, with experience in their undertaking, would be '
willing to come and not only increase their own revenue, but to place 2
the district in its proper rank as a pre-eminent tobacco region, not only f
of our State, but of our country.  ‘

One menace to the development of the industry is the unstable condi- f
tion of our tariff regulations with reference to Cuba and Porto Rico: l
whether the present duties are to be maintained; or, if modified, to what vi
extent. Tobacco and sugar are very much in the same condition in this
respect; but in the case of the latter, it will be a struggle to maintain
an already established industry; while with the former, so far as Texas
is concerned at least, the consideration will hinge upon the question of
putting money into an enterprise to build it up, that may at any time .
be handicapped by unfriendly tariff regulations. l’

The successful growth of tobacco may be said to depend upon the fol-
lowing conditions:

Soil and fertilizers.

Climate, especially the humidity and rainfall.
Cultivation.

Cutting and classification.

Curing and sweating.

We might say, selling.

n"

ffivyiv-Ppazoi-l

   
  
   
  
 
   
 
   
   
   
  
  
  
 
    
  
   
  
   
   
  
  
 
   
    
    
  

WILLIs AND HUNTsVILLE TOBACCO SoILs. 5

 The classification may be commenced at the time of cutting, with a
irsubsequent assorting after curing. —

p It is not our purpose, however, to enter here into the details of the
{various steps necessary in successful tobacco culture, but to confine our-
~selves t0 a study of the soil, and, to some extent, the tobaccos grown on
“these soils, with such general remarks on the “other processes as may be
fconsidered necessary.

CLASSIFICATION OF SOILS.

‘;~ Perhaps the best division that can be made of soils, from the farmer’s
"standpoint, is: Sandysoils, clay soils, and loam soils. These_tern1s
convey their own meaning, and are well understood by practical men

ontuposition. It should be light, Without being so much so as to lose
jts moisture and become dry too rapidly. It is the amount of sand
 resent which contributes to the dryness of the soil. On the other hand,
Fit must not contain clay enough to retain an excess of water during a
ilrainy season. A judicious mixture of sand and clay produces what We
jcall a loam soil.

'3 Any of the above classes, ‘to be very fertile, must contain some decay~
‘ling vegetable matter. This we call humus, and has an important bear-

{A clay subsoil is always desirable, and, in fact, essential, if the land
is to be enduring. Yet this subsoil, even, must not be too compact. It
iinust- be able to hold the water and fertilizers from the top soil in check,
jand not permit them to escape by downward drainage, as a sand bed
‘would do. On the other hand, it must not be too refractory. The parti-

__icles or granules must not be so fine or small as to be a mass of compacted
' silt. If so, these fine particles are likely to clog the pores of the plant
oots in some instances when suificient moisture is present, and retard
;or prevent the full development of the plant. Olay which comes too
’ear the. surface is always objectionable. Again, a red clay is usually
referable to a white or yellow clay. While the amount of iron which it
 ontains may be small, it is in a more desirable form than it is in the
fwhite clay. The presence of the iron itself, which gives color to the clay,
gis frequently beneficial, especially in aqohysical way. The little iron
Lgranules distributed through the soil by constant oxidation and slow
Lmsolution keep the soil more or less open, and prevent compaction. Still,
fthe unoxidized material is rarely sufficient to prove injurious to the
iplant.

TYPES OF SOIL AT WILLIS.

i The tobacco fields around Willis and Huntsville consist of two dis-
jtinct types of soil: the sandy soils, and the sandy loams. The light gray
{sandy soil gives a thinner leaf, and is Well adapted to the growth of the
Havana wrapper; but the yield in pounds is, of course, not so large. The
heavier land will also give a good wrappemparticularly if the land is
.ell drained, and if the rains are distributed so as to wash out the gum
rom the leaf. This land will also give a larger yield per acre. In it,
the top soil extends for a greater depth, and it is, for any crop, more
ertile than the sandy soil.

generally. The texture of a soil is almost as important as its chemical.

jijng on both the chemical and physical properties and value of the soil. '

6 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT» STATIONS.

TIBTBER GROYVTH.

On the sandy land this is mainly pine. On the heavier loam la11d the
pine is interspersed heavily with oak; some gum, hickory and chinque-
The growth 0n the heavier land is taller and larger than that of
the lighter land. The following table of analyses will illustrate charac-

pin.
ter of soil :

SOILS FROM OARSON,S FARM.

