Report of the Tobacco Institute of Puerto Rico (1936-1937, 1937-1938, 1938-1939)

FIRST REPORT

of the

TOBACCO IHSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

FISCAL YEAB «

1936-37

SAN JUAN, P. R. BUUBAU üF Sl'I'l'I.IKS, Pkinting, and Transportation 1987

(Ă?S

'fi

't

33c? I

p9 V

33 I

Aiigust 19, 1937.

IIoXOKAllLK BlaXTON WiXSIIIP, (íovonior of Puerto Rieo, La Fortaleza, San -luán;

íToxoiíaiílk R. llnxKxniíz Raaios, Presiden!, Administrativo Board, To])aeco Instituto of V. R., San -Tuan. SiR:—

Pnrsuant to seetion 15 of Act No. 89 of IMay 11, 1937. I have the honor to sulmut the first report of the Tobáceo Instituto of Puerto Rico, fiscal yoar cnding- .June 30, 1937.

I have the honor to be, Sir, most Respectfully yours, J. A. B. Nolla, Director.

THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO ADMINISTUATIVH BOAKI)

llox. R. IMknéndkz Ramos, ('oniiiiissioncr ol' A^riculturc niid (oinnicu't, Presidcnt, Ex-Ojjicio ]\Ir. Fklipe Carro

]\Ir. Francisco Ortiz Lebrón Mr. Ramón ]Morán .Jr.

]Mr. Candelario íMorales

Mr. Carlos J. Ruiz, Acting- SecreUiry STAFF

•f. A. B. Nolla, Pli. I)., Director

Alberto B. Amy, B.S.A., Assistant A <»roiionnsl

Manuel Carcía Fortuno, B. S. A., Assislaiit A^ronomisl

F. lí. Bunker, Tol)acco Ex])ert, iii cliar<>:o ot' tlie expi'rim'-'í^dil iain^ Cajillas

Alfonso Riera, B.S.Ch., Assistant Clieniist

Manuel E. Selgas, Tax Inspector

* As o£ August 9, 1937.

INDEX Pakt i

lNTRODr( TIOX líISTOKY OP TMK I N'STITl'TK

_ _ _

Aiins :iiul purposos— Mcetiníís of tlio Boanl

Pago

_

7_1<> y

_

_

Orfranization

g g

_

Pcrsoniiol

~

_

13-15

Financial status

lo

Coopcratioii froiii otlior ajjoiu'ios Phc \\oatlic'r aiid tlic tobat'co crop

15—17 17—22

_ Part II

Exi'kriaikntal Wokk

_ o3_3g

Blai'k-.shank studiis ]\[osaic-(]iseasc studios

_ _

The iiiottlo discaso

_

_

_

o-

_ _

^5

Tlie burniug quality of tobacc-o Greon inanurcs

25-29 __

Cijíaretto tobáceo t

Fluc-curiiiír Sun-curinjr

__ ~~~~ 29-30 _

31-33 2^

_

(Q Ciííar-wrapper tol)acco

""""

!!

34

íntcr-spccific hyl)ndi/.ation

Sccfl intiocluction

34

_

_ __

Seed «Hstributioii-

_ __

~~ or

30

Part III

EcoxoMirs CP GioAK-FiLi.KR TonArco ^ Iiuj)OitiUiicc to Puerto líico

Tlic tol)aeco iiulustrv as a source of govcriiiuont vevenue Tobáceo productioii

Cig-ai-filler tobáceo cousuuij)tioii iu Uuited Statcs Cuba as a producer of ci{;ar fillor for tlic Aiuoricau luarket

^ Manufacture in Puerto Pico

^

Tuiports and cxjiorts

36-43 36—39

39-40 40

40-41 41

41-42 42

Con.suuij)tiou of tobáceo iu Puerto Rico

42-48

Statistics Graphs

44-50

'ÍAí' . •

Hon. Blanton Wiuship, Govenior of Puerto Rico.

Attentive to the best interests

of Puerto Rican Agiiculture, he approved the bilí passed by our legislatura, establishing the Tobáceo Institute of Puerto Rico.

FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO Part i.

Introduction

IIISTORY OF TMK INSTITÜTK

Iii Iho iall of 1!)27, the writor—tlioii assistaiit pathologist at tlie Insular Pxporinioiit Station—wliilo oiigaged in tol)ac'eo brceding aiid pathological work ant¡ci])atod tiio iioed l'or a tobáceo siibstation wherein could be handled the

ex])erimental i)hases o I' a tol)aeco improveinent program.

Witb the eoo])erat¡on oi' i>ul)lie siurited eitizeiis oi' Caguas, iieaded l)y Mr. Luis Alvarez, an ap])ropriatioii of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) was seeured froiu tbeir l\luniei])al Asseml)ly. This mouey was to have ])een speiií in Ibe pureiiase ol" a rarni l'or the estaldislimeut of a tobáceo substation. Failure of tlie Departmeut of Agrieulture to match tliat amount with a similar or snialler sum, brough.t al)out the abandoument of the projeet.

It was iiot until the year 1033 wheii Representatives F. Ortiz Lebrón, Feli])e Farro and others introduced a l)ill in tiie Lower House, direeting the establishment of a tobáceo station in Aibonito and providing 'funds for such

purimse from tbe Fund for the Proteetion of Puerto Riean To])acco. Con siderable opposition was made to that bilí on the part of various farmers'

agencies and it never becaiue law. The Legislature of 193ñ again acted on the matter and passetl .Joint Resolution No. 15 on July 22, 1935. This Act directed tlie establisiinieiit of the To])acco Institute as a sepárate government

agency to (íjK'rate under a Hoard com]m.sed of the Commissioner of Agrieul ture and Commerce as Chairman, the Commissioner of Labor and a memlíer of the Commission for the Proteetion of Puerto Riean Tobáceo, appointed by tlie Coveiaior witii the eonsent of the Senate.

A year later (193()) the law was amended by Act No. 97, sul)stituti]ig two hona fidc tobáceo growers lor the Commissioner of Labor and the Tobáceo ('ommissioii member. More recently (1937) the Board was reorganized by Act No. (S9 as follows: The Commissioner of Agrieulture and Commerce as

fMiairman, and two growers and two industrialists to be appointed by the Covernor with the con.sent of the Senate.

Tinis, the To])acco Institute carne into being as another researeh institution of Puerto Rico, under the happiest auspices. .'

7

l AIMS AND PURPOSES

A fair respect for the taxpayer and a conseiousnoss of lionost i)ul)lic sorvice requires that the causes which prom])ted the action leadin^ to the estalp lishment ot* a new a<2,"eney l)e jjiven. The nceds lor tliis institutioii wcro hroadly outlined in our statement bet'ore the Commitícc on AiíricultuiH', in llic IIousc

ot' Representatives, on April 1, 1935, wliicli api)eai'ed in tlie Revista de Agri cultura, Volume 27, 1936.

Tobáceo ranks today as Puerto Rico's second casb and exi)ort crop. Its

importance is measured mainly on tbc l)asis that it supi)orts a considerable ^ part of the island's population. The returns from the cro]) ha ve been on the decline for several years, due no doubt to the decreased consuiniUion of cigars in the United States. If there are othcr factors wliicli may liave contributed to lower the sales of Puerto Rican lol)acco, an incpury sliould be made to determine their extent and to seek for a remedy, It lias been ad-

mitted that there are many erroneous practiees followed in tobáceo manage ment in Puerto Rico. The various tol)acco districts represent a wide varia-

tion of soil types and climatic conditions which inevita])ly must jn-oduce a great array of tobáceo grades. Here different tol)acco vai-ieties miglit better! result in satisfactory production than a single variety. The fertilizer rcíiuirements of these soils and of toljacco varieties are most ai>t to vary over a

broad range. Methods of culture if applied to particular variet ies under spe-] cial conditions of soil and climate may result in improved (juality of th^-' leaf. Finally, the handling of the crop during curing and fermentation mav so aífect the quality of the product that all prcvious treatment and inana«»t^

ment may be wasted eífort if the proper knowledge and care is not brouo-lit into play. It.is the chief aim of the In.stitute to undertake research studios which may lead to a solution of present or unfore.seen problems in the culture and management of the tobáceo crop. Re.search will endeavor to make use of

all tlie observations and information accumulated from expericnce and after systematic organization, in order to draft a plan for tlie determination of the truth which may lie therein. Any information and data ol)taincd mu.st l)e subjected to the most strict analysis and scrutiny, making use of the latest \ methods known.

An oíd scientist said that experience is treacherous. We must certainly guard against the false preten-ses of ill-informed experienced men. ()ur mission, tlierefore, takes on a different color. It is not going to lie enougli to de termine the truth by experiment; we must also substituto the rigiit informa tion in the proper way, for erroneous experience. Economic considerations must be given serious thought. In tlie present state of the industry, the average farmer is not receiving a fair return for

his investment. Successful production of a higher quality tobáceo would be just more wasted energy if it did not result in the improvement of the farnier's lot. It seems, therefore, that the objective from the agricultural stand-

point should be two-fold: a higher quality tobáceo and a lower cost of produc tion. Research should be directed at this goal. 8

MKl-ynXüS OF THE BOARD

The Hoaid lias liad lour meotinjís in thc last two fiscal years.

Tile firsl Toiiacco Instituto Hoard mootinii was hcld on Jamiary 20, 1936. Hoiioralilo Piudoncin Uivoia .Martínez. Commissioncr ot' Labor, and Mr. dosé I^Iéndoz, inoinbor of tiio ('onnnission for the Protcction of Puerto Rican to-

liaeeo, were pi-escnt in adilition to tlie Assistant Commissioner of Ajíriculture who aeteil as Aetiiiii (Miairman in the ahsenee of the Commissioner of xVí^rieulture. In this ineftinii tiie Ciiairman of the Administrative Board was authorized to cntei- into any ajAreements or desijíiiate any personnel necessary for tile work to he initiated on tobáceo. It was voted to estahlish the central

experimental l'ann and lahoratory at Río Piedras, in the University farm, and two experimental farins oi* suhstations, one in the Cayey—Aihonito district and the other in ('a.uuas.

The seeond meetin.u' oT the Hoard was held on Septemher 18, 1936. At this meetin^' thc !>oard was reorjíanized accordinj? to Act No. 98 oí 1936. Me.ssrs. Felipe Carro and Francisco Ortiz Lebrón, who liad heen desio-nated

hy the (íoveiaior as nienilK»rs of the Board, attended this meetinjí. Honorable R. :Menéndez Ramos presided as (diairman. The Board appointed the Director, a tobáceo exiierl. and a plant jiatliolo.uist. Appropriations were made to carry out eertain cxpci-imcntal projects and. also, the construction oí necessary struetures in the central experimental farm.

The third meetino- of the Hoard was held on IMay 11, 1937. Due to the failure of the (Jovernor to send the ñame ot Francisco Ortiz Lebrón to the Senate l'or coníirmat ion. the Hoard met with the presence oi only Ilon. R. IMenéndez Ramos, Chairman. and Mr. Felipe Carro. A report was made liy the Dii-ector oí' liie Instilute on the l'unds availahle for work. Appropria

tions were made l'or the purchase of equi]iment and lurniture ior the lahora tory at Río Piedras and, also. l'or the purchase of a farm in Ciales or IMorovis where an expm'imental farm will he organized. Phirther appropriations were made in the hud.u'ets o I' the Aihonito and Cag'uas farms. The Board author-

ized the imi'chase ol' a farm on an area of I6V2 cucídas, in Caguas, at a price not to exceed $().40().

The l'ourth meetinií ol" the Hoard was held 011 •lune 21, 1937, ior the

purjiose ol' approvin^' the hiuliict for the year 1937-1938. Neu personnel was ajipointed and coníirmed. OKUANIZ.VnON

The Tobáceo Inst ilute will consist of a central lahoratory and e.xperi-

meiital farm at Río Piedras, and ol experimental farms tliroiisiliout the \drious tobáceo districts.

The Hoard id' Tiaistees of the rniversity of Puerto Rico has ceded to

the Toliacco Inst ilute a ])iece of huid (12 acres in extent) where the mam laho ratory hiiildiim" has heen erected. A greenhouse equipped with modein eon9

riQ. 1.—The laboratory building o£ the Tobáceo Instituto at Eío Piedras.

í'."

vciiiciic'os is hi'iiiu' huilt luTi'. lii íulilition to thcsc structuios, it is hopccl lluit

él sméill cxpt'riiiu'iilJ>I ciiriiiii' Iíju'ii be «ilso iii orclor lo thc piopei curinjí of éiiix" lol)íu*(*() luirvcsted Ironi oxporiinoiitiil crops ot l\ío liedlos. The niídii bdiorotory buildiiej; Iios heeii eonipleted, ond ivos biiilt ivith

funds pr()vide<l by tlic l"\'<lei;d Hmeriieney Kelief Administration and by tlie Tobáceo iPstilute. This buildinsi- eonsisls of five lai'iie rooms lor laboratory

piu'poses, oHe hall lor conú'reiiees aiul lueeliiiii's, aiid ti\o loonis loi j>ener<d offices. Snudl roonis bave been riu-lher provided lor the storaire of malcriáis éind equipmeiil.

The orjiauizalion ol the experimentíd larms will be caiiied out sloi\l\. Bfforts were niado duriiuo; the last year to lócate suitable sites tor these larms. It liad, beoii deeided lo orsíaidze the tirst siibstatioii or ex|)erimental faim iii tlic Platel Védley of Aibonito. It \v;is l'ouiid that some ot the laiids purchased

l)y the Puerto Rieau Ri'eouslruetion .Vilministratioii from the American Siip-

plicrs Iiic. |)i'o\ ided oxeelleut eonditions for the experimental work to lie carried out iii that i>eneral district. An apidicatioii was, theretore, made for

thc piirclmse lor the Tobáceo lustitiite of a small farm whereiii coiild be carried out, in a iiieasure. tbe bulk ol' the jirojects outliued lor that district. pailure to secure the lauds from the PURA resulted iii n chanj>e ot ])laii.s as to the establishmeid of thsd i'xiierimentéd farm. Siiice that time a liood iiumbcr of farms bave bccii visited juid ajipraised iii the jíeiieral viciiiity of Aibonito éiiid neai- the PRRA holdlujís of La Plata. Thus lar, none of the farms visited íuiswered thc uecds of íí <iood experimental tarm. jMore recentlx two othcr farms bave bceii examincíl aud a soil survey is lieinjí made in order to determine if thcy fulíiil the reiinirements drawn np lor snch pnrposes. In Céi^nas sevcrjd larms were visited and inspected, Init onh one has

been iiassed as suitéible for thc work to be done in that zone. The tarm, thoiiíih of él .small éicrea^c (Kilo éicres), can ;dl be ]>lanted to tolmcco at one time or éinothei*. It édso adjoins lands owned by the municipal «iovernment oi ( aguas, and we have been éissnred that tlnd government will transter to the Tobáceo

Institute a small parce! of d' ._> acres. The farm in ([uestion is \erv \\ell located onlside of thc town of Paguas on the road to ( aye>. The tact that it is conveniently situated near the roéid will, in the long run, sa\e a lot oi

money whicb would have to be spent for road imiirovement it the iaim weie situated far from the main highways.

A third experimental féirm has been authorized lor the tobáceo distiict of (Jiales-Morovis-Corozal-.Xaranjito. The basis tor the determination ol the niost suitable locéitions for the experimental larms consisted of climatic eondi tions, kind of tobáceo éind the féirm acreage planted to tobáceo in the ^eai ^b3r,_3(}. In the first place, lioth the Payey and Aibonito districts grow tol)acco whicb is ]>rimed. The third district (Piales-iMorovis) is preeminenth ii stalk-cut district. The three districts liad the following corresjionding acie-

age in líldñ-.Tti éiccording to figures obtained from the office of the Tobáceo Section of the Agriculturéd Adjustment Administration: 11

f

L

a-^'-3'

'•'i'^w ^5 i^■- vf''2¿^''#//¿^i'?

;í 4X'W'-» Á '

12

- J >

■■

Tadle No. 1.—acres OF TOBACCO PLANTEO IN 1935-36 IN THREE PRINCIPAL DISTRICTS

Municipality

District

Aeres

Aibonito

2,637.30

Ilarraníniitus ("aycy

LS42.90 2. S-iri.r.0 2. 757.30

Cidra Coama Comorio

665.20

.89-1.SO 13.6-13.00

1,523.10 3, LM.OO 570.10

Anuas Huellas. ("anuas Ciiiralit» Juiicas

810.70 803.20

Las Piedras... San Lorenzo .

3,539.70 10.399.80

Hareeloneta Cíales. .

392.20

Corozal Manatí

662.30

867.10 712.00

Morovis

1,006.30

Naranjilo. .

1,049.90

Orofovis....

824.40

,5,514.50

It is coiisidcrcil tlial ¡n llio riituro, as

as eoiulitions aiul ruiuls ]Hn'-

mit, otluM- cxpcriiiuMilal la mis slioiihl lio orjianizcd iii otiici' toliaeco distriets.

PERSONXKL

iVceordinji" lo ílio tomis ol' .1. R. ló ol" .Jiily 22, 11)35, ílu íollowinjí offieevs will eomprise llie ]HM-.soiim'l oí' tlie Instituto: a Dirootor in Cdiiof; Seerotary-

Trcasurer; (Miiof, División oí" CMiomistry and Plant Physioloí>y; Cliiof, Divi sión of Pliytoiiatlioloiiy and (¡onotios; Toohnioal-Assistant to the Diroctov;

Asi'onomists or toliaooo oxports to lio in oiiai'i>o ol" the sulistations or experi mental farms; otiier teelinieal and praetieal ]iersonnel wliieli may lie retpiired for tlie projier adininistration ol" the Instituto.

The Dirootor lias lieeu aotiug" without any eompeusation sinee the Insti tuto was estahlished, heeause he has retained iiis iiosition as Assistant Commissionor oí' A«»rioulture. j\lr. F. II. Bunker was desiiíiiated as tobáceo ex-

pert to 1)0 in ehariío oT the work in the experimental l'arm at Caiíiias, In order to help the Treasury Department in the proper eolleetion oí: the tax imposed by the above Joint Resolution, ^Ir. IManuel K. Selíias was appointed as to báceo inspector. Other personnel that has been workinjí for the Tobáceo Institute consists of j\Ir. Alfonso Riera, Chemist; jMr. Alberto Amy, Agronomist; and Mr. IManuel (¡arcía Fortuno, A^ronomist. ]\Ir. Amy has been assistinoin the ci«»arette triáis and in the hybridization work in Caiiiias, while IMr. Riera and :Mr. (Jarcia have been helpinji" in the work at Río Piedras. These

three men were tem]K)rarily assigned to the Instituto while their salaries have been paid from the budíi'ot of the Department of Así'i'iculture and ( ommerce.

The cooperation ol" the Department of Aoriculture and Commerce has, there-

fore, been very valuablc to the Instituto, and has permitted the use ol the

ri

11

Instituto funds for the purchase of land and equipraent and for the construction of the buildings. FINANCIAL STATUS

Under the terms of Sectiou 12 of Joint Resolution No. 15 of .Jiüy 22,

1935, the Honorable the Auditor of Puerto Rico has transferred to the Trust Fuiid—Tobaeeo Institute of Puerto Rico, the sum of $50,000 from general funds of the Insular Treasury, and $35,000 from the funds of the Commission lor the Proteetion of Puerto Riean Tobáceo. The collection of taxes under tiie

terms of Section 3 of Aet No. 97 of i\Iay 14, 1936, lias amounted to $17,363.87 up to June 30, 1937.

Small (luantities of tobáceo and cheese cloth were sold for $645.01. This brought the total income of the Tobáceo Bhuid to $103,008.88 on June 30, 1937. The sum of $67,282.74 had been appropriated on that date. The appropriations for 1937-38 totalled $45,570.00. It is expected that at least $30,000 will be collected under the terms of Aet No. 151 of 1937.

COOPERATION FROM OTHER AGENCIES

We are very happy to acknowledge in this report our appreciation tor the hearty and generous cooperation rendered to us by several agencies of the Federal and Insular (loveriiments.

The Federal Emergency Relief Administration showed a distinct willingness to help in the various projects contemplated by the Institute. In the first place, for nearly three years tliat Federal agency paid the salary of an assistant for tobáceo investigations, in progress at the Insular Forestry Station. Secondly, during the fiscal year 1935-36, that Administration also supported a very extensive experimental program in four tobáceo districts, namely: Caguas, Cayey, Aibonito and j\lorovis. An agronomist was designated for each one of these districts and the plans prepared in this office were properly carried to execution. All cultivation expenses, including all materials neces-

sary for the field experiments, were paid from funds of the FERA. Thirdly, and most important, was the aid given to the Institute in the construction of the main laboratory at Río Piedras. The Board of the Tobáceo Institute ap propriated the sum of $14,000 for buildings, out of which $10,000 were contributed for the purchase of materials for the construction of the laboratory. The FERA, which later was transferred to the PRRA, paid all other materials and all the labor in connection with the construction of the tobáceo building. This building was finished in the month of May.

Huring the last crop season the PRRA cooperatcd with the Institute by permitting the use of seven acres of land in the PRRA holdings in the La Plata district of Aibonito. Resides allowing the use of the land, they also

placed at our disposal a curing shed. Both, the land and the shed, were 15

turned ovor lo tlio PRRA al tlio ond of thc experimental work dnring the monlii of May.

The Forestiy Serviee has eooperated hy lielpin»- in the creetion of the «i-reenhoiise eonstlaieled al tlie Central Farin of the Tol)aeeo Institute in Río Piedras. In l'air reciproealion, the Institute will, in the future, furnish soiiie li'ri'eniioiise spaee íor the use ol tlie P^orestry Serviee.

The expei iments in lsal)ela were made in eooperation witii tlie Insular Fixperiment Statitm, Isabela Su))station. When tiie paper on tliese experinu'iits is pulilislied it will iiave joint autiiorsiiip with tiiat Station s ajii'onoinists. TllK WKATIIKH .\N1) TUU TÜIÍ.XCCO ClíOU

A* ^ood erop of tohaeeo in Puerto Rieo reípiires that there be a fair amount of rainrail in tiie i)eriod eomprised l)etween Aujiust and Ueeember. Seed-i)ed o|)erations beiiin in .luly when soine rain is neee.ssary to taeilitate

])lowin^- and otlier oiH'rations ineident to seed sowinií. In the sueeeediníi; months rainrail siiould be sufíieient to enhanee seed-bed development and to

])erinit transi)lantin^" and eultivation. ]\lost oL" the tobáceo in a normal year sbould be transplanted ))y (Miristmas time. Rains in January and P^ebruary shonld not be lieavy, otherwise harvesting" of early tol)aeco and eultivation of the late erop will be prevented.

A study of rainlalh on the basis oT the reports from the AVeather Burean® was made Ior the last two i>rowinii" seasons. (See table 4). The most important tobáceo distriets were ehosen.

A eomi)arison oí' the three eritieal months of Noveml)er, Deeember and •lanuai'y shows that in November oí" 1Í)3G raintall was higher in some distriets aml lower in others tiian in the eorresimndinji' period of 193i); in Deeember and

danuary ol" lí)3() rainlall was hiiiher tiian in 1935. It is espeeially interesting to note tile ratiier high rainl'all oí" tiie month ol* .lanuary of 1937. It was indeed abüve normal. (See tables 2, 3 and 4 and graph number 1.) ^Vhat excessive rainlall in 'lanuary means is improinu* euring beeause of poor eondition of the tobáceo maturing under eontinued raiiis, and delayed eultivation oí tobáceo

])lanted in Deeember and .lanuary. The heavy rains ol the past year resulted in poor (juality o I" tobáceo due to laek ol body and to moldiness and blaek spotting.

(*) Gray, K. W.: Gliinatolnírical Data. W«'st Indios and Caril)l)oan Sorvice; 1935 niid 1936, and supidt'iMoniary unpnJtlislit'tl dala furnisliod by Ali". (.iray. 17

Table No. 2—RAINFALL IN INCHES. MONTHS OF NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER OF 1935 AND IMC AND JANUARY OF 1930 AND 1937

November

January

December

Station 1935

Adjuntas Aibonito

1936

3. 1.

Bayaiiión

(X)'

"arranquilas

paguas

T!

Comerlo (Falls)

Manalt

G. 11.

i ...

Morovis Orocovis

3.

San Lorenzo iTown)

•1.

(X) 2.86 2.69 3.24 2.48 12..35 1.63

G.

Sm Lorenzo (Farin). Ctuado

G.