 

No. 14 is a top soil, with a considerable amount of gravel in it, while
No. 16 is from the top of the hill,
near the tobacco barn, and is a light gray, sandy soil, with a considerable
It had been lightly fertilized the two previous
No. 18 is a virgin soil, taken

No. 13 is the subsoil under this soil.

amount of iron in it.
seasons. No. 15 is the subsoil of No. 16.
from a fiat west of the railroad.

t No. 14. No. 18. No. 16. N0. 15 No. 18. No. 17.

Silica and sand ........ .. 96.93 97.97 93.37 96.3 97.9]. 98.64 Per cent.

Water or moisture"... .38 Trace. _ .20 .11 .60 .05 Per cent.

Organic matter ....... .. .61 .74 1.72 1.15 1.01 .50 Per cent.
Oxides of alumina and

iron.~. . .................. .. .96 1.13 1.39 2.43 .67 .30 Per cent.

Oxide of calcium ..... .. .17 .15 .08 ‘ .01 .04 .04 Per cent.

Sulphuric acid ........ .. .06 .18 Trace .01 .006 .02 Per cent.

Phosphoric acid ....... .. .04 .01 .05 .04 .008 .04 Per cent.

' Magnesium oxide .... .. .09 ..11 .05 .18 .08 .27 Per cent.

Potassium oxide ...... .. .02 .10 ' .05 .02 .01 .10 Per cent.

_ Sodium oxide .......... .. .04 .16 .08 .08 .09 .02 Per cent.

Totals ............... .. 99.3 100.5 99.9 100.3 l 100.4 99.98

The mechanical analysis of these same soils is as follows: i

 

N0. 14. No. 13. No.16. No. 15.~No.18.lN0.17.
Coarse sand ...................... .. 21.09 22.06 10.28 21.09 4.83 4.92 Per cent.
Medium sand ................... .. 48.45 46.72 59.26 48.45 57.02 54.04 y Per cent.
Fine sand .....................  13.98 12.81 15.03 13.98 19.89 15.44 Per cent.
Very fine sand .................. .. 3.91 2.61 4.12 3.91 4.52 8.47 Per cent.
Silt .................................. .. 9.41 7.84 7.09 9.41 7.45 11.74 Per cent.
Clay ................................. .. 1.90 3.60 2.30 1.90 4.68 4.84 Per cent.
Organic matter ................ .. 1.15 .75 1.72 1.01 .50 Per cent.

1.15 |

No. 14 has rather too much gravel in it to be a desirable tobacco soil.
It does not hold moisture well, and thereby suffers from drouth.

No. 16 may be regarded as a characteristic soil for the light Havana
wrapper. It- is thin land, open, porous, and warm. It does not produce
a heavy yield, even when fertilized. But the leaf is broad and thin, with
During the season of 1898 itlbecame stained or
spotted with thebrownish white spots considered characteristic of a fine

a very fine venation.

wrapper; the same character of spots that are so often put on artificially.

» .1; . .>-s5¢"x1»-.‘1.fik.‘s:;.uu" “<

WILLIS AND HUNTSVILLE ToBAoco SoiLs. 7

   
 
 
    
   
  
  
     
  
   
 
  
     
 
   
 
    
   
  
    
    
   
 

H While the virgin soil, Nos. 18 and 17’, had not yet been put under
ultivation, their type is found in other localities around Willis, and
roduces a fine Havana filler and a medium wrapper. The yield is some-
hat heavier, and will stand a drouth better; but it is not likely to give
crop so satisfactory during a wet season. ~

N 0s? p16 and 15 find their counterpart, to a great extent, in soils from
alkercounty, on the State prison farm near Huntsville, where fine
avana wrappers were grown with great success. Three samples, each
‘top’ soil, subsoil and deep subsoil were taken from these fields, and
owed the following chemical composition:

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION or TOBACCO SOILS FROM THE STATE FARM AT
HUNTSVILLE. ‘