(X)

Mean

•1.91 11..W

Extreme high Extreme low

2.4G

G.34 3.85

(X)

Juncos

2.33 2.58

5.29

9.71 G.3G

3. G.

Corozal

Jayuya

3.05 4.01 4.04 5.31

3. 2

Cayey Cidra

4.88 12.35 1.G3

1.22

1935

(X) 2.03 1.13 3.64

4.09 5.38

(X) 5.80 0.95 3.96

3..57 1..50 0.00

(X) 3.25 G.OO 0.95

1936

1936

0.18 2.16

5.37 2.95 9.81

4.95 12.34 25.59

1.68

19.10 8.51 4.10 5.32 6.98

7.17 5.41

1937

0.91 1.57 2.39 1.61

14.70 17.27

2.19

13.50

12.78

10.94

(X)

9.61

(X) 5.49 7.92 4.76 8.95 11. 15 6.20 7.47

19.10 2.95

7.95 14.52

1.21 1.63 1.61 2.85 2.80 0.60

11.20 1 0.03 15.97 13.01

1.67 2..S5 0.18

12.96 25.59 4.95

(X) No reconl availaltlo

TAIU.K No. 3-RAlNFALL IN INCHES IN TlIE MONTH OF JANUARY 1937 January 1937 Station

Dcviatioii

Rainrall

trom nornial

4.95

Adjuntas

12.34 25.59 12 78 14.70

Aibonito

oayamón

Caguas Cayey

17.27 10.94 13.50 9.61 7.95 14.52 11.20 10.03 15.97 13.01

Cidra Comerío (Falls) Corozal Jayuya Juncos

Manatí Morovis Orocovis San Lorenzo (Town)

-f 20.82 4- 11.40 4- 11.03

San Lorenzo (Farin) 12.96 25.59 4.95

Mean

Extreme high = (Hayauión Extreme low = (Ailmnito)

19

+ 8.42 + 20.82

+ 1.42

vA

Tía. 6 ^Experimental fleld at Caguas. A Wack-Bhank fioldm tM/riWiSnt. infoction of tho 224-3 strain. Ill thc

14.30

10.12

''o'o.V 14.22

'ió'.óó'

3.30

I.óü

'Ó'.l'X)'

5.80 3.90

2.33 2.58 2.03 1.13 3.04 4.09 5.38

2.40 .93

Dec.

.00

2.85

2.80

1.01

'i'.o;j

1.01 2.19

1.57 2.39

.91

2.10

1,68 1.21 .18

Jan.

'"¿'.ÓS

'".L39 8.42 19.05 7.39 3.79

7.44

9.03

11.72 C.81

9.78

11.30 13.34 9.09 13.17

7.57 12.24

0.37

4.70 11.45 8.9.5 0.20

"¿'.ÓÓ' 3.24 12,35 2.48

7.35

"'•l'.Ói' 5.71 4.75 7.53

8.33

1.03

10.03 15.97 13.01

11.20

"7'.Ó2

3.85

5.00

"■¿M

14.70 17.27 10.94 13.50 9.01 7.9.5

'ó'.ii

0.Ü8 7.17 5.41

5.80

11.05 12..50 8.15

9.74 11.07

2.95 19.10 8.51

12.78

14.62 4.95 12.34

5.37

25.59

5.49

Jan.

9.81

Dec.

4.10 5.32

5.49

"<y.29

'12.20

"íj'.gí'

4.04 5.31

2.80 3.05 4.01

5.29

Nov.

0.30 0.31

4.71

5.10

9.59

C.29 11.91

11.17

9.25

7.00 0.23 11.85

11.54

11.02

10.81

Octeber

8.89

15.GO 5.92

AUR.

Sept.

1930

15.35

9.10

15.31

July

7.75 10.71

Tobáceo Distríct

San Lorenzo (Town). San Lorenzo (Farm).

Utuado

4.10

0.99

0.55

0.79

7.18 11.15 3.33 1,00 3.29 2 38 1.22 3.14

Nov.

1.04

1.40

1.97

3,2

1,78

1.30 3.53 2.73 2.01

1.33 1.21 .90

1.01 1.22

Peb.

I

2.93 1.08 2.52 1.39

2^07

3.27

1.52 2 59 2.33

1.99 .48

1.52 .82 .84

March

4.11

2.10 1.10

3..50

1.50

2 OS

1..50 4,01 2.51

3.75 2.04 3. 10

4.45 1,35

April

1936

21.10

23-70 20..53

32-14 13..87

15,93

8.92 13.12

''s^so

12..54 12.05 10.99

15.77

Alay

.95 .05

1.08

.89 1.93 1.39

1.17

1.53

1.18

.37 1.20

.73 .09

.,5.5

.59 .98

.25 1.72

2.54

.12

.31

Marcli

.92

.74 2.SO

.87

Fcb.

G.33

'Í3!24

2.05

0.50

5.69 .5.18

'siáy

7.35 .92 3.40

3.88

April

1937

3.30 8.95

4.39

Ü,Ü3 5.35 7.89 12.29

4.22

2.51

'i'.43

.99

,5.08 1.00

7.55

.02

May

TABl. Xo. IV-PBECIPITATION I.V INXnES IN PRINCIP.U. TOBACCO DISTRICTS OE PÜEUTO KICO. F1SC..L VE.Ui

0.53 19.35

s.

"ió'.ió'

'ÍÓ>j5

10.17

3.49

9.15 7.73

0.40

5.80

5.80

5.15 7,25 3.05 4-10 3.35 7.39 8.85 5.00

5.74

5.01 8..59 7.54

7.32

15.04 9.43 9.70 0.00 8.42

10,30 4.87 8-40 8.08

Oct.

4.95 0.29

"Ü20

'iÓ'25'

10.12 4.12

Sept,

3.25

10,94 10.91

Aug.

"3,'29'

8.09 3.38

July

1935

3.34 1.51 4.31 4,20 4.12 4.98 2.74

0.42

2.11

1.33

'yó.v

.35

8.88

2.54

4.59

June

5.30 4..54

14..55

2.81

"l24

2 12 2 21

0.89 5.20 3.70

5.50 5.00

0.77 3.73

June

-PRECIPITATION IN INCHES IN PRINCIPAL TOBACCO DISTRICTS OF PUERTO RICO. FISCAL YEAR 103&-30.

Morovis. Orocovis. ..

Juncos...

Comerío Fa Coroza!.. Jayuya..

Cidra...

Manatí. .. Ailjuntas. Aihoniio-. Uarramiuititó Cagnas. Cayey..

Bayanion..

l'tuado

San Lorenzo (Town) San Lorenzo (Farm)

Orocovis

Morovis

Juncos

Coror.al

Conierlo Fall

Cidra

Cayey

Caeuas

Aibmiito

Adjuntas...

Alnnatl

Baj'ftnión.,

r

Tobáceo Distríct

Tahle No. IV-

82.97 lio,34 02.78 02.23

10.80 00.92

0,5,08

80.65

73.58

72.73

.5-1.02 41.10 05.00 59.09

88.24

90..'>3 70.33

Ycar

Fiscal

33.44

81.42

81.30 27.99 100..55

40.10

49.91 48.03 01.,83 .51,04 00 83

.50.25 38.37 .5-1,05

86.95

Year

Fiscal

FiCr. 7.â&#x20AC;&#x201D;The third generation selection from a cross for study of resistaiice to the hlack-shauk.

P.vRT II. Expeuijniental "NVork

Tluí firs! projc'cts uiuloiliikci\ by liu' Tobáceo Insl,ilute -were mcrely a contimialinii of work Ibat \v:is bojiun iii tlie prceeainii" years af vanoiis mslilii-

tions. A briel" liislory oí ihis wovk is, Ihereíore. prescnled as a niattcr ot record. BlACK-SKANK STUniKS

SUídics on Ihc rcsisfaiu-e aiid siisceplibilily ol! tol)acco to the

discase wcrc bcuun at Ihc Insular Bxpcriinent Slation iu Iho year

A pai.cr dcalin^- witli liic palholo^ical asiun-ts ol! the problem was iii 1028.^-^ Simiiltancously, -work for tlio eonlrol of tiic diseaso l.n inent ol" rcsislani strains "was 1)Ciiim aiid continued to the presen, t a^.

le

work inilialc<l al Ibe Insular Exiierimenl Slation

Laboratorios of the doparl.nents of Plant Breodin^' and PUmt

Comen rnivcrsily. Ilhaca, New York, and at the Insular ForcsU, Slation, Río J^iedras, J'uerlo Rico.

The ori-inal eross madc for the purpo^^^

.T'rbid^

mado behveon a rcsislaiil Cul)an lolmeeo AVc are now Icstin^' iinder (icld eondilions a laiiíc

from crosses

and from variefios.

Thi,.ly scln-tions IV.nn n lolMcn. ,-üllod«l 1,y 11,.. -''f

'o.,,™;'

i„ 1!)?,4 liave I,,.,... |.laiiU..l .in.!..,' <..ma,ti.>n« "1 1^-'' 'j'! i,„, vield. All st...i¡ns mis i„ Ciiííu.is aii.l Aib.niil., (l,aA-3) t< thoso selcetions ha ve slunvii a very hiirli de-ree ol resis anc . n 1 11) Y íhn'A'S'^'' n'oro siroAvn

Twcnly-two rcsislanl strains Irom the eross a a * l^in (ki^'uas and Aibonito. Kour ol thoso wero toslet oi

pxxv-

Pposos ¡11 raiidoini/.od plol exporiinonts.

^

^

..

..

, now cmsses were sludied. 4 r 1 Six y,-v ofihoso strainsstrain rosislant Li-iit ■ n-oro^ Itolweon ivsistanl sua to inosaic and to l.laek-shank; ono botweon . ! "

Put hotorozyiious

eoidiblo to inosaic and a standard varioly susceptible to for blaek-shank rosistaiico.

,

Iu a.ldHi„„ to thoso, so,„o ninoloon eoi,lil,lo.fivohoto,..,zyoo,isandsovoi, .>l d

i„ti.(,diu.tious dovolopod

planta were niade lor luture studies.

•oma,.kahlv ovoll ovo,, un.lo.. 1ho .Ufh.n.lt oo„. ,.,o„s " <

' , ;

, ol- ioavos w...... lakou aud will bo tostad r„f ..ub,,- s„d buv,""tt .,ual,t,^.

'. All tho st,.ah,s ,iovoi«„.-d bu-

Sainples

'

.¡"a'avóXtt"Lí

were tosted for reaction lo black-shank

c n in Inw «woiind

tiuus. All p,..,v,.,l susooptlblo b, 11,0 .voonhouso. Iu 11,o fioUb ^ s„n,o liko

23fiAl. 242-4-3, 242^, 243--yi

'1

94V'I-1 '>4-1-10-2 ->43-1->-4 43(1-2. 470-1, 481-3, 4,8a-8-3, ;,10-4, o4--3 and 543-1, |'>,.<)v,.<l b, b'o VO...V susooptlblo. Olhors liko 271-1, 4117-3, 481-3, 481-11, 4,S;VS-2, 4!)3-3, fidl-l, .342-3 and .343-3, displayed rosistanee. *.Juiii-naI Dopt. Agrie. Puerto Rico, 12; I8r)-21."). 1^28.

FIG. 8.â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Plant of a new variety resistant to mosaic.

Mosaic-dnscasc studics.—A projcet. íor tho dcvelopmont of inosaic-resistaiit strains oí; tolincco wns iii thc croi^ senson 1920-30. The basis for this work was tho Amb<il(m<i varioty discovorod in the Cauca Valley of Colombia

¡n tho Summor of 1020. j^ajx'i'.s iloalinji- witli llio iiifoclion studics wore published in tlic .Jouniai of A<>TÍcultiiro of tho Univor.sity of Puerto Rico.* Another papor doalin»»- wilh tho inhoritanco of rosistance to the ordinary mosaic, is in press. At tho ju'osont timo tlioro aro (52 strains of tobáceo rosístant to mosaic, under fiold triáis. Somo of (lioso havo now boon tostod iii tho fiold for four years aiid data havo lioon colloclod on thoir morits.

The mosaic rosistant strains woro submittcd to proíi'cnv tests in Caguas. Some will bo ro.joetod on tho liasis of iioor lívowtli habits and a few, because of their hig'h de«rroc of suscoptiliility (o tho hlack-shank diseasc. Still others may be rejected after the burnin^ tests are made. The strain 224—3-1 althoug'h of very desiralilo charaetoi-s may not lio usod on low lands, due to its susccptibility to blaek-shank.

Sinco none of llio variotios (Ámhalcmn and TurJxhIi) originally usod in

the eross for tho dovolopmont of rosistant .slrain.s, were rosistant to tho blacksliaiik disoaso, now cro.ssos woro iiiitiatod a yoar ago making uso of tlio newor iniprovod strains rosistant to mosaic or lo black-shank, in an ettort to combine in now sti-ains rosistaneo to botli disoasos.

Tlu! soeond gonoration of sovon of tlioso crossos was studiod in tho fiold

and undor lalioralory eonditions. A largo numbor of soodlings was inoculatcd with the mo.saie virus and tlio rosistant .soodlings thon ])lantod in liods infcstcd

with the lilack-shank orgaiiism. A small numlior of plañís lias ¡irovod to bo rosistant to both disoasos. Thoso will bo carriod into a third and succossivo gonerations.

Ninoloon inlroduelions from \'onozuola jirovod suscoiitiblo to tiiis disoaso. 'l'HH MOTTia-: DISKASt:

A mottling disoaso of loliaoeo was discovorod throc years ago in Caguas and Ailionito, whioh al tho lioginning was tliought to bo tho cucumbor mosaic. After continuod inoculation and infecí ion studio.s, i1 was assumod that wo liad í'ound a disoaso of toliacco now lo Puerto Rico and, iirolialily, lo tho rest of tho worid. Tiio studics aro almosl complolod and will lio iiulilished soon.

TlIK IU'K.\'1N(¡ QIWLITY OF TOB.\CCO

Witil tho objoct of detormining wiiothor tho Intrning quality of a loliaeco varioty will vary with tho various .soil and climatic eonditions, sam])los of tiio varioty Virginia No. O woro takon in various districts. Tho information givon to US showod that tho samo fortili/.or (G-7-S) was usod throughout. The

following tablo shows tho relativo liurning quality of tho Virginia No. O tobáceo in various parts of tho island: ' Jouroal Agrie. TJnivcrsity of Puerto Rico 111:29—49. 1935.

TaBLE No. 5—DURATrON OF LENQTH OF BURNINO OF TOBACCO OF THE VIRGINIA No. O VARIETY IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS IN PUERTO RICO (IN SECONOS. AVERAGE OF 1()0 BURNS.) MIDELES.

Stiilk cut (S) I'riined (P)

Secimds

District

1. Cagua.s.

b u r n i n ); 3.43

Scconds

OLsIrict

.S. San Lorenzo.

II.01

b u rn i n g

10.1,93 0.00

21.09 12.4.1 3..84

P

1S.30 123.00

2.31

P

2.00

P s p

7.1.1

7.14 O 22

82.'kÜ

9. I3arraiH|Uitas.

32.34 01.12

3. Gurabo.

2.S. Trt

20.90

14.3S 10.03 lI.'i.üO

17.08 20.1.14 5.OS 10.24

20.01 3.74 0.81 4. 13 2.8,I 4.71

10. Giinyiiabo.

6. Cuycy.

.10.33 432.37

12.S7 4.43

7.1.30

p p p

7.S.3 M.-lll

II. Morovis.

p s

70.17

31.39

p p p p S

0.32

03.30 24S.S;i 0.21

0.72 .V2.1I9 7.r)0

P

1S6.20 S,9.S

4. Cidra.

S P P

2.0(1 3,71 4.S8

,14.38

2. Agiia.s Buenas.

Stnlk cut (S) Primed (P)

p s p I' s

105.12

p

20.7.S

p

0.02

p

13.73 1.1.00

p

.125.40 298.48

s

.11..1S 57.01

s

84.41

s

09.43

s

p s

17.28

0.40

12. Oroeovis..

7.OS 2.SO !b9.1

6. Aihonito. Plata

34.74 9. 12

13. Narnnjito,

44.73

s

185.30

s

Iñ. Juncos —

90.35

s

24,07

s

10. Coanio—

444.80

s s

14. Cíalas

49. 11 39.42 20.04 S.24 14.17 11.90 1SI..12 12.33

7. Comerlo.

s

133.07

10.72 7*1 71

s

,1.12

3(1!80

s

10.02

5.94 7.80

s ti

30.39 4.08 17..13

ti s

21.11 0.90 2.14

s s s s s s

3.33 8.91 JO..11 9.90 3.00 .1.91

4.07 34.24

17. Manatí...

18. Vega Baja

19. Yabucoa..

1.1..18 4.81 7.07

40.0.1

3.42 10.08 01.84

s

Dislricts l-l4-Iiitt>rior Dislricls 1.1-17-Soini-coast

Districts 15-I9-Coast

Aii i'xamiiuilion ol' tho tablo .suiíjiosts various points ol" ¡ntorost. It is clear Ihat wiUiiii the .sarao district then^ is a vory vido variatioii iii tho liurn of the toliaccü; i.e., district Xo. 1, 2.60 scc. to 123.00; district Xo. 2. r).22 to

82.80 see.; district Xo. 3, 3.74 to 175.06 sec.; aiid district No. 6, 8.24 lo 184.52 .seo. This variation may lie diic to tho ditfcront typcs of soils. In districts

where both the priming aiid stalk-cut metliods ot harveatiug and curiiig are

riG. 10.—An exccUent ivign ylclding new strain resistant to thc moaaic disease.

,T;:;

.'■'Í-'^r-.--i r.y^v ,'i.,v--

followed, it is shown tliat stalk-cut tobáceo has a loiiíi'cr duvalion of Imrn, i.e., district No. S, a variaíion ol" 2-21 scc. lor

aiul 54.38-100.{13 íor slalk-

eut tol)a('í*o; ilisti'ifl No. í), 5.08 to 32.34 scc. Ior primcd and 1 SO.20-205.14 t'oistalk-ciil; No. 11, 0.02 lo 20.78 scc. t'or jn-inicd and 44.73 {o 525.40 scc. for slalkcut tobáceo. In districls 12-14 wlicrc samj)lcs are only from stalk-cut tol)acco, the variatioii was froni 44.73 to 185.30 scc. Tlic abovc di.stricts are all iiisidc tiic wcll knowii ¡ntcrior zono.

Iii thc

scmi-coast zoiic, thrcc disti-icts, in wiiich stalk-cut tol)acco is thc rule, wcrc

stiidicd. lícrc thc burnin^' lastcd Ironi 5.})4 lo 444.80 scconds. Tiiis widc variation niay ¡u-obably iu' duc to thc lact that sam]dcs wWh low buriiin^- wcrc taken in larins which more i)roiicrly should havc i)ccn iiicliidcd in tiic coastal zonc. In thc lattcr, witii disti-icts 18 aTul It). stalk-cut. thc l)urninj¿- rangcd írom 2.14 to 01.84 scconds. Tiiis low l)urnin«>- inay l)c caiiscd, in part, ])y thc i)artial oft'cct ol' chlorides.

This survcy o!' tiic líurning' ({iiality ol' tobáceo was madc in ordcr to find oiit wiicthcr a sludy should not be madc ot" thc adai>tal)ility ol various tobáceo varieticK to thc various soil conditioiis. II sccnis that. pcrhajis, "whilc a tü])acco

may l)c of cxcclicnt quality in onc district an cntircly dlHci'cnt situation may exist in otluu* dislricls. GRKEN JIANUKES

Iníbrmation has circiilatcd in thc island vith rcspcet lo thc use of groen

manurcs for general soil imi)rovcmont. In tiic aliscnec ot any experimental evidencc siiowing the advantagcs of groen manurcs for tobáceo lands, in Puerto Rico, it, seems imporative to determine l)y expcriment what poliey to follow in relation to their use on tobáceo soils.

During this vear an experiment was begun at tiic cx]>nimcn1a] laim

Río Piedras, using three cover crops, to wit: vclvel bean, so.y bean vali ensifannis (L.) DC. Tiiis exiieriment luis beeii carelull.v planned. ic development of the three cover crops was tairly excellení. m s]nly o t u prcvailing drought. The erojis were cut and plowed under dur.ng the month of -lune. It is hoped to plant the green manurcs agani for a second time, to lie followed later bv a crop of tobáceo. A Canavali speeies imported last July from A'enezuela, wiiere it is used for ornamental puriioses, looks like a promising cover erop. It is lieing planted in order to nicrease the (pianlity of seed available. CIGARETTE TOnACCO

Puerto Rico is now importing over three million dollars worth of eigarettes. If the island eould produce eigarette tobáceo to sujiply these demands in part or in totality, tiie favorable eífects would l»e felt in all economic spheres, but very especially in the rural communities where more labor needs to be employed. The (lucstion has been as to whether this class of tobáceo can be produeed in our own peculiar climatic conditions. A search of the literature showed that no attempt liad ever been made to produce briglit tobáceo in Puerto Rico.

IÁ»,.W>5

•V»«v »v.a ■v.^Wa^ ttexn. atv7 tho R-i

riit^it,.

í.

TiG. 11.—Experimental fleld at thc Instltute in Río Piedras. Experimcnt with green manurcs.

• «c-^

*T4kÍ

T-mm ywm

■Um Í'

On tne

Fliic-curinf¡.—In ovdcr to dotcrminc the possibilitics that miglit lie in this íield, triáis were inndo in liie eroj) sejison oí' Iboñ—36 in Cajiuns. Sood was SGCiired í'i'om Dr. \\ . X. (íarner, Chieí, Ofñeo ol' Tobaeeo Invosliíialiün.s ol" the L'.S.D.A., whirh louetlier willi slrains devclopod in onr broediní»- ]^roii'rain were .suhinitU'd lo a prcliniinary U'st, AFr. K. K. t'urrin, a loljacco cxport i'roni Florence, South (.'ai'olina. was in chariio oí' llie eiii'inii'. A sniall barn witli

ílue-cnrin<¿' ('(pii])i)i('nl was Iniilt. Tliis is the firsi bain oí ils lyju' eA'er biiill hore.

'Idie resnlls ol llie íirsl year's eiirinu,- siiowed Ihat soine varielies lurned

dai'k in llie barn and a sniall miinlier proved lo be proniisiiii»'. (hily 17 slrnins were eai-rii'd into the 11)36-37 Irials. Durin^' lasl year sonie ollier iiew sti'ains were rim !h)'ons¿li Ihe lesl. A sniall cpianlily ol" lobaeco Ti-oin eaeh ol" tlu- liesl slrains was ]>aeked away Ibr a^ing-. Dui'inji' Ule íirsl year's tests sevenleen slrains were eonsidered as jiioniis-

m

FIG. 12.—First flue-curing shed biiilt iu Puerto Rico.

injí. Observalions niade a year laler siiowed tiial soine ol' Ihese liirned brown in a<i'ln^-. Tlie bri<ihl eolor was retained by Ihe i'ollowinji': 667—(While

Burley) ; 66Í)—(damaiea); 30J—(Casli 'F, H. Bunker'); 228—{(¡oíd Leal' 'V. H. Bunker) ; 670—(AVliite Stem). These were all 1ried out las! year. On the liasis oi' oiiservations inade bel'ore ]nitlin^" loliaeeo in hoí>'sheds, the best slrains may be ;¿rouped in the r()]lowin«>- order; 660—(damaiea); 304—(Cash); 144-9-1—(Xew strain); 144-9-3—(Xew strain) ; 271-1-6-2—(Xew sirain) ; 467-3-2—(Xew .sti'ain).

Theiv was oiily a smali <|uan1ily oí íiue-eured loiiaeeo

of the lasl lwo sli'ains, availaiile.

This woi-k will lie eontimied ií resulls in

anoliier year siiould juslil'y siieh eourse.

One liniiling íaelor in iiri^-hl leaí in-oduclion in this island is the low yield. Ilüwever, ií Ihe i)roduet is salisíaetory a small aereare may lie devoted eaeli year to Ihis kind oí tobáceo. 31

FIG-. 13.â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Wrapper-tobacco leaf. A new straiii.

Siin-curing.—^Leaves from a number of strains were Iiai'vested and cnred in tlie sun. The followiiig were stiidied: 144-9-1; 271-1—6—1; 271-1-6—2; 271-18-2; 271-19-1; 470-1-1; 485-8-1; 485-8-2. All these cured to a light brown color. The tobáceo is now in the proeess of aging. It is oxiiecled lo make more extensive triáis with sun-cured tobáceo in tlic futuro. CIGAR-WRAPPER TOB.VCCO

llp to and including the crop season of 1926-27, this island produced a considerable quantity of cigar-wrapper tobáceo, (irowing wa.s abaiidoned and no efforts have been made to begin commercial production. A cigar-wrapper tobáceo for the island must be resistan! to the l)lack-

shank disease. Resistance to mosaic should also be sought in order to produce a sound and healthy crop.

Efforts directed to the development of blaek-shank resistant and mosaic resistan! strains are discussed in another part of this report. Suf&ce it to mention that considerable progress ha.s been made and that it is hoped to be able to make reasonable recommendations in another year or two.

We believe wrapper tobáceo can be gro^vn in some of our soils. It will be a matter of developing desirable strains and of inquiring into the role of fertilizers in its production in the various soil types and climatic conditions. INTER-SPECIPIC HYBRroiZATION

As a part of the project ou diseases of Nicotiana, an extensive series of mter-specific crosses was made sinee, the year 1933. At first, erosses were made for the purpose of testing the reaction or behavior of the hybrids toward

mfection by virus diseases. Later, the project included the study of rcsistance to the blaek-shank organism, P. Parasítica. The species of Nicotiana employed represent a wide range of resistance and susceptibility to })oth diseases. The

results will be published in the not very distan! future. SEED INTRODUCTION

The first introduction of seed from foreign countries made by us, was in the year 1927, through the good offices of Mr. John E. Steele, of the American Suppliers, Inc. This tobáceo was of the variety Turkish; the seed was coUected and sent to Mr. Steele from Greece. The second importan! introduc tion was made during a trip that we made to Colombia, S. A., in the Summer of 1929. It was then that we discovered the Ambalema tobáceo resistant

to the ordinary tobáceo mosaic. Another variety then importcd proved to be very susceptible to both, the mosaic and the blaek-shank disease, and was, therefore, soon discarded. More recent introductions have been made from

Venezuela. These are under trial, and a few look like promising filler tobác eos. Seed has been reeeived from the U. S. Department of Agriciilíure, Burean of Plant Introductions. Seed was reeently reeeived from Nicaragua and Ecuador and will be incorporated into' our collection. The following table shows these introductions: 34

Table No. 6—INTRODUCTIONS OF TOBACCO (.NICOTTAlSrA TABACUM £.) DIsposition

Accession Nunibcr.s

Naine

Date

Puerto Rico

Country of Origiu

Foreign

Rejecte<I

I (Ani). 430 495 495 538a 53üa 540a 541a 542a 543a 544a 545 545 547 548

K 1525. R 1505.

Tabaco negro. Rabo de gallo.

R 1012. R 1513.

R 1517. R 1023. R 1559.

R 1090. R 1700. R 1774.

550 551 552 594 598

R 1773.

U.S.F.IM. 105,576 U.S.F.P.l. 100,998

24/8/30

Olor

Ditto 29/10/34

Amarillo parado —

3/12/34 March 1935. Ditto Ditto

039 640 541

Smyrna.

Ditto Ditto Ditto

Kanari Kedoe

Wh. Burloy

Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto

Md. Broadleaí..

Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto

Ditto Ditto

Santo Domingo. Santo Domingo. Br. Guiana Br. Guiana Cuba Cuba Cuba

Java

3/9/35

Ditto

Colombia Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Russia Russia Russia Russia Russia Russia Russia Russia Russia Russia Russia Russia Russia

Santo Domingo.

May 1935. 19/6/35 ....

Jamaica White Stom.... Qold Leaf Warne Cash Eíester

Big Orinoco Littlo Orinoco.. Adcock

Yollow Pryor... Bonanza

Canelle

Small Canadian. Porfum d'Italie.. Florida 301 1935

Java Java U. S U. S U. S U. S U. S U. S U. S U. S U. S U. S U. S U. S

U. S

Cañada Cañada Cañada U. S Haiti Haiti Uaiti

Venezuela Venezuela

711 712 718

Negro.

719 720 721 722 723 724 725 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 734

Negro.

Guácharo.

730

737 795

Anibaloma Cola do Oallo.

R 1593. R 1595.

549

049 054 050 057 058 059 057 068 009 670 071 072 673 674 675 076 077 578 079 680 081 682 083 700 701 702 703*\... 704 705 700 707 708 709 710

7/8/29 12/2/34 21/.5/;i4 21/5/34 22/7/34

Retained

U.S.F.P.l. 119,197

Cubano. Carache.

Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela

Nicaragua Ecuador Ecuador

796 797

**Note that the introductions numher 703 to 797 are slill under study and that final disposition has not been raade

This will be done when more is known concerning their behavior In tlio field duriug last year.

35

Seed of other nicotiana species, mainly used for the study of disease

relations and inter-specifie hybi-idization, was obtained from various botanical gardens as foHows:

Dr. E. E. Clayton, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. D. A., Washing ton, D. C.—14 species; Prof. L. O. Kunkel, Rockcfeller Instilute lor Plant Researeh, Prineeton, N. J.—10 species; Prof. .lames .Jobuson, University of AVlsconsin, Madisoii, Wis.—4 species; tiie Brookl.Mi Botanical Garden, Brookl>Ti, N. Y.—30 species.

The majority of these species have been rejected and Nicoiúinií

N. Sanderae and N. repanda have now beeome establishod and niay be seen as volunteer plants occasionally in the Institute and tlie Insular lM)resli'\ Farm.

Seed distrihution.—During the past year l£í8 pounds oí well-selected seed of the variety Virginia No. 9 were distribnted free of charge to íarmers,

mainly through the farm bureaus. During the present year we have raiscd 358 poiuids of weU-selected seed to be similarly distributed for tlie noxt ciop season. One of the main aims of the Instituto is to eventually produce

enough weU-selected seed which may be a help in bringing aliout tlie uniformity of our types of tobáceo. Part III. Economics of Cigar Filler Tobacco

It is well to review brieíiy the economie situation of tlie Puerto Riean tobáceo industiy, which is eminently a eigar-íiller industry. IMPORTANCE TO PUERTO RICO

In the year 1935-36 there were 16,501 farms in which tobáceo was planted in the island. It is estimated that the potential production in these farms is nearly 30,000,000 pounds in approximately 50,000 cnerdas. * The arca planted in 1935-36 was 40,275.70 cuerdas. This shows an increase over the erop year 1934-35, but definite figures on the latter have not been secured, due to the fact that the most reliable data is that from the AAA and in that year, this administration left out of contract a considerable portion of the erop.

A erop of 22 to 30 million pounds of eigar-filler tobacco furnishes the means of subsistence of nearly ñfteen per cent of the population (scc last census) of the island. While in sugar cañe land is concentrated in the hands of relatively fewer farmers; in tobacco, distribution of land is more even. The large majority of the tobacco farmers raise less than ten acres each year.

On the basis of the 1934^35 figures, the average tobacco acreage per farm was 2.44 cuerdas. When the main tobacco-produeing areas of the interior aro

taken alone, the average number of cuerdas per farm is 3.19. (See Table No. 7.) From the standpoint of rural welfare, tobáceo holds an importanee seeond

oniy to sugar cañe, the island's ehief cash erop. It is the government's con

cern, therefore, to sustain tobacco production at least at present levels, and •One cuftrda = 0.9712 acre.

36

to improve thc crop in such tan«:ihle ways as will resiilt iii the improvement of the conditions of farmors and lahorers alike. Table No. 7—NUMBER OF FARMS AND ACREAGE OF TOBACCO IN THE MAIN-PRODUCINO AREAS OF PUERTO RICO

1935-36 Arcas

Farms

Aibonito

Cuerdas 1D35-36

2,637.30 1,842.90 3,163.00 2, 845.50 2,757.30 2,894.80

440

Barranquitas..

439

Caguas Cayey

918 534 719 400 468

Cidra Comerío Cíales Morovis

414

1,006.30 1,049.90

Coroza! Utuado Orocoví.s

372

662.30

865 364 481 408

2, 263.20

1, 291

3,539.70

441

Juncos

San Lorenzo.. Gurabo

Jayuya Guaynabo Bayamón Total...

5.94

4.20 3.43

5.33 3.83 5.91 1.85

867.40

Narnnjito

Aguas Buenas

Cuerda

per farm

2.28 2.54 1.78 2.62 2.26

824.40

1, 523,10

3.17 1.99

810.70

2.74 1.73 2.41 1.99

329

570-10

190

458.60

279

238

556.50 658.20

2.77

0,680

30,021.10

3.19

The División of Agricultural Economics of tlie College of A^riculturc Experiment Stalion of thc i.sland made a farm mana<»"ement study of 194 farms

in thc district of Aibonito-Barranqiütas-Comerío, in the year 1935-36. *

The

farms avcrajíed 14.4 cuerdas ot which 2.7 were in tobáceo. These farms were

also plantcd to othcr erops, as will be shown by the following table: Table No. 8—OROPS IN 194 TOBACCO FARMS, AIBONITO-BARRANQUITAS-COMERÍO, 1935-36 Ave. per Crop

farm

(cuerdas) 2.73 .59

.10

1.19 .13

1.14 1.89 .60

1.19 .05 .15

.11 .07 .24

Per cent oí total

26.5 5.7 .9 11.5 l.S 11.1

18.3 5.8 11.6 .5

1.5 1.0 .7

2.4

.12

1.2

10.30

100.0

(') Mimeograph rcport No. 5, Div. Agr. Ec.; Ins. Exp. Sta.

It is reported by the authors, that while tobáceo made only 26.5 per cent of the acreage planted, it brought 90.8 per cent of the total crop sales. This shows the importance oí" tobáceo in the interior of the island.

The following

table, published by speeial permission from the Assistant Chief of the División of Agricultnral Economics, presents a olear picture suggesting the importance of tobáceo in Puerto Rico:

'^^'^■'s^ ^-¿y^

-■-t.

cigar-filler and cigarette varieties.

FIG. 15.—Experimental field at La Plata, Aibonito, ou PRRA land. Experiment with

Table No. &—RELATION OF CUERDAS IN TOBACCO ANDSLABOR INCOME. 194 SMALL TOBACCO

FARMP. AIBONITO, BARRANQUITAS AND COMERIO, PUERTO RICO—1935-36

Cuerdas in tabacco Less than 3.00

1.00 or less

Number of fnrms

1.01-1.99

34 0.8

1.5

Total cucrdaspj r fnrm Total cuerdos in crops Net cuerdos lu crops

5.1

10.2

4.4

Man cquivfl' Capital invc.s ed Gross rccoipts

1.6

7.2 4.5 1.0

Cuerdos in tobáceo SIzc:

39 2.4

36 3.7

14.0 9.6

19.5 13.4 8.3 2.7

5.00 or more

30 0.8

26.1 10.8

$ 156 56

50

63

56 13

69

78

70 81

5

5

4

1.6

2.4

3.4

3.3

3.7

Per cent incoine from minor crops

4 8

6

8 2.4

2.6

$12.7

$13.2

Casi) labor cost per net cuerda iii crops

$

$

Farm incomo per cuerda

Quintal.s oí Fertilizcr i)cr cuerda iu tobáceo

3.00-4.99

$ 611 $ 269

$ 335

Per cent incomo from tobaccoC)

LABOR INCOME LADOR EARNINGS

2.00 or more

6.7 2.2 $ 750 $ 372

2.5

Farm organization: Per cent of prodiiction sold EÍDciency Factors: Net cuerdos in crop.s per equirolont Quintáis of tobocco por inon equivolent** Yíeld of tobocco per cuerda (quintáis) Capital turnovor (yeors).., Avcrace price per quintal of tobacco

51

3.00 or Moro

$

$ 1,094

585

81 82

11 8

14 8

1.0 $13.3

1.7

$14.9

$ 15 $ 15

$ 20 $ 22

$ 17

$ 16

$ 11

8.6

8.1 $ 45

$ 208

$ 1,737

8 7

$14.1 S 9

$ 28 $ 151

3.7

$ 1,100

2,1

5

5

12.8

7.7

7.8

8.0

$ 77 $ 244

$ 138 $ 345

$ 547

S 327

(•) Incluclcs A.A.A. pnyments (••) One quintal is eciuivolont to 100 Ibs.

It is shown that while miiior crops were planted on tlie farms on a

larger acroage than toliaeco, tlie latter provided a miieh greater ineome. The ineome from this crop ranged from 56 per cent to 82 per cent average for groups of i'arms having from one or less cuerdas to 5 or more c.uerdas of toliaceo. The talile also suggests a greater efíieiency iii tobáceo growing wlien

the aereage was increased. For instance, in farms witli one cuerda of tobáceo the efficieiicy factors were, in general, lower than iii farms with 5 or more cuerdas. This is a point wliieh desex'ves great consideration in any anal>sis of the eeonomic importance of the foliáceo culture. In small farms one expects tliat methods wliicli depend to a large extent on the capacity of an owner or leaser to opérate the farm and on the implements and tools at bis disposal, will take into account little of tlie information and advice given to liim. One can almost make the general statement that in the smaller farms even Iilowing is eliminated from the operations connectcd with the raising of the

toliacco crop. As the foliáceo acrcage increa.ses per farm, the money advanced for refaction will he greater, thiis enaliling the farmer either to purehasc his tools and other eQuipment, or reiit them. At the same time, small patehes of tobáceo very seldom get their neccssary share of iertilizer. The Tobacco Industry as a Source of Government Revenue Tobáceo constitutes one of the island's important sources of revenue. In the year 11)36-37, collections of various sorts amoiinted to $2,813,403.74, which is

30.45 per cent of the total collections of the government. Of this, only $16,061.14 were turned over for experimental work in the erop. The rest went

to the general funds of the Insular Government for general and budgetary

expenses. Such a good source of revenue to our Insular Govermnent should be supported and developed in sueli a way that, by higher eonsumplion, a lügber revenue may be colleeted. (See table 10). TOBACCO PRODÜCTIOX

Tlie produetion of Puerto Rican tobáceo showed a steacly inorcasc lrt)m tbe year 1921 to 1926, eulminating with tlie Inimper crop of nearly bO millioii pounds in 1927. From 1927 on, there has becn a slow decline in ])r()duc*tion-, but, again, in 1931 there Avas a crop larger than the appareiit needs of the market. By that year, the stocks of tobáceo had risen and tlie 1932 crop Avas menaced Avith Ioav prices. It Avas in that crop soasen that a vcry drastic movement Avhich ended Avith the destriiction of complete l)arn.s of tobáceo, brought doAvn the produetion to nearly 6 million pounds. Ilccovcry

from these measure's Avas not rapid, and in the year 1933 only nearly 16 miUion pounds Avere raised. Ea^cii in 1933 tlie stocks of Puerto Rican to])acco

Avere still much higher than the quota necessary to supply the normal demands of the trade. Had it not been for the unnsual reduction in the years 1932

and 1933, the stocks of Puerto Rican cigar filler in 1934 avouUI have l>ecn so high, that the Ágrieiütural Adjustment Administration, then beginning tlioir Avoi'k here, Avould have faced a very diííicult task. Even Avith tlie Ioav yields of the years 1932 and 1933, the stoclís in the market Avere so higli that government action was requircd through the AAA, in order to lednco produe tion, thereby decreasing the stocks in the hands of dealers. During tlie last year the AAA Avas not able to reduce the acreage planted to tobáceo, due to the invalidation of the AAA by a decisión of unconstitutionality from tiie U. S. Supreme Court. The produetion for 1936-37 has been in the ncighbín*-

hood of 27,000,000 pounds. It is expeeted that Puerto Rico Avill adjust lis produetion in the futuro to the market demands.

In order to shoAv the relativo position of Puerto Rico in the Uniled

States' cigar indastry, Avith relation to other eountries, the figures on iini^ortation of cigar-filler tobáceo into the United States are gÍA'en in table 11. In table 12 are given figures for produetion of cigar-filler tobáceo in the United States (continental United States and Puerto Rico). It is shoAvn that Puerto Rico produces on the average about 35 per cent of the eigar-filler tobáceo groAvn in the United States. In order to shoAv the position that Puerto Rico holds in total loliaeco

produetion, a tal)le (13) has been prepared to include the figures of other eountries in North and Central América engaged in tol^acco groAving. The figures for the Dominican Republic are not available after the year 1932-33. CIG.AR-FILLER TOBACCO CON.SUMPTION IN THE UNITED STATES

In order to shoAV the relative importance of the cigar-tobacco industry, some figures Avill be given on the eonsumption and disappearance of cigars and other cigar-leaf producís in the United States. From the year 1920 to 1933 tlierc

was a gradual decline in the coiisumption of cigars iii tlie Uaited States. Consumption droppcd from 7,250,000,000 cigars in 1020 to 4,5 2,000,000 ir. 1053, Sinee that ycar, howevcr, consumption luis been oii the incrcase. Anotlier Index oi' tile consumpíion oL" cigar leal' in the United States and Puerto Rico is the

disappearance of stocks. In the year 1920 there was a disappearance of 212,200,000 pounds ot cigar leal', or 115.9*/^ as mueh as the average disap pearance in the 10-vear period 1919-1928. Disappearance tlien dropped in 1922, but rose again in 1925 and 1026, to decline again steadily, down to the ycar 1933, which sliows a low ebb. The latter year marks a very low disap pearance (54.2% of the 1919-28 average). It will be rcminded tliat the eigar-filler tobáceo oí" tlie United States and

Puerto Rico íalls under tlie types 41 (Pennsylvania Seedleaf), 42 {Gcbhart from the Oliio Miami Yallcy), 43 (Zimmer) and 44 (Dutch) also of Ohio, 45 (Oeorgia-Plorida) and 46 (Puerto Rico). The stocks of cigar-filler tobáceo as per April 1, 1937, are givon in tablc 14. Por purposes of comparison tlie

stocks for the coi-responding date of 1936, are also given. The stocks of Puerto Rican tobáceo werc lower in 1937 than in 1936, while they werc relatively higher for tobáceo from tiie continental areas. Tlie figures show that Penn sylvania Seedleaf forms more than hall: of the total amount of Amcrican cigar-

filler tobáceo (Puerto Rico and United States), while Puerto Rico toliaeco forms only a little over 18%. As a matter of intercst il may be added that the importation of Cuban cigar filler and scrap was 15,633,615 pounds for the year 1935. CUB.\ AS A PRODUCEK OF CIGAR FILLER FOR THE AJIERICAN MARKET

Figures for tho importation of Cuban tobáceo into the United States between the years 1930 and 1935 are given in table 15. The figures in this tablc do not corresjiond to figures on tal)le 11. This may be due to tiie former l)eing figures for fiscal years. It will be noted that, in haimon^ \\ith the lower consumption of cigars in the United States, the importations of Cuban tobáceo dccreased steadily after 1930, but showcd a quite significant incrcase in 1935, undoul)tedly due to the lower tariif imposed on tiiat country a.s a resnlt of tho regulations of tlie AAA. T!ie Cuban tariff was reduced to 25 cents per pound duiáng the time that the AAA was in forcé. It is worthy of somc note to point out to the fact that the Culian tobáceo sold in the United States alone has brought a higher price than the income received by the Puerto Rican farmers for thoir wliole crop. MANUFACTURE IN PUERTO RICO

This island manufacturcd Icss cigars in 1936 than any other year since 1907. (Figures before 1907 are not available). Table 18 shows that in the

period 1907-1937 the highest produetion was 323,123,000 cigars in 1926. If a curve werc plotted it would show tliree inodes in 1917, 1920 and 1926. The

decline began in 1932 and continued until the past year.

In cigarette production tlie island has nevei* been very successfiil. In the period 1907-1937 there are only two years wheii manufactures rose above 500 millions, namely 1912 and 1920. Production has decreased rapidly since 1928, from 390 millions to 74 mülions in 1936. (Table 19.) IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

The importations of cigars in the pei'iod 1926—1937 was highest in 1928 and lowest in 1932. These figures are low when compared with cigarette

importations wliich reached the high peak in 1936 after a steady i'ise since 1926. The higher importations of cigarettes indicate increased eonsumption of American cigarettes at the expense of both cigars and cigarettes from Puerto Rico. The valué of the cigarettes imported in 1936 was $2,997,100. (See tables 20, 21 and 22).

The importations of unmanufactured tobáceo shown in table 20 and 22 are

not for eonsumption here. Only a small percentage of this tol)aceo remains on

the island, the greater part is reexported to the Unitcd States in the form of stemmed tobáceo or manufactured producís.

Table 23 contains the figures on exportation of unmanufactured tobáceo between 1921 and 1937. It is evident that the demands for our crop increased

until 1927 and then suddenly dropped until the low mark of 17 million pounds valued at nearly four and a half million dollars was reachcd. The high figure of 1927 probably indicates that even when the demands were not very high, the manufactnrers purehased in excess of their needs, taking advantage of the bumper crop of that year. Part of the tobáceo which appears as exportcd,

is a reexportation of leaf brought to Puerto Rico for stemming. Figures on exportation of cigars are given for tlie years 1921-1937. The highest exportation was made in 1926 (nearly 215 millions). In terms of valué in dollars the year 1921 is the highest (8 million dollars). Sales in the United States have greatly decreased since 1926 attaining tlie low level of $942,000. (See table 24). Cigarettes are not considered as an important export x)roduct. The high est exportation in valué was that of 1931 ($127,500). It has since then decreased eonsiderably (See table 25). CONSUMPTION OF TOBACCO IN PUERTO RICO

Exact figures on eonsumption of tobáceo are difficult to obtain but it is possible to make an estímate on the basis of importation, exportation and production.

The cigar and cigarette importations from the United States are mainly for eonsumption here, though a small quantity may be reexported to foreign countrie,s. fSee table 21). The valué of these produets was $3,001,500 in

the year 1935-36. Their quantity was 666,818 thousands of cigarettes and 150 tliousands of cigars. Of the production of Puerto Rico, figured on the

r

basis oí tax payments madc in thc Trcasury, 28,881 thousands of cigars and 6Í),526 tliousamls of c*ip:arettos werc consumod in Puerto Rico. The total consumption of tax-jiaid ciííars in 1935-36 was 29,031 thousands and of cigarettes 736,344 tiiousands. Tliiis, tlie island consuined around 9.5 times as many Amerieaii ci«arettes as Puerto Riean cijíarettcs, while in the case of cio-ars the proportion was 15) Puerto Hican to 1 inii)orted. TJiere has been a niarlced reduction in tlie eonsumplion of nativo eiííarettos from over 576 millions in 1920 to 69.5 millions in 1936. Tlie consumption of imported cisíarettes increased steadily until 1936 which showed a record importation of 666.S mil

lions. The increase in consunpdion of cigarettes was nearly 100 millions in the ten year period of 1926-1936.

The number of cigars imported from the United States has not been considerable. The nalive ciíjar consumption has deereased greatly to the record low figure of 28,881 tliou.sands in 1936. Simultaneously, cigarette con sumption has increased at the ex])cnse of cigars. The total consumption

deereased graduallv from 108,673 thousands in 1926 to 29,031 thousands in 15)36.

In the period 1926-15)35 the liighest cigarette consumption was in 1928. Consumption deereased during the acute dcjíression of 1932 and 1933 but rose again, no doubt due to imjiroved economic conditions.

Other forms of tobáceo consumed on the island and about whicli we iia^e

lio definite figuí-cs are plug and pipe (imported) and ehewing from the island. Perhaps some ten to twelve million pounds of loaf tobáceo are made nito ehewing tobáceo in Puerto Rico annually.

It is admitted tliat there is a liigii perceiitage of eigars made and con sumed hore whieli escapes our examination because it does not pay revenue. The position of the Puerto Riean tolmcco indnstry can be summaiized b^

C'on.sidering tliat: (1) Puerto Rico produces a crop of tobáceo which is preominently cigar filler, and wliicli eonstitutes about 35% of the total production of eigar fillor in tlie United States and its territories; (2) that the greater part of our cro]) is exportad; (3) that Puerto Riean cigar filler sells at a lower priee in the Ameriean market than Cuban tobáceo; (4) that

Puerto Riean tol)acco production, if produeed in the levels adjusted by the extinet AAA, could hope to eommand a fairly reasonable price. If produc tion were to exceed the present volumc, it can he expected that prices "will drop.

The .stocks of Puerto Riean cigar filler now in the hands of dealers, is probably only sitfficient to meet the normal demands of the trade. A reduction below the adjusted production of the AAA might cause a temporary shortage wliieh would no doubt be offset in a sueeeeding season in such a way as to be liarmful to the general interests of the Puerto Riean indnstry. A sen

sible consideration of the facts will, thcrefore, direct that production líe maiii-

tained at present levels or only slightly above the present demands.

Table No. 10—total tax collections in the tobacco industry and total excise TAXES IN PUERTO RICO DURINQ THE FISCAL YEAR 1932 to 1937

1932

CigarsC) Cigarettes Puerto Rico United States Cut Tobacco Puerto Rico ÜDíted States

Tobacco inspection Tobacco protection

1933

1934

1030

1035

1037

8167,933.29

$132,564.02

$110,772.00

$105, 354.42

$106,337.00

$90,164.81

485,267.84 1,394,362.46

385,345.75 1,359,634.97

265, 870.86 1,681,884.15

211, 783.94 1,738,626.70

365,243.27 1,851,660.50

201,623.00 2. 300,318.15

723.42 809.76

976.54 629.28

689.69

774.00 334.08

729.72

457.12

950.46 018.24

7,471.80 62,581.47

21,037.64

31,470.93

34,000.44

21,684 00

492.48

Stripped tobacco

22,993.39

Tobacco intemal revenue licenses

5,883.50 11,906.00 124,337.60

Manufacturers

Wholesale dealers Reiail dealers

5,476.00 14,153.00 108,268.25

3, 520.00 12.544.00 103,845.75

3,420.00 11,793.00 109, 272.75

3,380.00 10,073.50 104,010.00

3,500.00 11. 705.00 115, 531.09

Total, tobáceo industry.

2,251,337.04

2,028,084.35

2, 217,069.50

2,215, 368.33

2, 464,811.13

2,813, 403.74

Total, eitíse taies

8,047,372.96

6,299,809.08

7. 487,607.03

8, 283,092.11

9,183,804.60

9, 238,572.80

27.97

32.19

29.60

26.74

26.83

30.45

Percentages, tobacco collections

(*) Unless otherwise specified, figures are for Puerto Rico. Infonnation compiled from figures oí tbe Department oí Finance.

Table No. H—IMPORTATION OF CIQAR FILLER tobacco INTO U. S. In thodsand pounds (1,000 lbs.) Philippine Calendar Year

Islands

1,166

1925

008

1,611 3,727 3,063 4,680 4,144 3,560 1. 627 1, 485

1920

1930 1931 1932 1933

1034

Cuba

Puerto Rico

21,133 22,562 23,254 21,869 22, 237 19,656 16, 228 10. 639 10,706 11,173

Other Countrlcs

20,358

27, 201 24,047 17,575 22, 303 19, 193 16. 565 6. 098 16, 255 15, 272

163 110 288

13 20 58 8 4

8

Leas than

500 i>ouiids

Figures from Ü.S.D.A. Yearbook 1935.