LSiIica and sand .......  .......... .. 95.24 i 94.55 94.24 95.3 95.11 95.74
.ater, or moisture ............... .. .34 .42 .28 .37 .40 .32.
QOrganio matter .................... .. 2.74 3.24 2.01 2.74 2.78 2.54

vxide of iron and alumina .... .. 1.23 1.39 2.68 1.25 1.14 1.26
+- alcium oxide ...................... .. .09 A .07 .18 .08 .08 .08
ulphuric acid ...................... .. .10 .08 .05 .03 .03 .02
hosphorio acid ........... .. ....... .. .07 .06 .07 .07 .08 .08
 agnesium oxide ....  .......... .. .08 , .18 .18 .07 .06 .05
fotassium oxide ................... .. .05 .06 .05 .07 .07 .04

- odium oxide ....................... .. .11 .08 .09 .08 .08 .04

Total .............................. .. 100.10 100.11 99.83 100.00&99.80 100.17
l“ The mecharv/i-cal analysis of the same soils showed the following
"ifesults: ‘

 
 

 

No. 1. N0. 2. i N0.  No. 1. ’ No. 2. I N0. 3.
I

Water ............................................ .. .34 .42 .28 .37 .40 .32
jOrganic matter ............................... .. 2.74 3.24 2.01 2.74 2.78 2.54
arse sand ..................................... .. a .12 .08 .06 .007 .09 .02
i. edium sand .................................  44.25 39.75 38.33 42.63 36.93 36.32
inesand .................................  .... .. 27.38 26.95 28. 28.87 29.79 28.11
l. ery fine sand ................................ .. 6.83 8.71 9.46 8.57 10.63 11.76
ilt ....................................  .......  11.19 12.92 12.78 10.18 11.81 13.25
i? lay .... ..- .......................................... .. 7.15 7.93 9.08 6.64 7.57 7.68

 It is especially noticeable in both the soils from Willis and those from
5Huntsville that they contain a very small amount of lime. There is
comparatively a small amount of organic matter, as shown by the color
"bf the soils. This is, however, somewhat larger than was expected.
Potash and phosphoric acid are present in fairly good quantity. In the
 pical Burley tobacco districts of Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio, a lime
oil is characteristic.

" Keilebrew says, in his Tobacco Leaf (p. 342): “The White Burley
i bacco is planted to some extent in Virginia, ‘Tennessee, Missouri,

>i

8 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS.

_ Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, and Arkansas, but it ‘usually fails when-i

planted outside of the blue limestone soils of its native habitat t0 attain f

the‘ excellence that makes it desirable.

The farmers of each district?‘

often, after fruitless experiments, return to the cultivation of that type if

which has made each district famous.”

This emphasizes the fruitlessness of trying to grow the BurleyWarie-f»
ties in the Willis district, particularly when taken in connection Withvj
the fact that the Havana wrapper or filler will give better results. The .
only reasons advanced for the growth of the Burley is, that it requires?

less skill and care, and will give a larger yield per acre. But these are 
more than offset by the greatly increased price brought by the Cuban

varieties of tobacco.

From the same author (p. 447), Dr. E. H. Jenkins reports upon the Y,
“The tobacco lands of ;_
the Fort Meade region are very light, deep sandy soils, finer in texture i
They 
have been covered from time immemorial with a growth of wood, the 
At the time ~if
of our visit no rain had fallen for many weeks, yet the soil was damperfi

tobacco lands of Fort Meade,_Fla., as follows:
than those of the Connecticut valley, and contain some humus.

best of them with oak, hickory, live oak, magnolia, etc.

‘i.  -

in appearance and feel than our Connecticut soils after two Weeksof 1

dry weather. Nevertheless, the company has put in an irrigating plant, 

and uses it during the growing season.”

This would serve as a very good description of the heavier soils of the
Willis district, While our lighter soils, still finer i.n texture, grow a better‘  _

grade of wrapper ; but the soil is not so productive.

At Fort Meade they grow the Vuelta Abajo, the same variety most 1

successfully grown at Willis.

CONNECTICUT VALLEY SOILS.

Samples of these were shipped here for analysis, and these analyses

are here introduced for comparison:

No 1 No. .2 No 3 Nu. 4. No. 5 VNo. 6

Silica and sand .......................... .. 85.15 84.87 90.11 91.39 76.68 78.92
Organic matter ....  .................. .. 4.50 3.25 3.55 1.92 6.40 5.49
Moisture ................................... .. 1.11 .90 74 .44 1.36 1.68 -
Oxides of iron and alumina ....... .. 7.52 9.14 4.89 5.29 11.89 10.58
Oxide of calcium ....................... .. .16 .25 .12 .21 .41 .38 "i1
Sulphuric acid ......................... .. .10 .08 .08 .08 .13 .18 
Phosphoric acid ......................... .. .46 .29 .44 .24 .38 .43 
Magnesium oxide ...................... .. .82 .81 .39 .37 1.70 1.58
Manganese oxide ....................... .. .03 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Potassium oxide ................  ...... .. .12 .11 .13 .05 .28 .28 
Sodium oxide ............................ .. .09 .17 .07 .04 .18 .26 

Total. ................................ ..1o0. 99.87 100.5 100. l 99.4 99.18

i

WILLIs AND ‘HUNTSVILLE TOBACCO SorLs. 9
g _

The mechanical analyses were as follows:

 
 

N0. 1. N0. 2. N0. 3. | N0. 4. i N0. 5. N0. 6.
i .

__ Organic Inatter ................................. .. 4.50 3.25 3.55 1.92 6.40 5.49
i; Gravel .............................................. .. .37 .10 1.11 1.48 ..... .. l 
y Coarse sand ....................................... .. 1.39 .90 14.37| 9.05 3.07 .34
 Medium sand .................................... .. 20.61 5.29 41.75 44.34 14.19] .65
, Finesand .......................................... .. 22.16 25.66 14.94 13.18 3.91 4.45
Very fine sand .................................. .. 18.25 20.78 10.71 6.23 15.74 20.34

_ Silt .................................................. .. 22.87 26.62 8.97 16.30 32.00 36.10
 Clay .......  ........................................ .. 8.72 16.36 3.86 7.06 23.33 30.95
‘ Moisture .....................  ..................  1.11 .90 .74 .44 1.36 1.68

No. 1 is the top soil fromthe middle level of the valley, while No. 2
is the subsoil of the same. _ '
Nos. 3 and 4, top and subsoils, are situated on the upper side of this

 “middle level,” while Nos. 5 and 6 are below it.

In his letter of‘ transmission, Mr. W. F. Andross‘ says of these soils:

 - “The particular field from which 1 and 2 are taken is in the center of
i the old Podunks district, the oldest and most famous cigar leaf growing

district in the United States. It is situated in S. Windsor, just across

a the line from East Hartford, and has grown tobacco without a change _
 of crop. for over seventy years. From this point I can walk two miles

through tobacco fields without crossing any other crop; cross the street,

4; and walk back, and not step out of a tobacco field. At harvest time the
~T plants stand about  feet high, and have an average of sixteen leaves,
 which run from 18 to 42 inches in length, and 10 to 20 inches wide. Its
‘is average yield is about 2000 pounds per acre. This field has been fer-

 tilized for two years with 5000 pounds of tobacco stems, 1200 pounds of .

 castor pomace, and 600 to 800 pounds of high grade tobacco fertilizer
a’ per acre; the whole costing about $52 dollars per acre. This formula is

 alternated with stable manure every third year; or sometimes every i

other year, using ten cords per acre. This soil produces the most desira-

 ble leaf of the’ three levels. It will grow either variety, Broadleaf, or
 Havana seed. In every case the subsoil sample is taken immediately
 below the top soil surface. Thelongenthe land is used for this crop
 the better we consider it. All the samples were in a dire-ct line east and
 west as nearly as possible, the ‘middle level’ at this point being only

eighty rods in width.- The ‘upper level’ grows about 1800 pounds per

 acre, and its elevation is about 30 feet above the others, and has many
 sand knolls that will grow nothing. The natural vegetation is yellow
p pine. The quality of the tobacco grown from here is fine, and the colors
 usually light. Soil is somewhat warmer and earlier.‘ Nos. 5 and 6 rep-
 resent, the ‘lower level,’ on which not much tobacco is grown, as the

quality is inferior, and the combustion or ‘burn’ of the leaf is doubtful.

g Colors are darker and weights are more, sometimes reaching 2400 pounds
3.- per acre. This is about 1.2 feet lower than the middle level, and formed
" the bed of the river at some former time. - It is annually overflowed
 by river freshets, usually in April. The soil is late and cold, but very
 productive. It is generally very level, and there are portions of it that
77 are very wet.”