Table No. 12-CIQAR FILLER PRODUCTION IN U. S.

In thousand pounds (1,000 Lua.) Frico paid íor Crop in cents per poiind State

1934

1035 1934

21,240 16,320 690

38,150 25,000 63,150 39.6$

Total U. S

1

Figures from U.S. D.A. Agricultural Statistics 1936.

28,188 17,415 1,190 46,793 22,600 69, 293 32.4$

1936

9.3

8.6 12.0 9.0

12.0 7.6 13.6 10.4

Table No. 13—TOBACCO PRODUCTION IN THE WORLD. 1932-33 to 1934-35 IN TH0U8AND rODNDS (1,000 LES.) Coiintry

1932-1933

1933-1934

1934-1035

NoRTn Amekica, Cektkal América and West Indies 54,094 1,022.750

Cañada Uniteci Stnles Me.xico

44,904

38. 734

1,366, 235 21,502 36.351

1,081,629

6,000

16, 783

25,000

1,327

1,202 14,077 64,889 15, 932 372,952 62,675

1,093 16, 263 70,897

24,561 34,092

Cuba Dominiean Rcpubtic.

24,609 45.020

12,125 205

Quateiiinln Puerto Rico Europe

Sweden Belgiani

113,088 62,223 18, 921

Qcrmnny Poland

Unión oí Soviet Socialisl Rcpubíics

340,015 67,710

Franco Switr.erlnnd Czochoslovakia

1,698 37,623

Iluniíary

87. 073

2, 447

3.411

25. 965 52.690

30,165 40,040

13.844 16. 661

13,020

16, 605

101,632

97.842

90,831

15. 609

Rumania

Spain

Italy. Albania

Yugoslavia. Bulgaria... Qrceco

2,834

2,307

37,934 38, 256 64, 497

17,013 53,915

120,985

13, 336 40. 685 92,109

39, 771

77,970

78,650

225

458

Asia

Turkoy Cyprus Syria and Labanon.. Palestino India Ceylon Siam Indo-(;hlDa Japan

15,283

454, 200 87,181

6,790 1,260

6,712

,379,840

1,245,440

"7,"2Í6

027

13,600 133,611 43,898 2,821 99,629

29,652 146,694 36. 494 3,880 92. 043

69, 339 9,560 30, 559

42,965 13,117 28,812

Brasil Chile Argentino.

224,869 8,746 32,959

242,506 7,627 22,302

Paraguay. Uruguay..

1,630

795

40,536 1, 362

28.825 1,125

30,704

Cboson (Korea).... Taiwam (Formosa).

Pbilippine Islancls... Java and Madura: European Nativo

Sumatra: European. SOUTQ AMERICA

AVRICA

Argelia Tunisia

148,989 33,961

51.489

49,007

743

Libia (Tripoiitania)

1,071

Tanganyika Territory.. Nyasaland: European Nativo Northon Rhodesia Southern Rhodesia

3,488 9,132 1,267 14,171

3,895 11,321 1,578

9, 300 21,385 2, 050

15,215 10,975

9,723 1,785

3,180 1,346

2,250 6,250

26,792

Unión oí Soutb-Africa:

European

Madagascar Mozambique OCEANU

Australia New Zcaland British North Borneo

Estimated AVorld Tota! (•) 90 Puerto Rico Production oí Estimated World Total (•). % Puerto Rico Production oí United Stntes

646

395

4,509,000

4,850,000

.0013 .0059

.0035 .0123

2,680 1,208

.0231

(•) Exclusivo oí China. Au ofllcinl estimnle oí the "avcrage" annual production oí all tobáceo in 25 oí the 28 Provinces oí China, issued in 1932, was 465,000,000 pounds. Tbo pioduclion oí íluecured tobáceo was estimated at

140,000,000 pounds in 1934-35 and 155,000,000 pounds in 1935-30,

45

Tablb No. 14-^T00K8 OP OIQAR PILLEE TOBACOO—U. 8. AND PUERTO RICO April 1/37—1,000 pouods 1,000 pounds April 1, 1930

Type UDStemmed

Stemmed

í oí 1937 total

Total

PeoD. Seedleaf

41

107,134

3,880

111,014

100,959

0.6396

Gebhardt(Obio Miami Valley)....

42

10,559

1,208

17,707

20. 001

0.0864

Zimmer

43

24,445

1,008

25,513

24,988

0.1240

Dutcb

44

12,288

134

12, 422

10,529

0.0604

Georgia-Florida Sun-growD

45

097

857

1, 554

1,033

0.0076

Puerto Rico

46

Total

10,014

27,437

37,451

40,899

0. 1820

171,137

34,584

205,721

109,909

1.0000

TaBLE No. 15-IMPORTATION OF CUBAN TOBACCO INTO THE UNITED STATES (•)

CiGAR FiLLEB AND SCRAP (STEUUED BASIS)

Year

Pounda

1930 1931 1932 1933 1934

Valuó

18,120,197 17, 347, 270 13, 222,132 12,607,838 12, 587, 269 15,633,615

$15,799,769

12,287,081 8,249,240 7,373,308 7,180.520 8,993,212

(*) Data obtalned from A. A. A., Tobáceo SectioD

Table No. 16-CONSUMPTION OF CIQARS IN U. 8. IN MILLIONS OF CIQARS

Class

Class

Class

A

B

C

Year

3,960

758 173

3,641 2,578 2,566 2, 493 1. 367

3,932 4,197

34 60

674 506

2. 043 2, 872 3,027 3, 457 1933 1934

D & E

2,620 1,613 1,141

Total

7, 250 7. 215 C. 921 0,891 5,599 4.692 4,865

84 152 187

IS3 99 52 45

Table NO. 17—DISAPPEARANCE OF CIGAR LEAF IN U. S. AND PUERTO RICO BEGINNING OCTOBER Ist.

Million

pounds

Year

1920 1922 1925

1926 1927 1931 1933

46

í 1919-1928 Averago

212.2 154. 7 199.9

115.0 84.5 109.2

217.5 175.9 107.9

96.1 58.9

99.3

54.2

Table No. 18—OIQAR PRODUCTION OF PUERTO RICO Fiscal Years 1007-1937

Number withdrawn íor Puerto Rican

Fiscal Year

Number withdrawn íor

Total output

export

eonsumption Tbousands

1907

74,698

1908 1909 1010

76,984 84,933 92,700 101,064 111,683 110,038 112,712 101,423 109,130 107,888 106,647 94,335 98,024

1911

1912 1913

1914 1915 1916

1917. 1918. 1919. 1920. 1921. 1922. 1923. 1924. 1925. 1926. 1927. 1028. 1929. 1930. 1931. 1932. 1933. 1934. 1035. 1936. 1937.

Thousands

132,670 103,782 140,302 151,724 174,743 169,766 165,769 150,364 174,275 159,249 210,399 181,800 148,125 223,316 152,324 140,504 184,626 162,332 196,560 214,547 160,805 147,354 158,781 145,798 171,458 122,455 63,038 65,278 63,193 52,368 51,237

105,728 77,513 75.018 75,929 70.019 108,577 68,647 63,392 61,330 55,453 48,494 43,524 36,547 32,002

"28,530 28,881 50,047

Thousands

207,368 180,766 225,236 244,425 275,808 281,448 284,807 263,076 275,698 268,379 318,288 288,446 242,459 321,340 258,052 218,017 259,643 238,261 266,579 323,123 229,452 210,747 220,111 201,251 219,952 165,979 99,586 97,281 91,723 81,249 101,284

Source: Departmont of Finance. Table No. 19—CIOARETTE PRODUCTION OF PUERTO RICO Fiscal Yeaks 1907-1937

Number withdrawn for Puerto Rican

Fiscal Year

Number withdrawn íor

Total output

export

eonsumption Thousands

347,722 354,408 365,526 303,844 459,710 532,431 464,861 376,695 339,080 308,026 (•) 340,077 426,582 576,425 411,717 434,653 417,307 401,134 410,102 365,260 341,857 373,458 286,632 230,325 211,686 166,510 122,248 91,339 70,638 69,526 66,404

907

1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918. 1919 1920 1931 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926. 1927. 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1

(•) Figures not available. Source: 1907-1930—Qovernor's report íor 1930. 1931-1937—Department oí Finance.

47

Thousands

10,460 11,232 11,245 13,142 11,760

11,293 8,908 6,195 12,021 11.785 9,571 6,440 20,112 5,124 5,738 2,056 2,997 7,734 14,006 10,262 12,597 16.786 17,756 21,072 20,015 9,402 4,978 6,788 6,366 4,784 6,747

Thousands 358,182 365, 640 376,770 406,986 471,470 543,724 473,769 382,890 351,101 319,811 (*) 346,517 446,694 581,340 417,465 436,709 420,303 408,868 425, IOS 374,522 350,454 304,244 304,387 260,397 231,701 175,912 127,226 98,127 77,004 74,310 72,161

TabIB no. 20—valtje op the exportation and importation of tjnmanüfaotured AND MANUFACTURED TOBACCO—FISCAL YEARS 1921-37

Valué in 1,000 dollars

Exportation

Importation

Fiscal year Unmanu-

íactured

Manu-

1921.. 1922.. 1923.. 192-1.. 1925.. 1926.. 1927..

13, 568 9,003 9,462 13,191 9,870 13,945

1928..

17.075 12,885 11,917 13,167 6,715 4,404 6,333 7,148 6,254 9,135

8,122 6,316 6,929 5,511 7,220 7,258 4,304 3, 704 3,929 3,491

20.587

1929.. 1930.. 1931.. 1932.

1933. 1934.

1935. 1936.

1937.

Uninanu-

Total

(actured

4,029

2,474 1,329 1,532 1,359 1,117

facturcd

21,690 15,318 16,302 18,702 17,090 21,203 24,891 20, 770 16,814 15,407 17,196 9,189 5,733

7, 864 8,507 10,371 10,115

Manufactured

1,910

1,530

232

439 412 592 619

812

706

1,013 1, 228. 1,716 1,934 1,409 2,080 1,961 842 657 402 450

668 773

Total

3. 440 071

1,224 1,298 1. 032 2, 217

989

1,249 1,607 2,146 2. 325 2. 246 2. 299 2,101 2, 398 2, 370

2,965 3,540 3,615

4,400 4,207 3. 141

2,848 2,800

2,820 3,688 4, lOG

3,020 3, 423

Souice: Monthly Summarics ol Foreign Commerce of the United Statos and Annual Rcports, Ctistoms llousc.

TableNo, 21-IMPORTATION OF CIQARS AND CIQARETTES FROM THE UNITED STATES FISCAL YEARS 1926 to 1937.

Average valué ¡jer imponed Valué in 1.000 dollars

Thousands

thousand in dollars

Fiscal Year

Cigars 1926

Cigarettes 96

1927

132

1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933

554 267 133

1934

1935 1936 1937

58 33 185 88 167

150 102

275,971 311,249 332,496 398,798 421,353 468, 234 445,600 448, 982 549,113 599,083 666,818 777,519

Cigars 0.3 10.1 28.7 13.7 8.7 1.9 0,9 7.7 2.8 5.6 4.4

2.8

Cigarettes

Cigars

Cigarettes

928.2

1,157.4 1, 497.0 2,044.3 2.182.3 2,109. 2 2, 291.0 2,163.3 2,379.5 2,347.0 2,997. 1 3,309.9

3.36 71.34 61.89 51.33 65. 07 32,81

26. 12 41.83 32.10 33.33 29. 12 27.08

Source: Monthly Summaries ot Foreign Commerce of the United Slates and Annual Reports, Customs Houso.

48

3. 72 4.50 5. 13

6. 18 4.70 5. 14 4.82

4. 33 3.92 4.40 4.37

r

Table No. 23—importation of unmanufactured tobacco into püerto rico Fiscal Years 1921-37

Importation from the Uníted Stntes

Importation from foreign countries

Total

Averago valué per

Fiscal year Valué

1,000

in 1,000

pounds

dollars

5, 235

1921. 1922.

Valuó

1,000 pounds

In 1,000

Importcd pound in

dollars

dollars

Valuó

in 1,000

1,000 pounds

dollars

1,909

5,239

1,910

332

704

232 813

704

812

1923. 1924.

2, 704 2,947 3,613 4,261 2,827 3,070 4,002 5,043 2,608 1,632 1,423 1,600 1,963 2,138

1925. 1926. 1027.

1928. 1929. 1930. 1931. 1932.

1933. 1934. 1935. 1930. 1937.

706 645

603

368

576 811

395 426

1,639

1,059

886 770

599

109

833

1,290 875 870

1, 606 1, 017

2.794 3,650 4,189 6,072 4,366 3, 955 4, 772 5.162 3,003 1,987 1, 581 1.795 2, 597 2,731

475

668

395

44 174

504 342 371

855

153

158 205

379 458

634 593

60 85 289 315

.36 .33 .25 .29 .29 .84 .44 .37 .44

706

1, 013 1,228 1,716 1, 934 1,469 2,080 1, 961

.38

842

.28

657

.33

402

.25

456 668

.25

.26 .28

773

Source: Mootbly Summarios oí Foroign Commcrco oí tho Unitcd Statcs and Annual Reports, Customs House.

Table No. 23—EXFORTATION OF TOBACCO FROM PÜERTO RICO; STEMMED, UNSTEMMED SCRAPS AND TRIMMINOS AND STEMS Fiscal Yeaks 1921-37

Eiportation to the Unitcd States

Eiportation to foreign countries

Averaga

Total

valué

Fiscal year

per Valué

1021 1922 1923 1924 1925 1920

1927 1928 1929 1930 1031

1932 1033. 1934 1935.

1936. 1037.

Valué

1,000

in 1,000

1,000

in 1,000

pounds

dollars

pounds

dollars

14, 564 22, 370 19, 574 23, 298 22, 721 24, 521 30,730 29,807

27,410 26,014 25,180 17,036 12,928 18,846 10, 974 23,167 23,580

13,652.6 8,094.0 0,459.4 13,160.6 9,837. 3 13,944.0 20,680.3 17,061.5 12, 881.5 11, 013.6 13,165. 2 6,713.9 4,403. 2 6,328.6 7,146.4 9,253.6 9,135.0

104 83 15 111 236 52 128 28 24 12 06 3 24 10 106

1

16.7 8.7 2.6

21.1 32.5 7.2 13.0

3.6 2.9 1.6 1.1 0.4

4.1 1.1 0.7 .01

in 1,000

exportad pound in

dollars

dollars

Valué 1,000 pounds 14,668 22, 453 19, 589 23,400 22,958 24, 521 30,782 29,935 27,438 26,038 25,192 17,101 12, 931 18,870 19, 986 23, 261 25,580

13, 668.2 9,002.8 9,462.1 13.190.7 9. 870.1 13, 944.9 20,587.5 17, 074.6 12,885.1 11,916.5 13.166.8 6.716.0 4, 403.6 6, 332.6 7.147.6 9, 254.4 9,135.0

0.03

0.40 0.46

0. 66 0.43 0.57 0.67 0.57 0.47 0. 46 0. 53

0.30 0. 34

0. 34 0.36 0.40

0.30

Sotirco: Monthly Summaries of Foreign Commerce oí the United States and Annual Reports, Customs House.

Tabii No. 24-OiaAB BXPORTATION FROM PUERTO RICO—FISCAL YEABS W21-3T

Enwrtatioa

Exportation to

to the Unlted States

íoreign countrles

Average

Total

valué

Fiscal yesr

per

Valué Thousands

1921 1922 1923 1924 1925

152,066 140,457 192,069 175,251 196,553

1926

214,546

1927

160,804 144,378 158,656 145,566 166,896 122,455 63,044 64,992 61,227 53,297 50,339

1928

1929 1930

1935 1936

1937

Thousands

in 1.000 doUars

Valué In 1.000

Thousands

Valué

exported

io 1,000

tbousand in dollars

dollars

8.101.6 6.277.8 6.910.7 5.458.9 7.105.3 7.196.4 4,227.6 3.625.6 3.847.8 3.408.7 3,899.6 2.403.5 1,284.3 1.463.9 1,322.9 1,095.2

47 68

951.8

70

32 47 35 38

2.0 1.2

0.8 1.2

7

0.3

1.4 1.8 1.9

dollars

152,098 140,504 192,104 175,289 196,560 214,546 160,804 144, 378 168,650 145,566 166,896 122,455 63,044 64,992 61,274 53,365

8,103.6 G, 279.1 6,911.5 6, 400.1 7,105.6 7.190.4 4, 227.6 3,025.6 3,847.8 3,408.7 3.899.6 2, 403.5 1, 234.3 1, 463.9 1. 324.3 1,097.0

60, 409

053.7

53. 28 44.69

35.98 31.15 36.15

33.54 26.29 25.11 24.25

23.42 23.37 19.63 20.37

22.62 21.61 20.68 18.02

SoTirce: Moothly Summaries oí Foreigo Commerce oí the Unlted States and Annual Reports, Customs Houso.

Tablí No. 25-CiaARETTE EXPOETATION FROM PUERTO RICO—FISCAL YEARS 1021-37

Ezpprtstlon

Exportation to

to the Uoited States

íorelgn countrles

Average

Total

valué

Fiscal year

per

Valué Thousands

Id 1.000 valué

Thousands

'4,962

1921

776

s.s

1,396

34.2

660

888

2,976 4,024 4,626 6,442 7,347 11,409

;

Thousands

3,710

9.3 38.3

9,380 3,820

95.7 35.5

5,250 5,377 6,186 6,027 20,122 7,779 2,972 5,102 3,719

52.2 44.6 44.2 44.6 99.5 16.9 26.6 17.6

16,829

3,760

18.4

6,002

23.9

39.3

12,569 15,046 10, 272 10,688 10,560

13.1 2.3 8.7 11.1 12.9 19.4 23.4

33.2 36.8 36.8 28.0

Valué In 1,000 dollars

dollars

1922 1923

1924 1925 1926 .1927 .1928 .1929 .1930 .1931 .1932 .1933 .1934 .1935 .1936 .1937

Valué in 1,000

6,738 2,056

3,864 7,734

14,006 10, 262 12,697 16,786 17,755 21,072 30,394

18,467 13,538

6,382

28.6 27.1 36.3 16.3

20,931 10,101

5

0.1

3,765 5,002

18.0 36.5 18.0 49.4 108.6 54.9

75.6 77.8 80,0 80.5 127.5 67.8 43.0 62.9 32.9 18.5 23.9

exported thousand iu dollars

3.24

17.73 4.65

6,38 6.35 6.00 4.64 4.51 3.62 4.20

3.67 2.18

3.01 3.26

4.91

4.77

Source: Moothl; Sunmurles oí Forelga Commerce oí the Uoited Ststes and Aonuat .{leports, Customs House.

im.

'

7.76

{

10

15

20

25

JO

jaeixeji

<Q "5

í:

V) O o

:k.

ilM.I

5

o

i

5

Q

<5 *

Also shows relation to normal rainfall.

GRAPH 1. Rainfall in principal tobáceo districts in January 1936 and 1937.

I

i

I

«O

O

O

QC

o

Milliona

oí Cigars

IZO

¡05

90

7S

bO

30

15

♦ •n

00

'VJ

Fiscal Tears

GBAFK 2.—Consumption of cigars in Puerto Rico. Basis of revenue payments.

i52

-4 M

Millimis »f

Ciiíiiri'íti's rso

1

/

(,7S

/

/

600

X/

S23

450

1

375

1

ÓOO

'SO

75

<a

o^

Fisciil Yi jirs

GllAPH 3.—Consiunption of cigarettes in Puerto Rico. Basis of revemie payments.

53

n

w

V'-'W-

SEGOND ANNOAL REPORT ofihe

TOBAGCO INSTITÜTE OF PÜERTO RIGO

By

J. A. B. NOLLA

63^-.7i (jvns)^

-r /Á /»»j j y CR

338.1 P977r

1937/38 "■NLIMB. .; T jj"

SAK JÜAN, P. R.

' BtfBlAO O* SWPLM8, PEINTlN^a, Ain> TllANaPOBTATIOK 1939

338.1 P977r

1937/38 Annual report

CR

338,1 P977r

1937/38 C.. 1

i - B BL OTECA

1 <ยง19

SECOND ANNร AL REPORT of the

TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

Bv

J. A. B. NOLLA

SAN JUAN, P. a,

BUKEAU OP SUl'l'lJES, ruiNTI.VO. AND TUANSPORTATION 1939

an

33?./ P977r

[lS37/38l

\

UNIVERSIDAD DE PUERTO RJCO

SISTEMA DE BIBLIOTECAS ACv-. 'ISÍCÍONES-DONATIVOS

O 7 OCT 2009

THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

LIST OF ERRATA FOR THE SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

Pagc 9, Paragrapli 2, liiie 1, fivc iustead oí four.

Pago 11, Table 2, Coliimn I D/P.E., line 15, read 9.34, instead oí -9.34.

Page n, Table 2, Column 4 D/P.E., Une 16, read -1.0, instoad of 1.0.

Page 11, Paragraph 2, Une 4, read 739 instead of 939.

Page 11, Paragraph 3, Une 2, read D/P.E. instead of B/P.E. Pagc 11, Paragrapli 4, line 2, read five instead of four.

Page 13, Table 3, Coluran 2, Une 3, read 1630.32 instead of 1680.32. Pagc 13, Paragraph 1, line 2, read 436-2 instead of 436-8. Pagc 13, Table 4, Column 1, Une 4, read 436-2 instead of 436-8. Page 13, Table 4, Colnmn 1, line S, read 436-2 instoad of 436-8. Page 14, Pig. 6, line 1, read 485-8 instead of 485-3. Page 15, Une 1, read 436-2 instead of 436-8.

Page 15, Paragraph 5, line 1, read five instead of four.

Page 19, Paragraph 2, line 2, read 243-7-5-15 instead of 243-7-515. Page 21, Paragraph 1, line 1, read 1938 instead of 1928. Page 21, Paragraph 4, Une 2, read ten instead of ninc. Pago 23, Paragrapli 3, Une 1, read five instead of four.

t En

$ <s

an

S3?.l P977r

[1937/38] «■'■aHT .fíO'í ATAJinM, *t;, '¡•UXI Trtavu oooAfío-r .T't'.' .r -«M.!

TMv ^

1: {•, ,

^

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.í" .(1 -tit í

' 'I '

o 7 OCT 2003

U h-t.-'iyivir.'?*:

'

' ••c ifíi'' 1

UNIVERSIDAD DE PUERTO RICO

SISTEMA DE BIBLIOTECAS ALC ÜSICIGNES-DGNATIVGS

:v.

THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

ADMINISTRATIVE BOARl) ®

IIoN. F. A. López Domínguez. Commissioner ol" Agricultuie aml Cüinmerce, Presidcnt, Ex-Officio Mií. Felipe Carro Mr. Francisco Ortiz Lebrón Mr. Ramón Moran .Jr. Mr. (Candelario Morales

jMr. Carlos «I. Riiiz, Aeting Secrotary STAFF

J. A. B. NollAj Ph.D.,^ Director

Alberto S. Amy, B.S.A., Assistant Agronomist Manuel (íarcía Fortuno, B.S.A., Assistant Agronomi.sf

F. II. Bunker, Toiíaeeo Expert. in chargc ot' tlie experimental fann at ('aguas.

Alfon.so Riera, B.S.CIi., Assislant Clicmist Manuel E. Seloas, Tax Ins]>eclor * .\s of AuglIRt o, l'.t.'t?.

'R|'ríKU'''1 Miiy 12,

1 tN

$

Mr. C'arlíiR EkU'Víi, Jr. «i)ii.iinlc<i a» shi'<-i-s.r«)v, Miiv IS. ISI.IS

r

possitle valuĂŠ as cigar wrapper tobĂĄceos.

FIG. 1. Strain test under shade. New promising strains resistant to mosaic and of

SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TOBACCO INSTITÜTE OF PUERTO RICO

By J. A. B. Nolla *

The first rcport of the Tobáceo Institute which appeared a year

ago, contained a short histoiy of its establishment, the work in progress and a eoiisideration of the economics of cigar filler tobáceo. The writer eoiitinued as Director of the Institute while retaining

his position of Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture. On jNIay 12th., 1938 he accepted the position of Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station of the University, thereupon severing his conncetions with the Institute. His appointment in the Tobáceo In

stitute stipulated tliat no salary would be paid him while he held any other position in the government. Therefore, he never rcecived any additional compensation for his services ae Director of the Institute. PROGEESS DURING THE YEAR The Oaguas Substation

The substation at Caguas was organized during the year. This substation has been the only field station of the Institute. Tlierein have been conducted the field tests with fertilizers. varieties and the

advanced breeding program.

Permanent breeding and fertilizer tests were established during the year. Immediately upon purchase of the farni of api)ioximatel3 16.5 aeres, two barns were eonstrueted. These \\ere of two types;

intcnded mostly for the demonstration of what we believe should be good tobáceo barns for Puerto Rico. Both barns ha\e loof \entila-

tion, a íeature laeking in ihe ordinary native bain. Both bains <iie built ot wood; but the roof in one is ot corrugated iion, as in niost barns here; while that of the other is of cañe stla^\. It is belie\ed that the straw roof and the roof ventilation are desiiable inipio\ements on the ordinary barn. The flue-curing shed built in the oíd farm was transferred to the substation.

THE LABORATORY AND FARM AT RIO PIEDRAS

The installation of cQuipnient and other fixtures was niade during the year. All the necessary furniture was purchased or secured by transfer from other agencies. * Resigiied May 12, 1938.

SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

P

FIG. 2. A new strain (742) of cigar filler tobรกceo developed by Mr. F, H. Bunker; selection from tobรกceo variety imported frora St. Croix.

OP TELE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

A tobáceo barn was Ijuilt for two purposes: one, to demónstrate roof ventilatioii and two types of doors; tlie other, to provide a enring shcd for the tol)aceo grown on this farni.

Thc grecnhouse and headhouse were completed. The major part of our seedbed work was done in it. A series of concrete beds was

built outside the greenhouse, intended for use with lath. Five beds were biiilt espccially for entomological or pathological use. A framework was constructed over each one, provided with small doors and adapted for sereening witli either cloth or mesh wire. RESEAROH WORK

The need for the study of thc maiiy problems aifeeting tobáceo culture and, therefore, limiting the income of the tobáceo farmer, because of lower yields and poor quality of leaf, has bcen amply considered in other reports which have bcen alrcady published. Thc research studies which the writer had bcen conducting prior

to the organization of the Instituto wcrc mainly in the field of plant

pathology and genetics. This work has been continucd on a larger scalc. Experiments in fertilizers and in soil improvement with leguminous crops were begun. An account of each research project is given below. LEGUMINOUS CROPS FOR TOBACCO SOILS

The expei'iment l)egun during February 1937 was continued. The ol)ject is to compare tlie relative valué of cover cro])s for poor tobáceo soils. Tlie soil type is Sabana Seca Clay Loam. The following crops were i)lanted: velvet beans, soybeans, and (Uniavaliu eiisiforniis. The sizc of piel adopted was 1/40 acre, which will perniit the planting of seven rows of tobáceo at approximately 42 inches apart. Borders were left between the plots, 3 feet in a lengtliwise direction and 2 feet in the transverse direction.

One crop of legumes was grown during this year, and plowed

under. Deterininations of yield of green weight and dry matter Averc made. Since the best mensure of tlie efl'ect of the crops in the

soil will be the yield nnd (luality of the tobáceo, tlic information obtained will be turued over to iny successoi'. The land uot included in tiie above experiment was al! ])]anted to velvet beaus and Oanavalia with the object of i)lowing under before plauting to tobáceo next season.

yielding strain developed frora the cross AmhaJema x Turkish.

FIG-. 3. A new strain (271-1-18) oí tobáceo resistant to the mosaic disease. A higíi

OP THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OP PUERTO RICO SHADE TOBACCO TRIAIS

Our present strain collection includes tobáceo of four different

sources: strains developed foi* resistance to mosaic and to the black

shank {Phyfophthora pani.siticu Dastiir) ; strains developed by seleetion and hybridization by Mr. F. H. Bunker in Caguas, without respect to disease resi.stanee; and imi)orted strains. Eight of tliese .strains wcre planted: strains 271-1-6, 271-1-lS, 224, 243-2, 243-7, and 243-9, resistant to mosaic; 739 (a selection by Mr. Bunker, from native tobáceo near Barceloneta, P. R.) and 654 (a tobáceo collected in Ija Vega, Santo Domingo). The size of plot was 1/56.72, replieated four times. The strains were distributed at random. Of the seven rows planted in each plot only five were harvested in the exi)eriment. The leaves were primed. The relative merit of the various .strains will be evaluated on the

basis of tbe total yield per acre and on the quality of the leaf. The latter, being dependent upon the burning eapacity, fire-holding capacity, ash characters and smoking cpiality, cannot be reported here. It will take some time yet liefore this phase of the experiment is accomplished. Table 1, shows the yield and its significance. TAUI.E I—TFIK VIELD OF EIGIIT .STRAINS OF CIGAR WRAFl'ER TOBACCO GROWN

UNORR SHADE, AND TUR RELATIVE ORDER OF MERIT OF SUCII STRAINS Mean Wt. in Ibs.

Sirain

1'. E.

(F. E.)2

per ¡ilot 271-1-0 271-1-18 224-3-U-l 2'1:J-2-1-I-7

243-7-5 12 24.3-9 739 054

. . .

19. 38 17.02 17.24 10. 14 15. 70 14.3(1 13.90 13.00

Onier of Merit

Vield in

Lbs. per Acre

9. 310

0. 0998

1

1.538.97

0. 770 0. 207

0..5929

•y

0.0713 0. 1490 0. 0037 0.0119 0.032 0. 0750

o

1399. 20 1309.03

0. 380 0. 777 0. 109

0. 179 0. 273

•>

1281. 08

3 4 4 4

1251.50 1135. 50 1108. 50

1084. 74

SECOND ANNUAL KEPOlrl'

.'í' v'{

~.;¿

•'r**^.

FIG. 4.

A desirable new strain (436-2-1) of cígar fiUer tobáceo;

susceptible to mosalc but high yielding.

OF THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

11

Tlie order of merit of the strains is based oii the probable error of the differences in yield which appear in table 2. Table 2—ANALYSIS of DIFFERENCES IN YIELD BETWEEN EIGHT STRAINS OF CIGAR WRAPPER TOBACCO

Significance Strnins

(271-I-G)-*-(2"l-l-18)

D.

1.76

224

2. 14

(243-2) (243-7) (27I-l-18)-224 (243-2) (243-7) (243-9)

3.24 3.62 0.38

739 fi54

3.66 3.96

224-(243-2) (243-7) (243-9)

1.48 2. 94

739 654

(243-2)-(243-7) (243-9) 739 654

(243-7)-(243-9) 739 654

(243-9)-739 654 739-654

1.48 1.86 3. 32

1.10

3.28 3.58 0.38

1.84 2. 18 2. 48 1.46 1.80 2. 10 0.34 0.64 0.30

P. E. D.

0.832 0.414 0. 499 0.839 .817 .861

1.094 0. 778 0.772 0.817

0.470 0.822 0.288 0.3214 0.3833

0. 8676 0. 370 0.4254 0.474 0.7846 0. 7976 0.8243

0. 123 0. 2958 0.328

D/P. E.

of Difference

2.12 5.17 6. 49 4.31

0.47 1.72 1.70

4.29 4.74 4.85 2.34 1.80

í

10.21 10.21

t

—9.34

+

4"

1.0

4.97 5. 12 5.23

+ + +

1.56 2. 26 2.55 2.76 2.16 —1

•Becnuso P. E. of 243-9, 739 and 654 is lower tlian that of either 243-7 or 243-2 and tliese show signiílcant differonces, it is not necessary to furthcr determine significance of differences of 243-9, 739 and 654 which are lower yieiding than 271-1-6.

A study of the figures shows that the mosaie resistant strains

are high yieiding. Strain 271-1-6 exceeds all otlier strains exeept 271-1-18. Strains 271-1-18, 224 and 243-2 are almost equally high

yieiding and all outyielded strains 243-9, 939 and 654. Strain 243-7 was aboiit as liigli a yielder as 243-9, 739 and 654. The highest yieiding strain, 271-1-6, prodiieed at the rate of 1538.97 jioiiiids jier acre which is 454.97 pounds higher than tlie lowest yieiding strain 654.

In this study likc in the other experiments re])orted below, the ratio B/P. E. 3.20, or odds of 31.36:1, is given as the level of sig nificance of results. A ratio ecpial to or higher than 3.20 and the corresponding odds are considered as meaning that the differences are significant and, therefore, not to be attributed to chance alone.

SUPERIOR SUN CROP STRAINS

Out of the large collection of strains now ready for field tests, seven were planted in randomized plots of 1/56.72 acre; with foiir

replications, All the strains were planted at equal distances, both

FIG. 5.

A proinising strain (224-3-3) of totacco resistaut to the mosaic disease; developed from the cross Ambalfwa X Turki.-'li.

OF THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

13

betwecn rows and in the rows. All plots were jjroperly fertilized witli cqual quantities of fertilizer. As in other field experimeiits with tobáceo, out of seven rows in cach ])lot, only fivc were harvested.

The tobáceo was primed. The results given in table 3 are in terms of ))arn-cured leaf. Tahi.k 3—yield of seven strains of cigar wrapper tabacco and their RELATIVE ORDER OF MERIT

Mean Wt. Strain

in Ibs.

P. E.

(P. E.)»

per acre

742.. 271-1-r.

43f)-2 224... 485-8-1 Vir.-9.

3686.92

2977.9 1735.92

60. 72

20. 37

414.94

1680.32

2.5. 16

1658.08

34. 77 6.47

22.69

633.03 1208.95 41.86 514.84

28.21

795.80

1.505.62 1504.02 1388. 1

144-5-4

Order of Merit

The strains <iiven in the above table have the followiiií»- ori«íin:

nos. 271-1-6, 436-8, 224 and 485-8-1 are mosaic resistant strains froni direct and backerosses Anibaleina

^ni, ^ni, ^111.. ^in..

X

Turkish

1-14-5-4 is a black sliank resistant strain from

the ero.ss Cuban X Turkish; V-O is the eommon Wliite Virginia to báceo of Puerto Rico; and 742, a selectiou by Mr. Bunker from St. Croix tobáceo.

Table 4 shows the statistical comparison of the various .strains. Tahi.E 4-ANAEVSIS of DIFFERENCES in yield RETWEEN SEVEN STRAINS OF CIOAR FILLER TORArCO

1 Sirnins

P. K. 1).

D

,

Sipnifirnnce D/P. E.

<,f

DilTcrriice

i 1

74-2-(27I-l-r>)

.

1241.98 1472. 28

64.05

19.4

(48.5-8-1)

61.06

224

1319. 82

69.97

24. 11 18.86 1.72 1.93

(271-1-5)-(-36-8)

60

224

77. 84

(48.5-8-1)

230. 30 231.90 22. 24

V. 9

(436-8)-(224)

.

(48.5-8-1) V. 9

224-(48,5-8-1)

174. 70 176.30

.

V. 9

(144-.5-4)

1,52. 46 154.66 269. 98

(48,5-8-1 )-V. 9 .

40.30 21.37 30.49 42.92 25.98 33.88

117. 52 11.5.92

Strain No. 144-5-4 is the lowest

7.61

A

—1

6. 72 -í

41..52

4.31 3. 71

-4

44.77

6.03

4-

-1 28.94 36.2 :

-f

—

4. 06 3. 20

yielding- strain; and is followed

the suiierior strains V-9 and 485-8-1.

piactically alike in yield. There

10. 78

.5. 20

3.5.37

1.60

(144-5-4) V. 9-(144-.5-4)

closely by

32.37 1

+

was

no

The le tter are

significant dlíference in

SECOND ANNUAL EEPOET

•««i*

VA $

f

f

FIG-, 6. A very promismg uew straiii (485-3) of tobáceo resistant to the mosaic disease; developed from the cross Auihalrma X Turkinh.

OF THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUEETO EICO

15

yield amonj»' slvaiiis 224, 436-8 ancl 271-1—6; l)iit thoy all pi'oved tü yii'ld hiíiiior thaii V-9 and 144-5-4. Strain 742 yielded higher than all tho rost of tho strain.s.

This exj)oi'imont will continué until data is obtained on tlie Inirning and .smoking qualities. On yield alone one should not elimínate any strain. PEIMING vs. STALK-CUTTING

Con.sideral)lo argnment has generally existed regarding tlie metliods of harvesting, espeeially with respeet to yield and quality. Tlie i'armers of most of the principal tobáceo distriets havc now learned to pi'ime thcir ci'op and havc abandoned the older mcthod of stalkcntting. A few of the be.st tobáceo di.stricts still cling to the latter method. One of the factors responsible for manj- poor crops is, uiidoubtedly, tiic priming of the leaves. Buyers iisually prefer stalkcut tol)acco to any other. If curing on tlie .stalk furnishes more natural conditions one will expect a higher quality in tol)acco so cured. On the other hand, it is generally admitted tliat priined to])acco is heavier. If thc.sc premises are true, it has to be sliown whether the higher yield of primed tobáceo is sufíicient to overeóme the advantages derived from tlie higher quality of .stalk-cut tobáceo. The measure will naturally have to be on the basis of net income.

If stalk-cut tobáceo brings a price sufficiently higher than primed to báceo to offset the apparent advantage of higher yield in the latter, then it will inevitably lead to the conclusión that it is more economical to cure by stalk-cutting.

Looking al this (pie.stion from another asjiect one will find that the industry must reciuire such methods as will result in the highest quality obtainable. The higher quality of tobáceo will be expressed in term of higher consumiition, higher ])roduction and better income.

In oi-der to determine the measurable dilferences between lu-iming and stalk-cutting cigar filler tobáceo strains under Puerto Rican conditions, an experiment was carried out at the Paguas Sub.station.

Three strains weie iised, namely, 746 (a selection by i\lr. Bunker), \-í) (Standard Puerto Rican variety) and 271-1-lS (mosaic resistance strain).

ÍM)m* replications wiu-e made of i'ach treatmi'nt and the results .studied by Student's ])airing method.

The i)lo1s u.sed weri' 32 feet long and 24 feet wide. contaiuing seven rows with 20 ])lanls in each row. In oider to eliminate border

eífects only the inside bye rows were hai'vested, even though a path was left unplanted between phffs.

SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

16

The results studied and analyzed by Stiident's method of paired resulta are given in Table 5. Table 5—PRIMINQ VS. STALK-CUTTING THREE STRAINS of TABACCO: each QRGWN ON FIVE PLOTS. WEIQHT IN POUNDS FOR FIVE PLOTS D»

A-B

Strain

Primed

Stalk-Cut

DM

Odds Z

0 5

746

109.4

V-9

102.7

84.2 81.4

271-1-18

109.5

90.6

5. 04

1.4705

1.214

4.26 3.78

1.3145 1.508

1.147

4. 152 3.716

1.228

3.078

Approxiinately 2000 : I 1000 : 1 575 : 1

The odds against the differenees being due to chance alone are so

high for each strain, that there exists no doubt as to the signifieanee of diíferences in the yield of tobáceo between priming and stalk cutting. It is concluded, therefore, on the basis of yield alone that

priming is more economieal. If, however, it is considered that biiyers pay a higher price for stalk-eut toliacco the results must be examined in another light.

The results expressed in terms of pounds per acre are given in Table 6. Table B—YIELD IN POUNDS PER ACRE; PRIMING VS. STALK-CUTTING OF STRAINS 746, V-9 AND 271-1-18

Yiehi jier Acre i ti Lb.s. DilTcrciice Strain

in Lhs.

Priminfi

746

1737.49

V-9

1631.08

271-1-18

17.39.08

Stalk-Cut

1337. 26 1292.79 1438.91

400. 23 .338. 29 300. 17

Por many years buyers liave paid an average of three cents more per pound of stalk-cut tobáceo than for the same variety of jirimed tobáceo. On that liasis the price has lieen calculated and given in Table 7. Table 7—PRICE OF TOBACCO OF TUREE .STRAINS PRIME!) AND STALK-CUT, AT RATE OF 15 A.ND 18 CENTS PER LB. RESPECTIVELY

V'aliie per .Acre

DilTerence

in Dollar.s

in Valué

per .'\cre Primed

746

V-9 271-1-18.

260.63 244. 67 260.87

.Stalk-Cut

240. 71 232. 70 259.00

19.92 11.97 1.87

P'rom Tables 6 and 7, it appears that varietal diíferences exist

with respect to adaptation to method of harvesting and curing. It

OF THE TOBACCO INSTITÜTE OF PUERTO RICO

jy

scems clear that the higher the yield for the strain or variety and

the closer the differenee in yield on account of method of harvesting, the less signifíeant sncli differenee beconies.

The results in Tahlo 7, do not show elearly that it is more economieal to harvest and cure tobáceo Ijy priming, as long as the dif ferenee in price Ijetween tobáceo so handled is three cents less per pound than the same strain of tobáceo stalk-cut. However, differenees bctween strains and methods cannot be permanently established on sucli an arbitrary criterion. If the differenee in price paid in the future were lower than three cents per pound onc would have to recommend tliat priming be continued. The real differenee, then, must l)c the mean of the ditt'erences in yield and measurablc quality. Ijarge samples of tobáceo from the various ])lots of the experiment have been ke])t for burning and smok

ing tests. These tests niu.st serve as tlie real basis for establishing the significance of differences in the metliod of harve.sting of the strains under .study. The results will be reported when that j)ha.se of the exi)eriment is completed. BEEEDING PROGRAM CONTINUED

The breeding ])rogram started many year.s au'o. luis lieen further

extended. It now involves tlie study ot many piue line.s prior to the final test.s for yield and (luality, the continued .selection from cro.sses, and the isolation of puré line.s from imi)orted seed of heterozygous nature. The project aims at devcloping strains of toliaceo re.sistant to lilack shaiik {Phnlophihova parasítica Dastur Var. Xico-

tiauac Tucher) and to the niosaic disease; and of valué as cigar filler, cigai- binder, cigar wrapi)er and cigarette leaf.

This project naturally has two pha.ses, viz., the strictly breeding phase which ends when ])ure lines are ready for the final test, and the advanced phase which deals with tlie determination of the valué

of the .sti-ains in lerms of yield and quality for anv of the purposes mentioned above. The major part of the first i)hase was carried out at Río Piedras and the re.st at ('aguas; while all of the secoiud phase was executed at the latter.

The stiains and schu-tions from cro.sses planted at Río Piedras were as follows:

(1) h ive progenies, third general ion, from cross Virginia X 3/1-1-jp The latter is mosaic resistant but susce])tible to black .shank. The reverse situation exi.sts for the formei-.

SECOND ANTSnJAL EEPOKT

PIG. 7. Individual plant of a new strain (271-1-6) of tobรกceo resistant to the mosaic dlsease; derived from the cross Ambalevm x Turkish.

OF THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO KK'O

19

(2) Three progenios, third generation from cross Cotmólation (yellowj X 243-7-5-15. The latter is mosaie resistant and suscep tible to black shaiik; the former susceptible to inosaic and resistant to black shank.

(3) Sixty-four ])rogonies, third generation from cross White Vin/inia x 243-7-515. The latter is inosaic resistant and suscep tible to blaek shank.

(4) Five i'rogenies, tliird generation from ero.ss 271-1—18 x 144—9—1. The latter is mosaie susceptible and black shank resistant; the former is the exact reciprocal in these respects. (5) Pour progenies, third generation, from across 243—7^—3 x 144—9--1. Resistance to black shank is derived from the latter and to mosaie from the former.

(6) Piftecn progenies, fourth generation from cross given above in No. 3.

(7) Two progenies, backcrosses of Nos. 1 and 4 preceding.

(8) Twenty-nine iirogenics from seed of various sources imported from Venezuela, Ecuador and Nicaragua. Thosc planted in Caguas were: (9) Sixty-six puré lines, from crosses, resistant to mosaie. (10) Twelve puré lines, from crosscs resistant to black shank. (11) Sevcnteen progenies of seed of heterozygous origin, from Venezuela, Santo Domingo, and Nicaragua. (12) Scveral progenies by Mr. P. H. Bunker, without respect to disease resistance.

Prom the large numljer of progenies under study many puré lines have been isolatcd and are now being sulijccted to observation. Many of these are ready to be incorporated in the tests for yield and quality. The majority oífer promise as eigar filler and possibly also as cigar binder toliaccos.

Leaf saniples were picked sejiarately from all the jnire lines and after curing and fermenting, liave been submitted to the buming test. This is used as one of the measurcs of quality and serves as an aid in selection. Many of the strains grown during the year will be

eliminated becausc of apparent lew yield, undesirable growth and inorphological characters, and susceptibility to diseases. PERTILITY EXPERIMENTS

One of the urgent nceds of the Puerto Rican tobáceo industry is

clearly the proper management of tobáceo soils to maintain or im-

SECOND ANNUAL EEPORT

FIG. 8. Individual plant of the strain (243-7-5), resistant to mosaic, and derived froin the cross Amhalcmn x Tuikish.

OF THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

21

I>rove theii' fertility. The initiation of work towards that objective was in the form of experiments with green manures and with fertilizers. GBEEN MANURES

The first exporiment with green manures was bcgun in 1928. The soil type seleeted was Sabana Seca Clay Jjoam; peor in organie mattev.

Tile leaetion of the soil was determined to lie highly acid. Lime

was ajiiilicd at the rate of five tons and fertilizer, 5-8-10, at the rate of 1,000 jiouiids per aere.

Three leguminous erops are being stndied against no treatment.

In the planning of the exjieriment fortieth aere plots were used. Tiiree-foot paths sejiarate them longthwise and two foot paths, transversally.

The crojis jilanted are: Velvet Beans (Stizolobium Deeringianvm), Cunuivdlia cnsifonnis and Soy Beans {Soja Max). Nine reiilieations are u.sed in each erop and eheek. The plan of the exjieriment requires that several erops be grown and plowcd under, tobaeeo of a single standard strain to follow. The differenee in yield and quality of tobaeeo against the non-treated

plc'^s will 1)0 eonsidered as a measure of signifieanee of the ajipliealion of green manures and of sueh diíferenees as may oceur between diílf'cient leguminous eiojis in their eífeet toward toliaeeo.

Two eroiis of the above legumes ha ve been already grown and

jilowed under. Data has lieen eolleeted on tiie dry weight jier aere for eaeli legume and the elianges in soil reaetion. Analyses will be made of the soil in oider to determine the inerease made in tlie Oiganle matter eontent for eaeh legume. FERTILIZER EXPERIMENT

The dc.sideratum of the tobaeeo industry is a superior leaf; that

of tile farnier, a high yielding strain surpa.ssing jiresent varieties in

quality. Wiien the jiroiier .strain or variety is deveioped it will have to lie sulijeeíed to the proper environinent: soil and elimate; provided other faetors do not vary. If the performanee in smoking, of

partieular toiiaeeo, is largely determined during the time it grows in tiie field, it is oiivious that those eonditions must lie under eontroi.

Tile jiossiiiility of irrigation for toliaeeo eidture in Piieito Rieo must lie left out of eonsideration. Tiiere seenis to lie little likelihood that our toliaeeo distriets lie ever plaeed under irrigation.

SECOND AJSimJAL REPORT

OF THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

23

The other ciivironmental factovs will be stucliecl as thoroiighlj

as fimds aiid time will ])ermit. Of great im])ortanee, in this connec'tion, is the dotermination of the amoinit of each plant food

elemeiit require for each soil type and the stndy of the elcments reqiiired for the production of high quality loliacco. The first ex]ierimciit in fertilizer applieation was hegun in Cagnas, at the Snhstation, during the last ciop season. A field of apin'oxiinately two and one-half acres was laid ont in 1/56.72 acr',plots. A path ahont 3 feet wide was left hordeiing each id(it. Each jilot contained seven rows and nineteen i)lants i)er row. Tíi.

variety iised was the standard filler "White Virginia. The method of harvesting was hy cntting the whole stalk. Twenty-seven treatments were made with foiir replications to each treatment.

The treatments were as follows;

I'omuJs iier .\cre Trcalincnt

r;05

.\n.n

i

1 o

i

3 4

40 i

40 1

¡

40

1

40

(i

8

4(1

<( 10

40

I

40 40 I 40 80 80 80 120

120 120 40 40

K:0

40 80 120 40 80 120 40 80 120 40

11 12 13

80 80

80

40 80

15

SO 1

80

120

!

80 1

120

1

80 1

120

80

120

18

21

40 80

120 40

,

120

40

!

1-20

40

80

120 : 120 120 120 120 120 120

40 80 SO 80

120

. ,

2(1 •>7

80

120

'

•)•>

23 24 25

40 80

40 80

120

120

40

120 120

120

80

Ti will he noted that in each treatment one element vaiáes and

that lile variation in amount of an element per acre is ])y forty pounds. The fei'tilizer was applied in two parís, one soon afti'r ])lanting and tile olhi'r al the end of four weeks.

The resuHs for tiie first year are given in Tahie 8 as a matteiof record.

SECONI) ANNUAL KEPORT

\

FIG. 10. Individual plant of ths strain (2-13-2-1), resistant to mosaic and proniising as a cigar wrapper tobรกceo. Derlved from the cross Ambalrmn x Turkish.

OF THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

25

Tablb 8—llESULTS OF FERTILIZER EXPERIMENT ON CAGUAS LOAM C. G. 9 SGIL; WEIGHT IN POUNDS OF AIR-CURED LEAF

1 1

Treatnient | 1 T~TT"

WeÍRht in Pounds per Plot* .

.

.

__

..

.

_

.

.

.

a

1.3.7

1 15..3 12.7

c

d 13.8

12.0

111.9 11.4

10.9 9.2

15.7 13.9 14.5

10.0 1

11.5

9.5

9.9

13. 1

10.2

13. 1

12.8 11.8

14.7 11.5 12.8 15.0

14.8

13.0

12.5

8 9 10 11

1(>. 0

12 13

13.5

•1 «i 7

14

1,1 If. 17 18 1!» 20

'

14.2 18.5

12.0 11. 2 10. 3

1.5. 7

13. i

Iti. 0 1.5.2

12.3 12. 9 l.Ml 12.0

13.2 15.4 17.5

21

13. 5

10. 2 13.8

24 25

1

13.5 1 11.4 ¡ 11.7 14.3

17. 1 13.8

22 23

12. 0

11.2

14.3

12. T

14.0

12. 1

17.2

11. 1

1

12.3

9. 1

1 ;

11. 1 12.5

14.7 12.4

11.5

13. 1

13.7

1.5.2 11.9

1

11.4 12. 1 9.0

i

11.0

14. 5 1 11. 2 : 12.0 !