I have thus given full space to the description of these soils as given

i“ spring vegetables, but are not used to any extent for these crops, except.

duction of a fine filler, which is really the most essential part of a cigar. 

  
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
  

i0 Tnxlss AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT Srivrrons,
' s

by Mr. Andross, because they have been considered, as he says, as comin
from “the oldest and most famous cigar leaf growing district in the;
United States.” They may be looked upon, then, by the tobacco growers’,
of this State as a standard type. The immense yield here reported is;
very noticeable, but not less so than is the immense quantity of plant
food supplied by fertilizers. Fifty-two dollars an acre for fertilizers;
The statement seems enough to almost deter one from even consideringl
the matter. a ~ 

Dr. Whitney says of these soils: “They are too light in texture forf
any of the staple farm crops. They are adapted to the quick growing‘;

immediately around the cities and larger towns. The conditions seem if;
to be peculiarly adapted to this particular grade of wrapper leaf
tobacco.” ' 

If we compare the chemical composition of these soils with those from ;
Willis and Hurftsville, the effect of the fertilizer on the former is made L
apparent by the large excess of organic matter, phosphoric acid and ;_
potash, over the amounts in soils of this State. It emphasizes. veryY
forcibly the necessity of fertilizers upon our tobacco lands. Yet, a great ,5
increase of fertilizers would probably necessitate irrigation in this cli- 
mate, so that the crop could be kept growing continuously and pushed
to rapid completion. l

If we turn to a comparison of the mechanical analyses the difference ‘I
is greatly in favor of the Willis soils over those of the Connecticut val- 
ley. The low amount of clay in the soils from Carson’s place justifies 
the fine wrapper obtained in practice. A light colored, silky leaf, of fine‘
and pliable texture, rivaling the best Havana leaf, can be grown upon f‘.
this soil. The heavier soils, Nos. 17 and 18, represent a little heavier 
type of soil. They are somewhat richer, will yield a larger crop, but fr
not quite so fine a wrapper. They are admirably adapted to the pro- '”

The binder and wrapper need not necessarily have much flavor or 
aroma; their physical qualities are more important: the right color, text- 
ure, body and strength, and property of burning well and evenly to a - _.
gray-white ash. The filler, making up as it does nearly all. of the cigar, 
should carry the aroma and taste suited to the smoker. If the wrapper 7-“
produces the sale, the filler must Win the gratitude of the smoker. '
Again, the cigar manufacturer must know how to blend different-tobac-
cos, if necessary, to cater to the taste of his trade. -
The following soils were also collected near Willis and subjected to
chemical and mechanical analysis:

No. 1 No. 2 N0. 3 No. 4 No. 5 No. 6 No 7 N0. 8 N0. 9 No.10 No.11 No.12
I
Silica and sand ...... .. 97.65 97.54 96.92 96.07 96.32 98.27 96.31 98.23 96.77 96.28 96.43 94.62
Moisture ..... ..'. ......... .. .13 .10 .09 .10 .34 .18 .37 .25 .15 .28 .29 .47
Organic matter ...... .. 1.06 1.14 .83 2.2:; 1.94. .96 1.94 .88 .90 1.97 .85 2.81
Oxides of iron and
alumina .............. .. .75 1.40 1.65 1.50 1.45 .90 1.00 .75 1.40 1.40 1.95 1.55
Oxide 0f calcium .... .. .18 .08 .30 .20 .16 .16 .16 .16 .04 .06 .06 .10
Sulphuric acid ....... .. .04 .05 .25 .06 .03 .03 .05 .05 .01 .05 .06 .02 ".
Phosphoric acid ..... .. .01 trace .02 .01 .04 .005 .03 .02 .01 .01 .29 .15 '
Oxide 0f magnesium .14 .23 .30 .27 .18 .10 .28 .11 .09 .19 .18 . .22
Oxide of potassiunr. trace .09 .10 .06 .37 .16 .01 .04 .04 .02 .05 .05 _
Oxide of sodium .... .. .19 .13 .20 .26 .01 .16 .15 .10 ,08 .07 .12 .10

t

   
   
  
    
 
  
    
  
   
  
  
   
   
   
 
  
  
  
 
    
  
   