11.0

12.0

11.9

li.9 1.5.7 11.8

12.8 10. 7

13.0

14. 5 11.3 13.7 1.5. 7 10.3 11.0

70.4

14.08

60.0 05. 4

00.0

12.00 13.08 12. 40 12.00 13. 32

03.9

12.78

1!.5

59.9

11.98

11.3 11. 5 12.0

01.9

12. 38

04. 3

12.80

71.2

14.0 9. 2 8.2 11.4

02. 1 03. 3

14.24 12. 42

8.3

11.5 10.(. 10.0 8.4

11.4 10.9 9. 2

62.0 60.0

03. 2 05. 3 09. 3 02.0

0.5. 8 13). 5 (;3. 7 03.0 58. 3

12.00 12. 04

13.06 13. 80 12. 40 13. 10 12. 10

12.74 12. 72

iT. 00

1.5.2

71.5

12. 22

13.22 13.88

11. 1

!0. 0

9. 2

13.3

14.7

2(i

l.\7 10.5

14.2 13.0 i li.S

01. 1

12.8

i ¡..5

27

10. 7

10. 3

!

11.3

10.5

11.(• 13. 5 14. 0

07. 7 00. 1 09. 4

15. 7

Weighl

e

1 ¡

2

3

Mean

.

T{)tal b

14. 30

13.54

•This weiphl has ta he nmltiplicd hy the factor 79.41 lo ohtain yield |)er aere.

It was antieipatod, wlien the experiment was iilanned, that the soil contained eiioii^h planl food to produce a croj) of toliacco aud that, therefore, the difíVrences iii yield as a result of different aniüimts of plant food ajiplied would not he measuied diiriii<> the fii'st year. iMeasurahle differences are exjieeted to occur dnrni<>- the second aud third years. The results of a .secoiid aiid third succes-

sive crop will indicate whether a fourth or fifth crojis will he neces-

sary in order to sliow the approximate requiremeiits of the soil tyiie Camilas Loam C. (i. í) for plant food. iii i)rodncino- a ^ood crop of tohacco. Tt is recojriiized that the results of the exiieriment, in order to he considered siiiiiificant, must represent the averasie over a period

of years, of those factors over which no control is exerci.sed in the experiment, such as amount and distriiiution of rainfall durin^' the j>ro\vini>' period; and temiierature. CIGARETTE TOBACCO STUDIES

The work outlined in the previous report on the .study of th" l)ossil)ilities of .some strains of tohacco as h]*i<>ht leaf has heen continued. Three sti'ains were tested durin»- the last ci-o]) season, namely, no. í í í-')—1-7, and two of iniported orijián. The fírst two are imiiorted varieties; the tliird strain orií>inated from a cross Cuban x 7'urkish (Sanis; lu) and is resistant to hiack siiank.

Fig. 11. Green manure experiment at the central farm in RĂ­o Piedras.

:!2

OF THE TOHACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

27

The growth of tliese straiiis was excellent, but the fluc-euring.

tests did not show very eneouraging results. Some toliaeeo was eiired in the sun during the day and inside the l)am during the night. The aroma of tliis tobáceo is satisfaetory but tbe color is fairly dark. The eured leaf is l)eiiig aged in barréis. Fnrther observations will l)e reported in a later report. PRODUCTION OF SEED FOR DISTRIBUTION

The Institnte has aimed to grow a siifficiently large erop of the best strains of tobáceo in order to i)roduce a large quantity of seed for free distribution among the tobáceo growers. During this year 900 pounds of White Virginia and 29 pounds of Utuado seed have been harvested for that purpose. The seed produeed by the Institute is well selected, free from chance hybridication, and from diseases. It is well cleaned with a

machine in order to avoid any foreign matter which may ])e a carrier of the cause of the mosaic disease.

The seed distributcd during the year amounted to 234 pounds of the variety White Virginia and 47 pounds of the variety Utuado. LEGISLATION

The situation l)rought about by overproduction seemed so precarious that a l)ill was draftcd and submitted to the Legislature providing means of withdrawing from the market, a major portion of the inferior tobáceo which should have been disi)osed outside the ordinary market cliannels of the Puerto Rican cigar filler tobáceo. It had been suggested tbat siich tobáceo could have been sold in some

markets which ordinarily do not buy our tobáceo líccause of high prices.

The bilí intended to create a permanent fund, to which both the

government and the tobáceo growers would contri])ute, to be used for tlie jn'otection of Puerto Rican tobáceo against low prices brought about l)y natural causes. Tbe l)ill was passed by the legislature (House Bill 741) Imt it

was vetoed in the face of strong opposition from many tobáceo growers.

A second bilí was drafted ereating a Tobáceo Growers Bank for rcfractioning poor tobáceo growers who are now unablc to get loans from Federal Agencies, because of lack of collateral. This bilí was never introduced in the Legislature, on account of the general op

position made to it by the tobáceo growers.

FIG. 12. Fertilizer experiment in Caguas.

OP THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

20

Another bilí (S. B. 231) introduced iii the Legislature and passed but not eiiacted, aimed at protecting the legitímate industry against iinfair praetices. Reports had come to us that inferior cigars made with poor, and cheap imported leaf and sereenings, were being shipped abroad nnder the ñame of ''Puerto Riean Cigars". Had

the bilí been approved, much harm to the good ñame of Puerto Riean tobáceo would have been averted.

COOPERATION FROM OTHER AGENCIES

The Department of Agriculture and Commerce transferred a chemist for serviee in the Institute.

The Puerto Rico Reconstruction

Administration transferred to us the following materials which had been the property of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration : Chairs, straiglit. oak, wooden Desks, stonojíraphcr 's, 28 X 44"

15 2

Files, letter size, 4 drawers Files, card, 7 drawcrs Hammers, Hcrciilos Trays, desk le^ial, wooden

o

Trays, desk lepfal, wire Files, eard 4X0, steel, single, green

2 g

Piles, card, steel, double, green

2 1

_

j

Files, book style, steel

3

Machines, stapling,"Speed" Machine, addiiig, "Biirroughs"

3 j

Machine, caleulator, "Alien" Machine, caleulator. "^Farchant" Tables, draftinen 's 48%" X 64" Scales, balance spring 20 Ibs., .Tacobs Scales, llowe, 600 Ibs

1 1 1 4 o

Ty])ewriters, "Royal"

(\

Tables, wooden Fíins, electric

3 3

Cultivntors ("ultivntors (onioiO Cultivators

11 fi H

Fork.s Forks

12 2

(larden hoes IFoes (heart)

15 12

líoes (large) Spades

20 12

Rakes

24

''Machetes''

24

Clay ])ots (extra large size)

2

FIG. 13. A strain of tobรกceo promising for cigarette purposes.

OF THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

31

All of tliese materials were placed uuder the eiistody of tlie property clerk of the Institute. PIiANS POR THE FUTTJRE

The plans for the development of the Institute and for the services whieh it is ealled to render to tobáceo agriculture, have been

discussed at full length at the meetings of the Board. Most of the disciissions were not incorporated in the minutes. It is, therefore, considered imperativa to outline, briefly though it may be, the gen eral idea which was conceived and which served as the nucleus aroiuid which the whole Imstitute was to evolve.

The Act creating the Tobáceo Instituto directs that all investigations dealing with the improvement of the tobáceo industry will have their seat at the Institute. The plan for the establishment of the new institution included the organization of a laboratory and Central Parm at Río Piedras and three substations in the main to báceo districts. The variation of soil and climate is such that the

number of substations given is considered as indispensable in order to more adequately discharge the mission of the Instituto. The plan ealled for the appointment of a trained speeialist at each substation.

These were to carry into execution the research projects outlined by the men at the laboratory. The research program was divided into various phases. It is

regarded that the tobáceo crop may be iraproved in two ways; in

yield and in quality. Both will be obtained through new strains or varieties and hy proper fertilization and soil management. But

quality may also be improved by controlled and scientific handling after harvesting. Curiiig and fermenting methods allow of much

improvement. Tlie program involves, therefore, a comprehensive breediiig projecl now under way which aims at the production of

superior strains resistant to diseases and for the various purposes: ^vrapper, hller, binder or for cigarettes. Much progress has been reported above. This work mnst be continued in the future with the same intensity and .scope.

In the field of fenility there is ampie room for constructive eontributions. The stndy of tiie application of green manure to soil

improvement and the determination of the fertilizer reqnirement of the various soil types for tiie produciion of iiigli grade tobáceo, are essential to económica! ])roduction.

Curing and fermentation metiiods shonhl be fully studied in the future. llerein may lie the answer to soine of the pi-oblems in

FIGr. 14.

Cuban x Turki.sli; promising as a cigarette tobáceo.

A straüi of tobáceo resistant to the black shank, developed from the cross

o w

w ts

c >

>

O

Í2i

o

O

H

co

05 (O

OF THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

33

qiuility whicli liinit tlie net ineiniu' clerived froni our ei^ar filler lobat'C'O.

Tlie evcnliial dcvelopinent of ■\vrapper tobac-co iiiay rest an an

aiiswci- to problenis ol" t'ertility, cnriiig- aiid fermentation. Prohleins uf an ct-oiioinic naíiire, dealing witli llio oiiciiing of new

markets and the preparaiioii of ne\v prodiu-ts wei-o to be stiidied. Jt was oven surniised tluit tiie study of subslitule crojis fov tobaeeo be carried out, inasinucli as the restrietion of markets is

rapidiy ie«ulnng in crop Huri)Inses and. eonseíiiiently. in iow ineome. \Ve rcst assnred tliat tliese prolilems and t)tliers tiiat will arise

iii the eoiirse of time will receive the eareful consideration aiul attentioii of tke officials of tiie Instiuite. BUDGET

Tn tlie iulminislration of the fmids of the Institute. the poliey of tile Direetor and of the Board lias been to kee)) in reserve, miassiffiied, an amoiiin eipuil to the animal expenditiires. Tn other woi'ds. in June of eaeh year there should be on hand available funds

eipial to a year's Inidget. Sinee eolleetion of the tax for the support of the Institute ís more aetive after tlie month nf Jone, a similar amonnt should be added 10 the reserve. In this ^vay the Institute

will always have suffieient funds for any euiergeney. ín the aeeompanying table one will note that no salary was paid to the outfoing Direitor, beeaiise he lield the ]>osition of Assistant Pommissioiier of Agrieiilture and derived salary eompensation from the latter. A iiolicy of the striete.st eeouomy was exereised diiring bis teniire of ofñre; preferenee being given to the oi-ganization of

the phvsical plañí with the best possible eiiuiimieiit. Funds were sel aside for Ihe |nirehase of two farnis for two substations in the Aiboniío and tlie Fiales-Morovis distrids. ACKNOWI.EDGMENTS

It niay be titting. lo express in this report. at the time of the severanee of offeial eonneetions willi the Institute. my deep appreeiation for ihe honest. loyal and enthusiastie eon])eratioii rendered to me bv the members of the Board and by many ageneies of the insular and federal governments.

Ă­lsperiinental Field in Caguas Substation. Fertilizer Experiment.

co

OF THE TÜBACCO 1N«T1TUTE OF PUERTO RiCÜ

35

Tiie Federal Emergem-y Relief Admiiiistratioii and tlie Puerto

Kico Peeonjitruetion Administration (,P.R.R.A.) gave spleiidid aid wliieli eiilmiiiated ¡11 the eonstruction of Ihe iiiain Jaboratory at the

Central Fariii iu Río Piedras. ^Vitli the help of the Forestry Service and the Departineiit ol" the Interior, the greenhouse and lieadhouse were ereeted. The Poard of Trastees of ihe University ceded for

a period of thirty years, a tract of land of tA\elve aeres on whieii the niain lahoratory -was built. Tlie P.R.K.A. has traiisferred to us ecpiipinent and aeeessories whieii eonstitiite a good addition to our

physieal plant. All tliis has made it possible to esíablish the Institute on a firni basis, and has ))erin¡tted the saving of Insiitute fnnds for futuro expansión and development.

Tile fonner Conimissioner of Agriculture, ilr. Rafael Jlenéndez Ramos. \eas of invaluable help in bringing the Institute into existence. In the face of strong opposition 011 the part of inany tobáceo growers

and otiier organizations, he took his tight to the Chief Executive and in-eA'ailed upon the iatter to give iiis approval to the bilí direct-

ing tlie establishment of the Institute. As president of the Board of the Institute he gave the writer his wholehearted support. The other inenibers of the Board supported all the jílans of organization and all reeommendations for the initiation of the research vork.

They all displayed a sincere devotion to public service. Sucli a loyal executiou of duty eomniands niy heartfelt recognition. My associatioii with them has l)een a most pleasant and i'riiitful one and

I, tlierefore, vish that this record of siich appreeiation may stand as a token of my sincere gratitute. PUBLICATIONS

Tlie publieations made during the year were as follows:

1. Nolla. J. A. B. First Report of the Tobáceo Institute of Puerto Rico, l-bM, fig. 1-15. 3937. (Spanisli edition, in Revista de Agricultura de Puerto Rico, 29: 1—49, fig. 1-15. 1937).

2. Noula, J. A. B. Inheritance in Nieoiiana. lH- -A- study of the charaeter for mosaic resistance in Nieoiiana tahacum L. Jonrnal lleredity 29: 43-48, 3 figs. 1938.

3. Nolla, J. A. B. Aceomplisliment of Experimental Tobáceo "Work in Puerto Rico. Tobáceo 105(27): 10-12. 1937.

SECOND ^USTNUAL EEFOKT

36

Financial Statesient for the Fiscal Year 1937-38 Inconie:

Tobáceo sales

$1, 266.10

Tax collection under Act No. 151 of Mny 15, 1937— 45, 084. 60 Total incoine

$46,350.70

Exiiciiditu rr.s:

Labor expenses at the Bío Piedras Pariíi-.-Ulil-:--$56. 99 Labor expenses at the Cagiias -Substátion-:.! '— • 2,646. 17 Salarios

1--

-

'7, 294. 12

Equipincnt

5>

Construction and repair of buildings

6, 275.54

Snpplies and niaterials

_

Total cxj)cnditures

13 797. 75

"Jj

Balance

$22,156,70 - $24,194.00

SAI.ARY EXPENDITURES DURINO TUE fiscal year 1ü37-:!8

l'osition

N'ame

Secretar v-Treasiirer

Josf' RücIrÍGiiez Rivera

.\.s.sistain .AKrenoniist Asslstnni Attrotuimist

Alberto S. Atnv .\1. García Fortnño

o-O-o

Annual

Salary

Salary

Raid

S4,000

$447. 78

1,200 2. 400 l.fMIO

13. 33 2. 4110, 01)

I.-IOO

I.4Ü0

1,250,00 l, loo. 00

300 300 420

00. ÜO 00.00 03.00

1.583. 33

NOV 101947

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•

THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE

i'

TOBACCO INSTITÜTE OP

PUERTO RICO

Bv

CARLOS ESTEVA Jr., M.S.

b ■ .f

P977

, SAN JUAN, T. n. inuun

rEINTIKO, AND TttANf. OUTATIOK 1940

CR

â&#x20AC;¢

338.1 P977r

1938/39 C^f Annual report

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1938/39

^ "2 O

- BIBLIOTECA

a

THIRD ANNUAL REPORT Of THE

TOBACEO INSTITUTE OF

PUERTO RICO

Jii/

CARLOS ESTEVA Jr.. M.S.

SAN JUAN, P. U. Bl'KEAU OF Sum.IES, Printing, and Transportation 1940

STb^. I vmir

[1938/3?]

i

K

J

.

„ííHa,V'.í

\

■'•Vi

. .. ,A*'

universidad de puerto rico SIS*^FM'

'"'FIJOTECAS

'TIVOS

O 7 OCT 2003

THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OP PUERTO RICO ADMINISTRATIVE BOABD

Hon. P. a. López Domínguez, Commissioner of Aiíficiillurp and Commerce, Prcsidcnt, Ex Officio. Mr. Felipe Carro. Mr. Francisco Ortiz Lebrón.^ Mr. Ramón Moran Jr. Mr. Candelario Morales.^

Mr. Carlos J. Ruiz, Acting Secretary.STAFF

Carlos Esteva Jr., M.S., Direetor-Chicf. J. Rodríguez Rivera, Secretary-Treasurer.

F. H. Bunker, Tobáceo Expcrt, iii ehargc of Ihe cxpcrimeiilal farra. at Caguas. Miguel A. Manzano, B. S., Chemist. Alberto S. Amy, B. S. A., A.ssistant Agronomist.

Manuel García Fortuno, B. S. A., Assistant Agronomist. Manuel E. Selgas. Tobáceo Inspector.

Esther B. de Smitii, Stenographer. COOPEEATORS

THE FOLLOWING COOPERATING STAFF MEMBERS OF THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO HOLDING OFFICE FOR THE

^

FISCAL YEAR 1938-39 WERE PAID BY THE PUERTO RICO RECONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION

eo

^

^

Jesús Vélez Fortuño-B.S.A

Jr. Paiholocjist

Carlos M. Storer José M. Suárez Juan Ramírez Méndez Arturo Morales Guerrero

Principal Clcrk Principal Clcrk

Principal Clcrk Principal Clcrk

'Ti rm i'xpiri'd Si'|itein1ior 19;i,>í.

=.Si ivuis Iciiniiijiltul Novcniber 1 fi. 1938, suorcoding Mr. J. Rodríguez Rivera. a

' •••■•••

Note carefttl plant ornaiucntatlou of the premises.

FIG. 1.—Entvauce to the Main Statioii of the Totacco Instítvite of Puerto Rico, at Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico

' "j'- ^"" ,

INTRODÜCTION

The rclations l)etwecn thc Tobáceo Instituto ancl the tobáceo in-

dustry are so closo and intimato that it is difficult to discuss the activitics of the first withoiit refei'ring to events and developments in the .".c'ond. This nariwv intevdepcndeiiee is evinced ])y the fact

that, since the Institute derives its income chiefly from a 15 cents tax per cwt. of tobáceo sold in Puerto Rico, thc amount thus colleeted durino- the ja^ar is therefore a fair index of the size and im-

portanee of the tobáceo crop. This striking parallelism places the Instituto in a unique position with respeet to similar Institutions. The Tobáceo Instituto funetions l)oth as a research center and as an extensión serviee for the whole tol)aeco industry. Its activities,

as prescribed by law, are most diversified and far-reaching. The Instituto should assist and direct the tobáceo growers in the solution of the numerous problems eoncerning the cultivation of tobáceo. It should tlien study the i)ost-harvest inanii)ulation of the crop, and finally investigate possible new markets and new uses for tobáceo. Last, but not least, the Instituto should promote and urge legislation beneficial to the tobáceo industry at largo. Within the limitations of its resources and its budget, the To

báceo Instituto has endeavored to sati.sfy the hoi)es and expectations oí" its supporters. A ])erusal of this rei)ort, which is a concise statc-

ment of the activities of the Instituto during the fiscal year 1938-39, vill enable the reader to appraise the success which this Instituto

has met in its endeavor. It should, however, be borne in mind that this is the first year that this Institute has funetioned as an independent organized unit, with a full time staff. (íenerous appropria-

tions secured this year thru the Insular Legislature, will enable thc Instituto to augment its u.sefulness during the coming year. As may be seen in the following text of this report, the Instituto has develoi)ed a research program intended as an approaeh to the

solution of those ])rol)lems generally held responsilde for the present critical situation of our local tobáceo industry. Prominent among othei's are: (1) the disappearance of the shade-grown wrapper production, (2) the virtual extinction of the. local cigarette industry, (3) the migration of the major part of the cigar manufacturing in-

6

TIirRD AXNUAL REPOET

diistry from the Island, (4) the eífeets of certain dispositions of federal and insular legislation. In the suceessful solution of such

type of problems the Tobáceo Institute will most adequately fulfill the duties imposed upon it by law and will justify the generous support whieh it has received from the industry and from insular and federal agencies. IMPORTANCE AND POSITION OP THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY

The natural and politieal advantages of the island are responsible for raising tobáceo produetion to the position of one of the key-industries in the eeonomy of Puerto Rieo. Tobáceo is our scc-

ond agricultural export erop in valué. The tobáceo indu.stry in gen eral employs approximately 15 per cent of the total working population. It is estimated that al)out 66.4 per cent of its gross income is distributed in the form of pay rolls.

The erop has supported for many years more than 20,000 farmers, most of whom own .small farms, of not more than 20 acres. Of the 21,339 farmers reported under contract with the A.A.A. for this erop year (1938-39), 91 per cent eultivate less than 3 cuerdas af tobáceo, and 99.4 per cent less than 20. DISTRIBUTION OF TOBACCO ACREAGE IN PUERTO RICO(') TOBACCO FARMERS UNOER CO.NTRACT WITH THE AGRICULTURAL ADJUSTMENT ADMINISTRATION POR THE CROP YEAR 1938-39 Number of

CuerJas in tabacc

I

1 cuerda or less

1. 01—3.00 cuerdas 3

1

cuerdas

5.01—10.(X) currrffls 10. 1—15.00 currí/ns 15.0!—20.0() cuerdas 20.01 cuerdas and over Total

farmers

Per cent «f Total

13.957

05

.5. 194

20 1 3 1

937

|

015

i

155 83 98 21,339

O. 5 0. 5 100.0

OSüurc—A. A. A., .'^an Juan, P. R., OfTice, Tabacco Section.

ACREAGE REDUCTION AND ESTIMATE OF PRODUOTION

Tobáceo líricos rcached last year the lowc.st level ever attained

in the long hislory of the local indu.stry. Determining factors in that situation were overproduetion on the part of tiie farmer and

inire.strained sjieculation by tobáceo dealers. Data collected by the Toliacco Institute of Puerto Rico show that barn-dry tobáceo was .sold at an average price of í|?10.18 jier hundredweight. The amount

OF THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

7

aetually rcceived by thc grower was still Icss than tho selliiig price, sincc variable biit substantial deductions for eommissioii, iiisiuance, etc., are generally retained by the dealer.

The outlook was gloomy. Farmcrs were pessimistie about the immediate futiire oí" the indiistry. The insular Department of Agíi culture tried to secure federal help for the much-woiiied tobáceo

growcrs. Hon. Francisco López Domínguez, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commeree and Prcsident of the Board of Diiectois of tlie Toliacco Instituto, proposed a pignoration plan, which was not accepted by the Federal Agencies concerned.

The growcrs themselvcs finally carne to the conclusión that acre-

age reduction was imperative, if fall in prices was to be eífccthcl> checked. They appealed to the A.A.A. for acreage allotment under the Soil Conservation Program. The A.A.A. agreed to allot 3 , acres, a (luantity corresponding to 41 per cent of base aciia?,!-

According to e.stimates compiled liy the Tobáceo Instituto, aíiea^e planted during the 1937-38 crop was about 63,000 cucrdn-s (a (i(C>

is 0.97 of an acre), witli a total production of 44,069,272 pounds ot tobáceo. (A thorough discussion of this iirolilem will be found in the Report of tile Tobáceo Suli-Commission appointed liy the (¡overnor to .study the eífects of the F'air Lalior Standards Act.) Still other factors contributed to acreage reduction in the tobáceo

crop. Rumors of po.ssible labor troubles due to an uncoinpromisiii-, eiiforcement of the Fair Labor Standards Act, led iarmers to volun

tarily reduce their croj). Weatiier conditioiis prevailing during t u 1938-39 growing .season lowered the yield per acre, as will be sun from tile di.scusslon on tiie suiiject preseiited in aiiotiier section this reiiort.

Revised estimates now avaiiaiile iiidicate tiiat tbe final atHa^-

])ianted witii filler toiiacco is 18.687.81 ciicrdds, witii a total tion of 11,140,201 pounds of liarn-dry leal*. After dediiction

meiitation and manipiilation iosses, tiiis amount will lie ledim» 7,089.624 pounds of toiiacco ready to lie maiiiifactiired into fina goods. This quantity is far iielow tiie average coiisiimption pi i | wiiicii is estimated at 232,000 cwts. of stemmed toiiacco. judging the disappearance of .stocks iiere and in the V. S. A.

Tliis dra.stic crop reduction lias iirouglit alioiit a rapid ir^i

])riccs, as was to lie e.xpected. Altiiougii tbe Iniik of tiie crop luis not iieeii sokl yet, iiowever, .smali traiisactions iiave iieeii madi' at cents per pound of liarn-dry toiiacco.

THIRD AXNUAL EEPOET

SOCIAL ASPECTS

The full siofiiificanee of the social aspects of this crop rediiction may best be measnred by the faet that the farm pay roll was redueed this year to approximately 68.3 per cent of its valué durin<>the preceding erop. The advantages of crop reduction for the in

sular economy and for the welfare of the Island's population iii general are therefore questionable, since the rise in valué of present stocks of tobáceo has bcen achievcd at the expense of thousands of acres of land left idle and of the great sacrifice of thousands of

farm laborers condemned to unemployment and misery, EFFECT OF RAINFALL VAEIATIONS ON THE 1938-39 TOBACCO CROP

Uncertainty and unrest prevailcd among local tobáceo growers at the beginning of the 1938-39 season. Henee, the crop vas plantcd rather late. This consideration, together with abnormal rain-

fall distril)ution during the growing season, explains the low production per acre referred to elsewhere in this report. It might have been suimiscd that drastic acreage reduction would prove a favor able factor in inereasing the production per acre, since growers could havt stlected the most suitable plots in their farms and could in

general have taken better care of their crop. However, thesc predictions were upset by the very unfavorable climatic conditions prcvailing during the critical period of growth.

Morovis

' Averape of 8 years

11

4.93 2. 25 2.63 3.89

2.95

.5. .59 5. 59

«Averape of 10 yeurs

4. 25 3. 18 2.98

2. 48 3.00

27. 21 G. 51

9.79 8. 2G

'5. 87

3.93

'7. 25

4.50

G.07 5.28

5.39

4.98 2. 07 G. 95 G..50 .5. 53

4.42

3.17 4.81 2.00 3.30 4. 17 G. 55

Total íor Montb

<Average of 7 years

1. 14

.90 1.98 1.53 1.G3 2.57 1.28 2.21 3.09 2.80 .90

1.71 1.24

.5.31 3. 4G 3.00 .5.32

^Average oí 6 years

12. 23 4.99

9.81 10.20 IG.99

8. 75 10. 51

8.08

12. 40

G.34

10.24 10.52

2.4G

2.ÜG

1..5.5

1.89 1.00 1.05 1.24

lG-31

Deceinber

1.28 3. 75

1-15

7. IG '7.01 «G. OG 2G.41

13. 17 12.00 17. G1

2.92 2.03 4.30 3.0.")

G.79 5.50

'5. G9 G. 89 G.47 25. 70 7.G3

Ave.

years

9.92 9..52

Total íor Montb

1938

2. 44 4.G2

lG-30

Xoveniber

Dula from Rarranciuitas not available.

San Lorenzo (Farni)

Río Piedras San Lorenzo (Town)

4.92 G.80 a.27 14. 74 9. GO 1. 10

3. IG

Manatí

Corozal Jayuya

7. 19 3. 73 f). 90 8.08

13.31

7. 48 4.90 10. 2.") 9.97

1-ir.

Comerio (falls)

Cidra

('aguas Caycy

Bayamón

Aibonito

District

Table 1

1.20 .40

1.82

2.95

2.02 .84

1.23 .40 2. 19

1.74

2.04 .70 .32 1.70 .81

.40

1-15

.92

1. 14

1.00 1.53

1..5G 1. 13 1 09

.97 .20 l.GG .39

1.92

.00 .80 1.03 .00

10-31

'Average oí 5 yeras

M..50

20.32 '7. 19 •"G. 78 G. 18 5.91 0.13

'2..59

'4.81

G.74

3.47 4.99 G.40

6..50 5. IG

13.59

-Ave.

11 years 11

4.50 •2.70

4.70 5. 57

4.88 '5. 11 5. 15

4.08 5 72 '2.91 *2. 84

3. 99 5. ,5;í

3.88

"3.78 5.88

Ave.

years

«Average oí 4 years.

3 35 2.40 1.32

1.93 4.01

2.89 .79 3.75 3.15

1.78 1.94

1.00 2.90 1.73 .32 3.02

íor Monlh

Total

Jaiuiary

1939

1.42 1.30

.99

.74

.98 .59

.08

.87 .53 .50 .82 .41 1.07

.30

1-15

RAINFALL DISTRIBL'TIO.N' IiV THK TORACCO SÉCTIOX DURIXO TIIE (IROWIXO SEASOX

2.20

1.40

4.00

1.25 2.84

1.45 3. 07 .84 1.39 2. 20

1.20

.40 .81 1.22

1.57 3.03

10-28

5.48 2.70 2.20

3.SI

2.37 2.85 2. 19

.84

2. 52 4. 35

1.31 2.04 1.07

.99

1.87 3. 90

Montb

íor

Total

February

3. 13 2.43 «1.51

3.41 '3. 87 4. 74 2.70

2. 99 3. 12 3..39 M.35 •2. 22

2.04

"2.47 3. .5-1 2. 22

Ave.

11 years

o

O

M

a

o

M a

cí

O

1-3 H

hl

Cfí

y,

o

o o

)-3 O te) >

H

K

►-3

O

THIRD ANXUAL EEPOKT

10

Table 2

DEVIATIONS IN INCHRS FROM 11 YEARS AVERAGE FOR THE MONTES CP

NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 1938; JANUARY ANO FEBRÜARY 1939 District

A¡bonito

Bayamón Caguas Cayey

November

.42 1.09

(') 2.72

2.50

- - C)6.30

. 17 .82 . 15

2.15 3.07

Cidra

9.98 3.90

Corozai

3.37

Jayuya

(') 5.39 (O 2.02 -- G) 2.34 (2) 3.20 -- (') 2.00

Morovis Orocovis Río Piedras

San Lorenzo (Town). San Lorenzo (Farra). Utuado

Deviations: (')From 8 years average (2)Froin 10 years average

January

0.70

+ (') 4.23 -t2.63

Comerlo (falls) Juncos Manatí

Deccmher

3.09 7.20 3. 97

— (2) .88

-(')

+

2.32 O) . 17 .08

4- (^)

+ G) .03 — (2) .09 — (í) 1.25

February .00 .30 1.23

2.98

1.91

2.90 3.78

(2) .02 (<) 2.05 1.13

(2) 1.96

— —

.95 1.45

—

.87

(2; 0. CO — P) l.SS —

1.04

— (2) 1 02

3. 52

—

.79

.09

-i-

.10

—

.85

2.22 2. 10

— (2) .00

(<) 1.38

1. 13 2.35

.27

(«) .09

(2)Frora O years averago (2)From 5 years average (')Frf>m 7 years average OFrom 4 years average

Sinee in tobáceo agriciilture qiiantity and quality are to a cer-

tain extent inverscly proportional to caeh otlier, the quality of tho 1938-39 erop is fair, as was to be expected from its low yield. This superiority in quality was no doubt due to the low preeipitation registered during the harvesting period. Heavy rains during this interval would have caused deterioration due to the eífects of inoldi-

ness and black spotting. Information collected at the Weather Burean served as a basis

for the following study of the rainfall distribution in the most important toliaeco districts diiring the erop year 1938-39.

November and Deecmber, 1938, together with January and Feiiruary, 1939, may be eonsidered, for our present purjio.se, as Ihe eritieal months of the 1938-39 growing sea.son. The data availalile have been divided into Ib-day periods, in order to determine varia-

tions in the eourse of eaeh month and thus [iresent a elearer pieture of rainfall distribution, a factor deserving elose eonsideration. When-

evei- proper data werc available, a comparison was drawn between

individual monthly totals for the year and a 11-year average of the eorresponding months. This information is presented in Talile No. 1. Monthly deviations from the average are presented in Table No. 2.

Río Piedras, although not usually eonsidered a toliaeeo distriel, lias nevertiieless been ineluded in this study, for jiurpo-ses of eompari.son. The erop harve.sted at our Main Station at Río Piedras was remarkably good, ])erha|)s owing in a large measure to tiie fa vorable rainfall distribution during the growing season.

FIG. 2—Tobáceo Instituto. Front vie-w of the Administvatiou Building.

12

THIRD ANXUAL REPORT

The data presented on the aceompanying tables may justify tlu' foUowing eonclusions: (1) The hi£?h preeipitation registercd during the month of Novemher, 1938, was too high to he considered henefieial. It did considerahle damage to the small tohaceo plants still in the seedl)eds at

the time. (Cheese-cloth was not enough protection against erosión.)

In some instances, the scedhcds were almost completely destroycd l)y damping-oíf and attempts to control the disease proved ineffective, since conditions were far too favorable for its dissemination.

(2) This period of ahnormally high preeipitation was followed by more normal rainfall distrihution during December, 1938. How-

ever, in the distriets of Caguas, Corozal and Oroeovis the preeipita tion registered may be considered subnormal. Since most of the filler

tobáceo is grown in thcse distriets or in its vicinity, the cffect of the adverse weather conditions was felt on a major portion of the crop.

(3) In January 1939, preeipitation was below average in all to

báceo distriets. Since, as previously explaincd, the planting was made rather late, in most cases the plants had not attained full

development at harvest time. This was reflected in the low yield per acre.

(4) Rainfall during Pebruary, whieh is usually the harvest month, was below average in the most important tol)acco distriets.

However, in Bayamón and espeeially in San Lorenzo, preeipitation wíus above the average. The duration of the harvest depends on the system of picking employed, and this varies with the distriet. The harvest of primed tobáceo is usually longer than of stalk-eut tol)aeeo.

Heavy rains during the harve.st are detrimental, since they favor the ineurrence and recurrence of moldiness and blaek-spotting. In general, the weather was favorable to the barn-curing of tobáceo. The.se are some general eonclusions inferred from the rainfall

data here presented, when correlated with other observations gathered during the eour.se of the 1938-39 crop year. DESCRIPTION OF PHYSICAL FACILITIES OF THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

The Río Piedras Station is located on a 12 cuerdas ])lot ceded for 20 \ ear.s by the I niver.sity of Puerto Rico. The main building ineliules a general office, a director's office, a confercnce rooni. and chemistiy, genetics and pathology laboratorios.

•t, - -

'Vi' ■ •:' •

-

••

flG-. 3.—Interior court iu the Administratiou BuilcUng.

^£í|:^t'>^í^sÍSí ■ :

•'.''■r'ilVíít

ív;^

14

THIRD ANNUAL EEPORT

A green-house with its corresponding hcad-house and a model tobáceo euring barn are fouiid adjaeent to t.he main building. Under eonstruction is the pilot plant doscribed in detail clsewherc in this report and which will l)e devotcd to research on tobáceo indus

trial tcchnology.

The Caguas Substation consists of a 16i/^ acre farm, provided

with two large tobáceo euring l)arns and an experimental flue-curing equipment. PILOT PLANT-TOBACCO INSTITUTE

Whcn the División of Chemistry of the Toliacco Instituto was

reorganized late in the summer of 1938, a researcli program leading to a thorough industrialization of the tobáceo croj) was adoptcd. The development of a program of such broad and ambitious scope evidently involved passing from preliminary laboratory experimen-

tation to semieommercial pilot plant practice. Henee, the neeessity of studying plans for the eonstruction of a pilot plant suitable to our purpose.

The proper seleetion of building and equipment was rendered diííieult thru laek of available information.

Neither state ñor fed

eral government agencies had any suggestion to offer, sinee apparcntly this type of industrial activity had heen left in the past entirely to private enteri)rise.

Commereial firms engaged in this in-

dustry involved the so-ealled trade secrets and would not let any information concerning their i)roeesses leak oiit. Portunately, we found aecess to several European publications, cspeeially Italian and Ph-ench from which we gathered enough information to enable lis to devise and plan our own research program. We submittcd

our preliminary ideas to the Plngineering División of the P.R.R.A., and they supplied the architectural knowledge and exiierieiice requii-ed to dcvelop those early and still unripe ideas of ours into a model tobáceo iiilot plant, iierhaiis the first to be constructed in this section of the world.

Building operations began on December 15, 1938.

At the time

this report is written, June 30, 1939, the jiilot plant is practically com])lete in its main oiitlines. Some work on intei'ior details still remains to be done. The building is a one-.story reinforced concrete structure 130 feet long, 48 fcet máximum width, and covers about 2,600 .sijuare feet of floor space. It contains a spacious 44 ft. X 24 ft. y 20 ft. i'oom to he devoted to re.search on toliacco by-products such as nicotine, tobacco-seed oil, organic acids, cellulose, etc. Ad-

the tobáceo plant, such as nicotine sulfate, tobacco-geed oil and organic acids.

FIG-. i.—PILOT PLANT for research in fennentation, tobáceo technology and extraction of by-products of

fe;"-*

16

TIIIRD ANXUAL KEPOKT

joining this central laboratory, there are two smaller 26 ft. X 22 t't. rooms, for the storage and pretreatment of raw materials. Allowance for a small boiler room 13 ft. X 8 ft. has been made.

The

building will also honse two laboratorios 10 ft. X 10 ft., especially designed for the scientifie study of tobáceo fermentation. Thcse laboratorios will bo air-conditioned. Another room 20 ft. X 20 ft. will pormit triáis in a commercial scalo of principios and prácticos

dovolopod in the small laboratorios. Bosidos this experimental .soction, the building will contain a threo-car garage, a complete sanitary equipment and a janitor room. Probable total cost of the building is estimated at aroun^ $20,000. As required by the logical sequence in the development of the research program, the chemical laboratory has already .started an extensivo study of the raw materials availal)le in the Island.

An

account of tliis work, which is .still in progre.ss, will ])e found in the report of the chemist for the fiscal year 1938-1939.

STUDIES CONOEKNING THE ACQUISITION OF TWO FARMS ADAPTED FOR FIELD EXPERIMENTATION

Prior to the appointment of the present Director, the Adminis

trativo Board of the Tobáceo In.stitute of Puerto Rico liad already ordered the establishment of two experimental sub.stations to be Joeated on two impoi-tant tobáceo distriets. This decisión of the Board has received our most careful consideration and efforts have

been made to buy the farms in the course of this fiscal year. Cnfoitunately, financial a.s well as technical con.sideration.s liave i'i^-

taided the final selection of farm.s meeting the conditions required ior field experimentation. At the beginning of the fiscal year, the Director siicceeded in making clear to the Board the inadvisabilily of an immediate |)urchase of the farm.s, even if projier .selection liad

already been made and the selected farm.s were available for sale, which was not the ca.se. The members of the Board agreed witli the Director"s jilea that the Institute's financial .status was at the

time not .sufficiently solid to permit the additional disbur.senients nece.ssary for the mainteiuince of the experimental farms.

Since recent legislation has con.siderably .streiigllieiied the finanees

of the Institute, the aciiui.sition of the farms has again come iip ior consideration. Final .selection depeiids now on the satisfactory soliition of ceiiain technical diíficulties.

Fia. 5.—GREENHOUSE

H

T

'in

^ t

A

- • .,.vr

v4^

W?-*-íi-SÍ

^ •>

V;- AV.,;'•->

''V'

í^*

"■s

18

THIRD ANNUAL REPORT

A conscientious stiidy of the problem reqiiires first an elabórate survey of all the soil types in the tobáceo zones of the Island. The cholee of the best site for the establishment of a sub-station shouM

be based on a study of the distribution and coneentration of aere are i)lanted. A detallad soil conservation survey of eaeh farm offered for sale is of the utmost importanee. This is exhaustinj? work,

since it takes about two weeks to gather and interpret the data froni eaeh individual farm.

Suitable for the establishment of a tobáceo sub-station is a farm

located in the arca of greatest acreage coneentration and possessing soil types representativo of the arca. Sufficient amount of eaeh .soil type should be included to facilítate the technique of field exi)erimentation. The topography of the land must not be abrupt, but cither with a gentío inelination or preferably level, whenever ])ossible.

It is not easy to lócate a farm meeting these ideal eonditions and availabk for sale. It is well-known that soils of typieal farms de-

voted to tobáceo culture in the Island generally exhibit extreme variations in type and are traverscd by steep slopes, a condition which renders them very susceptible to erosión. Such soils are very thin, partly decomposed, coarse and stony. In Puerto Rico, Múcara is the most important soil series devoted to tol)acco culture. Preliminary estimates made at this Instituto would indícate that approximately 50 per cent of the soil devoted to tobáceo agriculture fall within tyi)es of the Múcara Series. Tiiis

soil series is generally found in steep hillsides which average ap proximately 40 per cent slope. So far, we have not l)een able to lócate farms containing types of the Múcara Series and presenting a gentle and uniform inelination.

Aside from these general studies of the soils of the tobáceo arca, the cooperation of tlíc Soil Conservation Serviee of the U. S. A. lias been seeured in five detailed studies of farms offered for sale during the course of the year. In the opinión of the Director, none of them has offered the qualifications nece.ssary for the purpose. This extensivo and complicated analysis of the data collected

would serve to substantiate the statcment that is very diííicult, if not imi)o.ssible, to purchase a farm suitable for all kinds of field expei'iments. Bearing this in mind and considering the absoluto nee-

essity of these experimental units for the study of the tobáceo plant in repi'esentative .soil types, it is recommended that some of the technical requisitos be waived, if it be needed, and thus make feasi-

FIG. 6.â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Section of greenhouse ^here varieties are tested for resistance to dlseases.

2Q

third annual report

ble. thc selection oí a farm with the best possiblc oombination oí

qualifications, even if not suitable íor cevtain kinds oí field exper.mcnts.

,

.

The data collected in the course of these studies is very intei--

esting and siifficiently complete to serve as a basis for a futuro publication on the soils of the tobáceo sectioiis of the Island. OUTUNE OF EXPERIMENTATION

I. Geneíic.s'.—(Breeding program.) ^

i , ,

(ft) Isolation of strains resistant to mosaic and black shank {Phytophthom parasítica Dastur, Var. Nicotmnae Tucker).

(h) Cigarette or bright tobáceo: Crosses to impart desirable eommercial characteristics.

II. y«.rictíc.s- and .■<trains: Include stud,y oí progenies írom crosses madc at the Institute and of importcd varieties, Selection for;

(a) Resistance to discase.

(b) Quality and production of filler, binder, wrapper and cigarette tobáceo types.

IIL Patholofjy: Studies of infection of varieties and strains, local and imported.

1. "Mottle" mosaic discase.

2. Common tobáceo mosaic of Puerto Rico. 3. Black-shank studies. IV. Fertilitij:

i

. i •

.

(a) Study on the eíTect of green manures planted in rotation with filler tobáceo.

(b) Fertilizer-formulas tests on typical tobáceo soils for production and Quality of filler type.

V Af/ronomic studies of varieties and strains airead,/ fijrd h,/

selection: This ineludes varieties and strains adapted to one of the following eommercial types: (a) Filler, (b) Wrapper,

(c) Cigarette,

(d) For tlie nicotine sulfate industry. r^F- Most ,of ,•tv work oullinod li)i<lrr Brottlinf?, V.inotit .s Patholofry. Fortility. is I.v Or .7 A B. Xoll.n, foniit'r diiPctor.

a conliiiuution of .«tudics staiied l)> i i.

OF THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

21

VI. Soils: Studies of soils eommonly devoted to thc culture of tol)aeco.

4

1 + .

(a) luterpretatioii of soil aiid erosion surveys to deter mine thc pcrcentage of soil types within sclected tobรกceo districts aiid their relative intensit> of erosion.

(h) Determination of soil types adapted to the culture ot difFerent kinds of tobรกceo. VIL Chcniical and PlnjsicaJ:

1. Correlatioii of commercial standards of filler and cigai-

ette types of tobรกceo with standards based on tbe results of chemical and ])hysical analyses.

2. Studies on tbe extraction and purification of nicotine from eommon cigar-filler varieties as well as fioin imported varieties of Nicotiana rustica. 3. Extraction of tobacco-seed oil. 4. Permentation studies. EcoxoMY:

(rt.) Costs of i)roduction.

(b) Effects of Federal and Insular Legislation. (e) Social asi)eets based on econรณmica] studies.

(fZ) Studies tending to the establisliment of a crop reporting serviee.

(r) Studies on the appropriate legislation necessary to protect the tobรกceo industry of the Island. Cl'I-MATOLO!}V;

(a) (^rrelation of weather conditions witii (luantity and (piality of tol)acco crop. Ento.moloov :

1. Control of iiornworm {(jusano verde) by ])arasitism. 2. Control of pests l)y chemicals. Statistics:

AVhenever possible all the final data of the ex])eriments will l)e subjected to statistical interpretation. CIGARETTE TOBACCO STUDIES

The first reiiort of the Institute made reference to the construc-

tion of the Hue-curing barn in the Caguas Sul)station and ineluded a list of varieties tried. The pereentage of yeliow leaf obtained was very low, and the color quite unsatisfactory.

22

THIRD ANNUAL EEPORT

Thc second report incliided triáis with three strains: two of reg ular bright tobáceo and 144-9-1-7, a eross Samsum X Cuban. The results were not encouraging.

Diiring the summer of 1938, thc assistant agronomist in charge of this work was sent to the United States to study the eultivation and ciiring of bright tobáceo. He visited some of the tobáceo stations in the bright tobáceo belt. His report to the Board of Direct-

ors brought about a complete revisión of the technique used by us in previous years.

Two strains were tried: 144^9 (Samsum X Cuban) and 740, a strain of an Orinoco type. (Strain 669—an Orinoco type-could not be tried for lack of snfficient seedlings.) Stress was laid on the selection of loose, sandy soils of low fertility. Five fields of about acre each were planted; one in the

Central Farm at Río Piedras on Vega Alta clay loam, other in the Caguas Sub-.station on Caguas clay. One field was located in Bayamón on Corozo fine sand, a very poor, white soil, with a yellow clay subsoil. Two fields were planted in Utuado: one on Utuado loam, a brownish yellow, loose, poor soil, and another on a reddish yellow clay at the Extensión Service Farm.

On previous years, two fertilizer formulas were used. This year we tried one low in nitrogen (2-8-12) applied once, on transplanting or a few days later. The growth was satisfactory in all fields but one in Utuado

(Utuado loam). In Río Piedras both varieties made a rank growth that made them very difficult to cure. In all ca.ses, Río Piedras excepted, the fields had a yellowish green appearance. Due to the fact that we had only one barn, and some of the fields

were too far from it, we could not make some pickings at the right

time. However, we were able to get the first yellow crop in foiir years. Caguas produced the best crop of strain 740, followed by Bayamón. Strain 144-9 was a failure in all fields, except in Utuado loam, Utuado. There the plants were smaller and slender, but the leaves were light yellow, light, gummy, and cured golden yellow. The cro]) was primcd by removing two or three leaves per plant in each picking.

After curing, the crop was stored for some weeks in a dry room in the Laboratory Building, and later was graded. ÍJrading was based on color and length of leaf. There was a great diversity of colors, ranging from light lemon to dark mahogany. The médium

FIG. 7.—Experimental flue curing Ijarn at Rio Piedras for the study of bright tobáceo.

24

THIRD AXXUAL EEPOET

dark shades predominated. Bottom aiid middle leaves eurcd casily when picked at thc right moment, but top leavos never ciired yellow. In previous ycars, leavos turned brown veiy soon, but this year thoy have remained yellow.

After the erop was graded, it was stored in hoosheads; but líefore it eould uiidergo a partial fermentation, the management of the Puerto Rico Tobáceo Co. induced us to tiy it in cigarettes. Part of the crop of 740 was proces.sed into unblended cigarettes, wliich in

spite of not l)een properly aged proved to be acceptable. They were mikl and of good combustibility. Later, part of the crop of 144-9 was ])rocessed too. A blend of both strains was tried. Strain 144-9 was milder, with good aroma and a natural sweet flour. The l)lend

was not as good as the strain smoked straight. These triáis ])rompted US to send largor amounts of leaf of both strains to be aged and manufactured. Strain 144-9 is a possible substituto for Turkish tobáceo.

Undor similar conditions, strain 144-9 yields more leaves per plant than 740, l)ut the latter is easier to cure and yields a bigber percentage of bright leaves. In very poor .soils, 144-9 yields small, yellow leaves that varied from a light lemon yellow to light brownish yellow, which seems to be the color preferred locally. V\ e based our work on the theory of nitiogen starvation as a mcans of obtaining a l)right crop. A suspected coi-relation l)etween

the amounl of nitrogen present in the leaf at the time of pieking and its ability to cure yellow lias been studied in a .series of ciiemical

analyses. So far, this .seems to be true. Further data regarding this l)hase of the work on cigarette tobáceo can be found in the report of Mr. iManzano, chemist of the Institute.

EXPEBIMENT WITH GEEEN MANURES

The expei'imental fieid of 1.05 acre is divided into 42 plots of 45.875 ft. X 24 ft. Duriiig th.e years 1937 and 1938 they were planted as tollow.s: ten plots of Velvet Beans (Stizolohium Dofrhnjitnium), ten plots of CanaraHa cnsifonnis, eleven i)lots of Soy Beans (Soja.

Man and eleven plots left as "Checks". The dates of planting, cultivat'.on and incoi-poration of the legumes to the .soil was the .same for all the plots.

The oi'iginal idea was to i)lant tobáceo during 1939, following two pi-evious years of legumes, the 42 plots to receive the .same tivatmenl : that is, tobáceo with fertilizer.

OF THE TOBACCO TXSTITÜTE OF PUERTO RICO

25

It was latcr deeided to divide the experimcnt into two problems,

so as to stiidy the eftccts of legumcs both on tobáceo treated with fertilizar and on tobáceo not so treated. Following this plan, twenty

plots were plantad with tobáceo after the addition of fertilizar and twcnty-two were plantad with tobáceo without fertilizcr. The position of the plots receiving the two diiferent treatments was stndied with care so as to have a pro]ier distribntion of them

in tlie whole experimental area. The planting, cnltivation, harvesting and enring was done the same day for all the plots with the same treatment, and the variety of tobáceo Virginia No. 9 was nsed as the standard variety for the two experiments. COMBUSTIBILITY TESTS

Comlnistibility is one of the outstanding characteristics of a good tobáceo and depends essentially on tlie chemical eomposition and anatomical structure of tlie leaf tissne. However, fortuitous external conditions, such as moistnre eontent of the leaf and relative humid-

ity of the snrronnding air, may ])rofonndly influence the eourse of tho coml)ustion i)rocess. In order to eliminate thesc disturbing factore, and thns render the tests as aecurate and comparable as possiblc, the Instituto has adojíted the following procedure: Eaeh field treatment was representad liy 20 leaves, properly se-

Iccted. These leaves were kept overnight in an airtight cal)inet in order to allow the leaves to attain a more or less equal moistnre eon

tent, in e(iuili})rium with the humidity of the air enelosed in the eabinct. Oiit of the.se 20 leaves. 10 were seleeted for the eombustibility test, and the rest were nsed for moistnre determination. IMoi.stnre

was determined by drying in an electric oven at 100°C for 30 min utes. (See Dr. I. Vladesen—Bnletinnl Tntnnnlni, Annl XXIV, Nr. 1, 1935, pp. 67-86).