  
  
 
  

WILLIs AND IIUNTsVJLLE ToBAooo Sous. 11

., The nzechanical analyses of the same soils is as follows:

l l l
N0. 1 N0. 2 No. 3lN0. 4 N0. 5 N0. e No. 7 N0. SlNo. 9lNo.10iNo.11llNo.12

Moisture ................ .. .13 .10 .09 .10 .34 .18 .37 .25 ‘ .15 .28 .29 .47
Organlc matter ...... .. 1.06 1.14 .83 2.28 1.94 .96 1.94 .88 .9) 1.97 .85 2.81
Coarse sand ............ .. 3.33 2.25 1.61 23.09 .43 .54 .21 .35 2.82 3.81 4.14 5.05
fltiedlum sand .......... .. 53.40 48.36 31.09 39.35 42.39 46.47 24.97 31.69 53.99 47.79 34.02 36.16
_,‘F1ne sand ................ .. 20.34 20.52 19.88 11.60 21.97 36.91 36.51 42.66 13.27 17.60 11.49 10.94
-V_ery fine sand ....... .. 2.59 4.07 11.46 2.94 22.71 6.21 11.00 8.13 7.21 7.81 7.48 3.85
{Silt ........................... .. 1.96 15.71 25.31 15.95 8.47 5.22 12.59 8.74 16.26 15.72 20.39 24.13
‘Clay ......................... .. 17.19 7.85 9.73 4.69 1.73 3.51 12.41 7.30 5.40 5.01 21.34 16.59

 

s
| mm

ii i ‘No. 1 is top soil from Dr. Powell’s place. No. 2, subsoil from same——
gred fiat land. Nos. 4 and 3, top and subsoil from same place, but lighter
‘gland.

 Nos. 5 and 6, top and subsoil, respectively, and Nos. '7 and 8, top and

("Nos 5 and 6 representing the lighter land and Nos. 7 and 8 the heavier
Ytfype. ' _

i. Nos. 9 and 10 are from Robinson’s place, and represent a heavy rich
iloam. It is taken from a narrow valley, and the amount of clay present
ives the soil great capacity for water. '

 Nos. 12 and 11 are respectively top and subsoil from Carson’s place,
and are representative of perhaps the heaviest type of soils around Willis.
“hey are frequently denominated “red clays,” and do undoubtedly con-
ftain too much clay for the production of the finer grades of cigar leaf.
 Taking all these Willis soils as a whole, one is especially impressed

'3; a; w ma.

rith the general similarity among all of them. This is true, Whether
e consider their chemical or mechanical analyses. They were collected
jfrom localities several miles apart, and their similarity lends importance
gm the district. But to the south, the extent of the tobacco soils seem
ited to a few miles. This was shown from an experiment made by
_ ne of the most careful and successful tobacco growers in the Willis dis-
trict. He- seeded and bedded plants at Willis, and then transplanted
jthem ten miles south; fertilized and plowed the land in precisely the
fame Way as he cultivated his crop at Willis, the plants coming from the
'me seed bed. There was so much difference in the chaxacter of the
crop that he found it difficult to convince his neighbors that the plants
were of the saine variety of tobacco. This is strong evidence that the
zfield does not extend all over East Texas, as many seem to believe. So

have to be determined largely by experiment or experience. This influ-
‘ence of climate is perhaps the most. important consideration afiecting a
tobacco crop. Meterological records can not be trusted to decide between
hisor that locality for tobacco growing. It must first be determined by
actual trial upon soil that seems favorable. The two must be adapted
to the crop for its successful growth. -

if TOBACCO ASH.

 With a view of determining the character of fertilizer needed upon

She Willis and the Huntsville soils for the tobacco crop, the following
sh analyseswere made :

‘subsoil, are from different localities on the farm of Hayden & McCaleb, - ’

- ar as the influence of clivnate affects the crop, that is a inatter that will ‘

 

Nitrogen-per cent .............................................  2.96

’ tage in medium quantities. It is said to give an oily appearance and

12 ‘ ' TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS.

ASH FROM WILLrs TOBACCO.

N0. 1. N0. 2. No. 3.

Per cent of stems to the leaf .......  ...................... .. 23.34 22.61 22.06
Per cent of ash in whole leaf ................................ .. 19.29 18.01 16.97
I Sand and silica in ash ........................................... .. 18.56 18.98 24.57
Soluble silica ........................................................ .. 2.31 1.42 1.14
‘O‘Po('itash”—(iOxide of potassium ............................. ..  3.13 3.22
xi e of so iunn .................................................. .. 7. ' .61 6. 4
“Lime”—Oxide of calcium ................................... .. 27.18 22.89 28.07
Oxide of magnesium ............................................. .. 11.23 9.37 8.36 .
Oxide of manganese ......  .................................... .. ;. .90 .40 Trace Trace,
Oxide of iron ........................................................ .. .40 .56 .48 
gPlhosphoric acid”-—Oxide of phosphorous ............ .. 2.50 2.97 
u phuric acid ..................................................... .. 4.31 .13  0 .
Carbon dioxide ..................................................... .. 20.08 18.82_ 17.33 ' .
Unburned carbon-—“Ohair” ................................... .. .47 71 .68

Chlorine ..............................................  ...........  1.53 2184 2.23

  
  
     
 
   
     
     
 
   
  
 
 

Total percentage ........................................... .. 99.81 98.83 98.93

 

‘Tobacco No. 1, from which these ash analyses were made, is from light 5
gray sandy land, a typical cigar leaf soil, exceptthe subsoil is too near]
surface. The tobacco was high grade wrapper of light color from},
Havana grown seed of Vuelta Abajo variety. No. 2 was a filler, grownl
on heavier soil and darker tobacco. Sample No. 3 was grown on the?
heavy gray upland of Oarson’s place (the best type of Wrapper soil),i;
and was a high grade Vuelta wrapper. No. 4 was a rather indifferent‘
filler from Robinson’s place. Q
p The samples of tobacco from which the ash was obtained containedf
nitrogen, as follows: y:

  
  

- n

l No. 1. No. 2. No. s. No. 4. 

   

2.21 l 2.22 221*,
| 7:».

 

This per cent. of nitrogen is low compared to analyses reported from,‘
other stations. It probably results, in part, from the poor land on which
the tobacco Was grown, being insufficiently fertilized; and in part from
the variety of the tobacco itself. The per cent. of potash is also low,
while the amount of phosphoric acid appears to be about normal.
Potassic and nitrogenous fertilizers are therefore mainly indicated. The
percentage of total ash in the tobacco leaf is rather above the average. d

KIND or FERTILIZER TO BE USED. *
As indicated by these analyses, cotton seed meal can be used to advan-i
fine lustre to the leaf. But if used in excess, especially upon the darker;

soils, it is liable to darken the leaf somewhat. It is not likely, however,-,;.
‘that any of the soils in the Willis district are sufiiciently dark for the '

WiLLis AND HUNTSVILLE TOBACCO SorLs. A 13

   
  
   
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
  
   
    
  
   
  
 
  

x tobacco to be injured in this way. In Connecticut castor pomace—-the
" mesidue of the castor bean from which the oil has been extracted—
. gives very satisfactory results. But they prefer the tzfbacco stems, the
- mid-rib from which the leaf is stripped in the manufacture of cigars.
It will be noticed that all these forms are what is termed “organic nitro-
gen,” as distinguished from the nitrogen in nitrates and in ammonia.
It is a most important generalization to the tobacco grower. i

L. So far as the form of potash in potassic fertilizers is concerned, that
Z afforded by cotton seed hull ashes would undoubtedly prove very bene-
ficial; but as hulls have of late years grown too valuable to burn, we
must look to some other source. Besides, it is claimed that an excess
; of magnesia-—which is present in cotton hull ashes—is injurious to
 the tobacco crop. I do not believe that this claim has been proven, but
f. still there is some evidence to support it. As the magnesia in the Willis
 tobacco is rather in excess-compared to the lime——it would be safer not
 to use any commercial fertilizer that carries much magnesia. High
grade sulphate of potash could be used to advantage. Chlorides or
 muriates must, of course, be avoided, since the chlorine acts injuriously
 upon the burning quality of the tobacco. Nitrate of potash-—saltpeter
 —would be an admirable fertilizer upon’ tobacco lands in general, and
 especially upon the Willis soils. Its cost would, of course, preclude its
A use upon any tobacco other than the wrapper or high grade filler.

‘ The composition of the Huntsville tobacco ash is as follows:

I
N0. 1. l N0. 2. N0. 3. N0. 4.

I

I}, Percent of stems to the leaf .................... .. 18.18 18.18 i 20.95 21.10
I nPer cent of ash in whole leaf .................... .. 24.88 l 23.17 19.85 18.95
One hundred parts of the ash contain:

f, Ne. 1. Ne. 2.  8. N0. 4.
Zseea andsoluble silica ............................. .. 88.85 38.89‘ 22.20 20.85
.»J“Potash”--Oxide of potassium ................. .. 7.51 6.64 12.94 12.88
iOxide of sodium ....................................... .. 5.78 7.35 4.27 4.44
Lime”— Oxide of calcium ....................... .. 21.10 16.22 19.33 17.79
Magnesia”—-Oxide of magnesium ............ .. 7.18 6.88 7.14 7.28
xides of iron and alumina ...................... .. 1.48 2.36 4.36 4.00

. Phosphoric acid”—Oxide of phosphorous. 2.67 2.33 5.40 4.07
Sulphuric acid .......................................... .. 2.28 3.62 3.30 3.07

g Carbon dioxide ......................................... .. 17.87 13.55 20.00 16.00
jjnburned carbon——“Char” ....................... .. 1.27 1.85 1.47 2.91

 * Total ................................................ .. 100.99 100.19 100.47 99.29

p. Nos. 1 and 2 are fillers, while Nos. 3 and 4 are wrappers. Nos. 1 and".
:54 are from the same locality, “West of Railroad.” Nos. 2 and 4 are
lso from one locality, near “Hog Pen.”

 The nitrogen in these samples ran as follows:

- ville tobacco the large amount of “sand and silica” is especially noticea- i;

' cation of much larger quantities of fertilizers, must be made to bring .

14 'l‘ExAs AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS.

I No. 1. N0. 2. N0. 3. ‘ N0. 4. 

\ "»

Nitrogen—-per cent ............................................  2.39 2.54 2.47} 2.47 I

All ~of these are low, very much lower than tobaccos ordinarily aver-l
age. The potash runs very much higher than in the Willis tobacco, both 3'
it and phosphoric acid being especially high in the wrappers. Lime i’
and magnesia are both lower than in the Willis tobacco. In the Hunts- i,

ble in the wrappers over that contained in the fillers, while the amounts 5
of potash and phosphoric acid are especially large in the fillers. 

NIGOTINE.

Nicotine is a vegetable alkaloid occurring in several other plants 
besides tobacco. It is said to occur in tobacco leaves in combination with 
malic acid. It is itself intensely poisonous, but it is not likely that any 5
appreciable quantity of it is volatile in smoke. As a rule, the light col- f.
ored tobacco contains less than the dark tobacco. It is less in the wrap- 
per than in the filler. Rank growth and heavy, thick leaves usually 
carry large percentage of nicotine. 1

An excess of nitrogenous fertilizers is quite likely, therefore, to
increase the percentage of ‘nicotine, increasing at the same time thef
weight of the crop. It nee-d not be inferred from this, however, that one 
must avoid the liberal use of nitrogenous fertilizers on tobacco, for, as 
shown before, they are very essential, while the amount of nicotine can *1
be materially reduced during the sweating or fermentation of the 
tobacco, the nicotine undergoing oxidation. In the samples examined 4
from Willis and Huntsville the amount of nicotine was quite small, 
ranging from a minimum of 1.75 per cent. in the wrapper to 2.50 per .
cent. in the filler. ’ i

CONCLUSIONS.

1. The tobacco soils of Willis are admirably adapted to the growth of "
high grade filler or Wrapper.

2. Willis is perhaps the southern limit, along the I. 8t G. N. R. R,
of the typical tobacco land. \

3. The tobacco area extends north and almost certainly east.

4. A comparison of Connecticut and Willis soils shows a difference
in favor of Willis for high grade Havana wrapper or filler. '

5. Under conditions as at present carried outat Willis, it will per- ‘
haps be more profitable to growthe Havana filler.

But with greater outlay of capital, and especially with the introduc-
tion of shade growth, and with the application of irrigation, a most it
satisfactory wrapper can be grown. These improvements and the appli-

complete and enduring success.