The leaves were ignited l)y means of an electrically heated redhot i)oint. Once ignited, the leaf was withdrawn from the red-hot point and kept in a horizontal i)osition while the combustión procceded.

A ealibi-ated metronome was nsed to measnre the coml)ns-

tion time in seeoiuls. Ten sneh tests were performed on eaeh leaf at [)0¡nts between tiie .seeondary veins seleeted to eover the whole leaf snrface.

The following formula derived l)y Dr. (\ Coolhaas of the Proefstation Voor Vor.stendlandsehe Tabak, Java (Mededeeling No. 68,

26

THIRD ANNUAL EEPORT

1930, page 9), was nsed to eorrect for variations in combustión time due to changos in the moistiire content of the leaf. log A-log Bt=K (a-h) A=corrected combustión time at a per cent moisture. jB=observed combustión time at h per cent moisture. K=a constant which in Java practice is taken at 0.04.

The correeted combustión valúes, properly tabulated and averaged, will be used for statistical interpretation. CLASSIFICATION OF THE SOILS AT EXPERIMENTAL FARMS BEVISEO

The writer observed that the soil of the main Station at Río Pie

dras, previouslj^ classified as Sabana Seca Clay loam, did not exhibít the characteristics of that soil type, as described in an unpublishcd soil survey report of the Insular Experiment Station. As this point has a certain technical intcrest, a memorándum was sent to Mr. (}.

L. Crawford, Chief of the Soil Conservation Service of Puerto Rico, who kindly ordered a detailed soil survey of the Main Station at Río Piedras, and the Caguas Substation. The Río Piedras soil survey disclosed the fact that the soils of

this farm are not Sabana Seca clay loam, but belong to the Vega Alta series. Two types of this series were identified: Vega Alta loam (V. A. 6) and Vega Alta clay loam (V. A. 2). A previous report of this Instituto states that a groen manure

experiment at Río Piedras was carried out on Sabana Seca clay loam. This should be correeted to read Vega Alta loam (V. A. 6), The soil survey of the Caguas Substation agreed with the previ ous classification.

LIBBARY AND TOBACCO BIBLIOGRAPHY

During the cour.se of the year, a bibliography of 3,300 al)straeted articios has been compiled. This has been made possible thru the cooperation of Dr. Nolla and clerical help provided ])y the P.R.R.A.

In addition, no eif'ort has been si)ared to organizo a library of stand ard reference publications on tobáceo, in all modern European languages. PUBLICATIONS

The publications made during the year were as follows: 1. Bunker, P. H.—Many Economic and Field Pi()l)lems h'ae-

ing Puerto Rican Leaf Planters, Tobáceo Vol 107 (">6) • 8-11; fig. 9—1938.

OP THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

27

2. García Fortuno, M—Apuntes Sobre la Genética del Ta baco. Descripción del Método de Cruzamiento Utilizado por el Instituto del Tabaco.—Revista de Agricultura de Puerto Rico—31:39-41; 1939.

3. Manzano, M. A.—Higher Quality Puerto Rican Leaf Can be Developed by Chemistry.—Tobáceo—Vol. 107, (26): 10 fig. 3;—1938.

4. Manzano, M. A.—Apuntes Solire la Química de los Taba cos Claros para Cigarrillos.—Revista de Agricultura, In dustria y Comercio de Puerto Rico.—31:209—211; 1939. 5. Manzano, M. A.—Evolución Histórica y Social del Uso del Tabaco.—Revista de Agricultura de Puerto Rico—31: 263-266; 1939.

6. Manzano, M. A.—El Laboratorio Químico del Instituto del Tabaco de Puerto Rico al Servicio de Nuestra Indus tria Tabacalera.—Revista de Agricultura de Puerto Rico. 31:42-44, fig. 1; 1939.

7. Nolla, J. a. B.—Second Annual Report of the Tobáceo Instituto of Puerto Rico, Pages 1-36; fig. 1-15, 1938.

8. Esteva, C. Jr.; Ortiz, J. B.; Rodríguez Géigel, A.; Díaz PoNCE DE León, H ; Huvke, R.; Selgas, M. E.; Laguna,

F.; JoGLAR Rodríguez, F.—The Tobáceo Industiy in Puerto Rico and the Fair Labor Standards Act.—Mime-

ographed Paper No. 1 (Tobáceo Institute of Puerto Rico) March 20, 1939. LEGISLATION

Insular:

During the course of the fiscal year the Instituto, pressed by the

abnormal situation that the industry was facing, directed its energies to the promotion of legislativo measures tending towards the protection of this industry in crisis. The IiLstitute takes pleasure in aeknowledging its indel)tedness l)oth to the Legislature and to the Insular Executive for their invaluable eooperation whieh made possi])le the enaetment and approval of the two most important legislativo measures proposed l)y the In stituto.

As has already lieen pointed out, the aetivities of the Instituto and those of the tobáceo industi-y run in parallel channels. Conditions produeing a decline in the industry are therefore reflected in the finances of the Instituto. Sinco aetivities in tlie tobáceo industry

were at a low obb owing to conditions discussed elscwhoro in this report, it was necessary to secure additional incomo whieh would save the Instituto from running tlio .samo fato as tho industrv.

Ileneo,

28

THIRD ANNUAL REPOET

it was suggestcd that the Legislature should appropriate $20,000 annually from thc Insular Trcasury to prevcnt a déficit in the finalices of the Institute. The bilí ivas enaeted and, upon receiving thc ap-

proval of the Insular Exeeutive, lieeame Laiv No. 27 of April l-I, 1939.

Inferior cigars madc with poor and cheap imported leaf and screenings (in somc cases declared for shipping purposes as "fertilizer") ivere being shipped abroad under the ñame of "Puerto Riean Cigars". This unfair practico had marked detrimental effects on the age-old reputation of our local cigar industry. On page 29 of the Second Annual Report of the Tobáceo Instituto, 1938, former Director Dr. J. A. B. Nolla makes reference to bis un.suceessful ef-

forts to promote legislativo measures intended to protect thc legitimate cigar industry against unfair prácticos. The original bilí proposed liy former Director Dr. Nolla, modified so as to smooth out all

active opposition, was presented again this year to the Legislature. The bilí was enaeted on June 10, 1939, and upon reeeiving exeeutive approval, became Law No. 16 of June 10, 1939. Another bilí (H. B. No. 718), whieh provided for the estalJishment of a system of classification for filler tobáceo, was drafted and introduced in the Legislature. Tlie bilí aimed at ])rotecting the íarmer against the arbitrary classification of their croi)s as ])erformed in many instances by tobáceo dealers and financiers. The present complex .system of marketing and financing the tobáceo crop places the farmer in a disadvantageous position in bis relations with the crop finaneier, whose interests do not always run ])arallel witli those of the farmer. Strong and active oi)¡)Osition from interested and well-

organized sectors prevented thc enactment of this bilí.

Opponents

to the bilí argued that such legi.slation would prove detrimental to

their interests. It is regrettable that such lack of cooi)eration slioukl be found among the powerful organizations that control the tol)acco trade in the Island. Fkdkkal:

The announcement that dispositions of the "Fair Laboi- Stand-

ai-ds Act" were extensive to tlie Island caused .such a great alarm that it i)recipitated the already critical situation ))rought about by the .su])))osed overproduction of the 1937-1938 croj). In the time Ix'tween its enactment by the Fedei'al Legi.slative bodies, the Pri'sident's final approval of the bilí, thus converting it into law. and

the regulatory peilod of enforcement, unre.st and anguish among the |)eople associated with the industrv reached its zenith. Commissions,

OF THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

29

many of them, werc sent to Washington to impress upen thc proper anthorities thc groat harm that sneh Federal measures woiüd eause to the tobáceo industry of the Island. The Director went to Wash ington as special advisor on questions pertaining to the tobáceo in dustry on the staíf which aeeompanied Hon. F. A. López Domínguez, when the Commissioner of Agrieulture and Commeree of Puerto Rico

appeared on a hearing before Federal Administrator jMr. Andrews and Statf. Upon his return to Puerto Rico, the Director was appointed Chairman of a Special Committec created l)y the (lovernoi

to study possible etfects of the Federal Labor Standards Act on the economy of the local tobáceo industry. The findings of the Commit tec were amply discussed in a report submitted to the CJovernor and published under the title "The Tobáceo Industry in Puerto Rico and thc Fair Labor Standards Act," Tobáceo Institute of Puerto Rico, iMareh 20, 1939.

REPORT OP THE DEPARTMENT OP AGRONOMY

Rcscarch work during this ycar followed the same lines as bcfore. The same experiments previously reported were continued with

slight changos. One trial (Priming vs. Stalk-cutting) proved so coneliisive that it was diseontinued. The shade and variety triáis were enlarged. PROGRESS EEPORTS OF THE PROJECTS

I.—Breeding Program

This project, started years age by Dr. Nolla, is to develop straiiis of tobáceo resistant to black shank, {PJnjtophthora parasitica Dastur, var. nicotianae Tiicker), and to mosaic disease that would be of valué as cigar filler, binder, or wrapper typcs. Preliminary work is carried out in the main farm at Río Pie

dras, where progenies are tested in the field and greenhouse, and puré lines are dcveloped; and at the Caguas Sub-Station, where further fields tests are conducted. With but a few exceptions, only puré lines are planted at Caguas to make final selections.

Two-hundred plants of each strain are planted; the best plants representative of the type in mind are selectcd for seed.

The rest

are topped. From all selected plants a leaf sami)le is taken for

l)urning tests. A largor .sample is taken from as many plants as l)os.sible for observations after curing and ])ulking proce.sses. Final selection is based on burning capacity, venation, yields, resistance to diseases and other field or warebouse observations.

Every year some of the .strains are included in controlled experi ments, in which they are .subjected to more elabórate observations.

The.se triáis include the yield and quality of filler leaf or wrappers. Final selection takes place if they match or surpass the standard commercial varieties. II.—Pathological Studies

The pathological studies this year included a test for resi.stance

given to five varieties imported from Cermany. They proved to l)e susceptible to mosaic and black shank.

OF THE TOBACCO TNSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

31

Six progenies of the eross 690 {Consolación X 243-7-5-12) were

plantee! in conerete beds already inoeiilated with Phytophthora to study their resistance to this disease. A disease census was taken at the Caguas Sub-Station. It in-

eluded cvery plant in tiie wliole farm affeeted with mosaie, black shank, or motile disease. This gives an index to their resistance or susceptibility on quasi-eommercial conditions. in.—Seed Introduction

Five varieties were imported í'rom (Jermany thru the courtcsy of the Tobáceo Instituto of Forchheim. Tests for resistance or suscep

tibility to disease have been ])reviously repoitcd. One of the imported varieties—Cavalla—, of Greek origin, was íiue-cured and exhibited a marked tendency to produce bright leaves.

Plans are being made to include this variety in later cigarette triáis and in the cigarette tobáceo breeding program. IV.—Nicotiana Rustica

Severa! varieties of the species Nicotiana nistica Linn. were

planted. They were analyzed for nicotine content to determine their possible use in the manufacture of nicotine sulfate, l^ata of these analyses can l)e found in the Report of the Department of Chemistry. V.—Experlments

(A) (t REEN Manures

The experiment with green manure started in 1937 was continued this year planting tobáceo after two years of legumes. Tlie field of 1.05 acres was subdivided in 42 jdots which were

planted on the first two years as follows: ten plots of velvet l)eans, ten [)lots of Canavalia cnsifonnis, eleven plots of soy beans (Soja Max), and eleven plots were left to lie fallow as checks. This year the exi)eriment was divided in two sections: One section of twenty plots—five of each treatment—was fertilized; the other scction of twenty-two plots was left unfertilized. This praetice made i)ossi])le the studies in yield and quality of tobáceo planted on fertilized and unfertilized plots of green manures

as comi)ared to tobáceo i)lanted on ])lots left to lie fallow and of sueh differences as may occur l)etween the ditferent leguminous crops planted.

THIRD ANNUAL REPORT

82

The standard variety Virginia No. 9 was nsed in the experiment. The dates of planting, cultivation and harvesting praeticcs iised wcre

the same for all plots, so as to reduce the possibility of crrors. Samples of all plots were taken for biirning tests.

The resulta

will be piiblished later. The relative order of merit of these treatments is tabulated l)elo\v:

LEOUMINOUS CROPS EXPERIMENT ON VEGA ALTA LOAM AT RÍO PIEDRAS Differences Between Meaks and Probable Errors, and Ratios of Fertilized and ÜNFERTIIIZED PlOT.S (*) Order of Merit OF Treatments

Treatment

Velvet beans, fertilized —Canavalia, fertilized —Velvet beans, unfertilized —Canavalia, unfertilized —Soybeans, unfertilized.... —Soybeans, fertilized —Cbeck, fertilized —Check, unfertilized Canavalia, fertilized —Velvet, unfertilized —Canavalia, unfertilized.... —.Soybeans, unfertilized.... —Soybeans, fertilized —Check, fertilized —Cbeck, unfertilizeil Velvet, unfertilized —Canavalia, unfertilized.. .. —Soybeans, unfertilized.... —Soybeans, fertilized —Check. fertilize<l

—Clieck, unfertilized Canavalia, unfertilized —Soybeans, unfertilized.... —Soybeans, fertilized —Check, fertilized .—Check, unfertilized Soybeans, unfertilized —Soybeans, fertilized —Cbeck, fertilized —Check, unfertilized Soybeans fertilized —Check, fertilized —Check. unfertilized Check, fertilized —Check, unfertilized

Means

Diff.

Lbs./

Lbs./

Acre

Acre

1581.6

1511.2 1458.8

1456.0 13.30.0 1325.6 1158.8 1060.6 1511.2 1458.8

P. E. of Treat ment

P. E. of DifT.

Ratio

33.09

70.4 122.8 125.0 251.6 256.0 422.8 512.0 52.4 55.2

50.63 26. 26 .52. 22 53.65 42.59

42.24

2.91

61.82 6.3.03 53.93

2.03 4.00

38.24

50.56

8. 36

69.48

76. 96

6.65

.57. 03 72.73

0.92 0. 76

.50.63 26.26

68. 48

1.03

4. 75

1456.0 1330.0 1325.6

181.2 185.6

1158.8 1069.6

352.4 441.6

69.48

72. 76 66. 15 63.44 86.02

2.8 128.8

26. 20 52.22 53.65

.58.45 59. 73

133.2 300.0

42..59 38. 24

.50. 03 46. 38

2. 16 2. 67 6. 47

389. 2

69. 48 .52. 22 .5:1. 65

74. 27

.5. 24

74. 19 67. 38 64.69

86.97

1. 70 1.94 4. 60 4. 44

fi8. 49

O. 06

65.87 87.78

2.60

0. 44

69. 48

102.94 118. 16

38. 24 (i9. 18

79. 30

1.02

1458.8

14.56.0 1330.0 1325.6

1158.8 1069.6

1456. O 1330.0 1325.6 1158.8 1069.6 1330.0 1325.6 1158.8 1069.6

126.0 130.4 297.2

386. 4 4.4

171.2 260.4

1325.6

11.58.8 1069.6 1158.8

1069.6

46. 2 1.34. 4

52.22 53.65

42.59 38.24

42. 59

38.24 69. 48 .53. f>.5 42..59 38.24 69.48

42.59 38. 24

2..50 2.81 5..56

.5. 13 O.05

í

í

2. 97

1. 13

Katios of 3.00 or over are siRriiflcant. (*) .\nalysls inade by Modiñed Be.ssel's Formula.

The iireliminary eonelusioiis ba.secl on .statistieal ¡ntei'])i*etation are as follows: The fertilized tobaeeo plots planted after the ineorporation of velvet beans to the soil was the highest yieldiiig treat ment. However, this production is not statistieally signifieant over the tobaeeo prodiietion of the unfertilized plots of velvet beans; and

ovei' the produetion of the fertilized and unfertilized ]>lots of (kuia-

OF THE TOBACCO TXSTITUTE OF PUEBTO EICO

valia.

33

Neverthcless it is statistically signifieaiit over thc fertilized

and nnĂ­'ertilized plots of soy beans and to both eheeks (ene check fallow and the other fallow plus fertilizcr).

Tlie fertilized and nnfertilized plots of Canavalia, and thc nnfertilized plots of velvet beans are statistically significant over the two eheek treatments only. There is no statistical signifieance of the other treatments over the fertilized or nnfertilized check treatments.

(B) Fertilizkrs Experimext

The fertilizers experiment was continued this year. Tweiityseven treatments, replicated five times, were tried.

Plots were 1/56.72 acre consisting of seven rows of 20 plants each, The standard filler variety Virginia No. 9 was iised. The fertilizcr was applied three days before planting. No filler in the fertilizcr

formula was included. The fertilizer was applied according to the method described in the "1937 Animal Meeting Report" of the Na-

tional Joint Committee on Fertilizers Applicatioii: It was placed at the time of transplanting in two bands about 2 inches to each side of the row and on a level llA inches below the root crown. The fertilizer was distributed uniformly in these bands and covered with loo.se soil. The plants were set out in the bank between the covered

bands of fertilizer. The bottom Icaves (i)ie) were primed, and when the remaining leaves on the iilant wei-e suĂ­ficiently ripe the entii-e plant was stalk-cut. Border rows were di.scarded.

The results of the first and second year are compared in the following table:

with 10 cid/acre of 7-7-7, but receiving no legumüious treatment.

riG. 8.—Partial View of the Green Manures Experiment—Check plot two moiiths after plaiited aiid fertilized

OF TIIE TOBACCO TNSTITUTE OF PUERTO RICO

35

F K RTILIZE KS EX PE R1M EXT

REPOIIT OF Two Yeaus Rf.sli.ts

T<a?ali!y: C rzuas •^ah-Station

Soil "Cacuas loam C. O. 9" 19:17-10 IS

Order of

;

¡

Prnd. iieeord-

ing to minilier of

l'.)38-!9:50

Formiiln

I

Vicld

Duratinn

per

of liurn i:.

aere (') '

Iro'.itment ¡

Lbs.

■JH!

12-S-S 8-1-8

"

1 i

4-4-4

27

12-12-12

lij

8-12-4

(>

12-12-4 4-8-12

2r.

12-12-8 8-12-12 4-4-12

IS :t ir.

8-8-12 8-4-4

II) 7

4-12-4 12-4-8 12-4-12

2i) 21 i:i

8-8-4

11 4 12

4-8-4 8-4-12

8-8-8

IT 1)

8-12-8 4-12-12

24

12-8-12

1!) 2

12-4-4 4-1-8

5 8

4-8-8 4-12-8

22

12-8-4

flrder ijf ; Prod acfor.i |

SDeondsí') ]

1 ri'l 11:51 llis 1102 HUI 1075

2:5

10.58 1050

1015 10:59 l'):57 1021 1015 11)12 1010 11)05 1004

991 9sr. 9.S5 983 970

21

i:.g to iiumber of treatmeni

a; 1

IS [

25 1

12-12-1

11

13

15 10 9

9 17

8 1

17

21

15

2

in set'onds

37

0

4 1

Lbs.

|.i:52

10

2i 10

duration

of buin (')

1101

12-8-8 4-.8-12

'1 1

■Average

per

S-12 4

■.'7 ¡ 2.5

Vicld

.\erp C)

8-12-12

1.5 17 19

4-8-4

101!) 9;» 97,8 917 911) 935 921

12-12-8

91»

14

4-1-8 4-12-12

9J7

27

8-12-8

9)2

4-1-12

80!

4-12-8 4-1-4 12-1-8

880

12-12-12 8-1-8

8-8-1

903

887

25 10 28 12

14 29

Í2

15 31

32 37

10 15 21

2.) 15

17

14

8-8-12 M-.8-8

11 12

12

8-4 12

b)

S-1-4

850 817

4-8-8 4 12-1

8.50 8 58

12-1-12 12-H-12 12-1 1

705

7.>2

10

12-8-4

739

15

1

13

901

9

7

953 9.53

17 7

21 21

951

10 9

19

920

,

Formula 1

88.) 870 .x;i

705

10 24

23 19 21 22 10 10

12

■■

<i)

líiiTereace heíweaa ins.itis «if trealtnent lar¡íiir tlia:i las Ihs. are sisiiiflcanl.

(Ó

Avera'ie biirii in seonds «f "mata superior" only.

(') P.rís-H'.t DilTerence belweea imans of treatirieiit larpoi ílian 20ii Ibs. are sifínifieant. v") i'.Ms Sil Averajie of biirn in seeoniis of "pie, mata inferior and mata superior". Compulation of prot>alúlitics has been maile followinp Fislier's Raniinmi?;cd Rloek Mctlioa.

?Alatislieal intorpretation for tho ])voducti(m data ot* 1937-38

Titilizin<r Fisher's Randomized Bloek Method, and takin<>' yiplds ppr aciv as an index, discloses the faet tliaí tieatnu'iits 23, 11, 1, 27, 16,

25, 6, 26, 18, 3, 15. 10, 7, 20, 21, 13, U, 4. 12. 17. 9. and 24, aie statistioally not si<ínificant. Treatments 2. 5, 8, 22, and 19 aiv niOcantly inferior to treatinont 23, whieh was tho lii^host yieldor in 1937-38.

Tilo samo niothod of intorpretation nsed for the 1938-39 iirodiietion dala may load ns to tho eonolusion that troatmonts 16, 18. 27,

11. 23, 6, 2;). 13, 4. 26, 2, 9, 17 and 3 aro statistioally not sijiiiifioant. Troatmonts 8, 1, 20, lo, 14, 12, 10. 5, 7, 21, 24, 19 and 22 aro sijjnifioantly inferior to troatmont 16, whioh was the highest yielder i„ i;)38-39.

This is a iirogress rojiort of two years formula tosting researeli

on ('aguas loam C. G. 9. Preliminaiy obseiw-ations are only advanced

THIRD ANNUAL EEPORT

36

above. As the experimciit will be continued for a niimber oí' ycars a thorough discussion will be then attcmpted. Samples were taken from "pie, mata inferior, and mata superior" from eaeh plot for burning tests. (C) Varieties Experiments

An experiment was planned to compare iii yield thirteen straiiis with the standard filler variety Virginia No. 9. Seven of tiiese strains were from crosses made by Dr. Nolla; the other six fi'om seeds imported from Venezuela during his directorship. Plots 1/56.72 aere in size were marked, and treatments were replieated five times. The plots contained seven rows of 22 planí.s eaeh, l)ut border rows were disearded. A 7-7-7 fertilizer at rate of 1,000 pounds per aere was applied broadeast along the entire lengíli of the rows and well mixed with hoes previous to planting; a seeond applieation of 4-8-12 of 500 pounds per aere on two lialfmoons was applied just ahead of the first eultivation.

Harvesting was done l)y priming the l)ottom leaves (pie) and wlien the remaining leaves oii the plant were suffieiently rii)e the whclc plant was eut. l)ue to insuffieient amount of seedlings of some .strains, Ihese

eould not l)e used in this experiment. Two strains (treatnienls 14 and 15) developed by jMr. F. H. Bunker were used to fill in ten vaeant plots and their data is presented with the other .strains data. Tile results obtained this year are given in the following tal)le: VARIETÍES EXPERl.MEXT I<t38-3!) Statisticai. Interi'RETation RASEn ON ViEi.n PER

Acre

OF Tobaito Fii.i.er Varieties íTvpe i<>) (') Order of Prod.

Mean

in |)oiinds

aceordinR

Production

per acre from

Diff.

to mimber

VarinI y

iier acre

of trcatmeni

ló 11 H

13 .ó

10 ■1

P.> (i 1 7

I.bs.

SiRnirieItatio

73I-18-(i. . . 721-Ü-f . . .

73H ÍV-O). . . .iOO-C.-l-I. . 73n-4-ri .

.

hiíihest yielder

( ■) 10

13f!i

«21

00.81

12!i;i

1277 12'.7

871 81)3 1)13

1232 1184

1)38 1)80

79.31 (17. 08 51.00 80.1)5 51.87

1024

81. 0(1

114(1 ,

A veraíe Diiralion

of Hurn in Sec. (-)

ance

(O 2170

71)1

728-13-3 733-3-1 (185-0-10. 144-0 1-7 770

P. E. of DifT.

1082

1088

53. 48

1080 0(14

1090 1200

01. 75 (14. 20

18. 89 15.30 18.48 24. 75 1(1. 21

23 17 0

l-

20. 00

-f-

17. 05 2S. 48

■{

24. 70 21. 29

1

(!) Inierpretation mude by Modified Ressel's Formula. (') Averace biirn in scconds of "pie, mala inferior aad mata siii»crior" C) Averase tmrn in seeonds of "|iie. medio íprimedt and mata superior'

O) -Mean |>rodaction of ihe ñ plots iimltipüa 1 tiy 7J 41.

i"

-f

f-

14 15 7 12

7 1 f

FIG. 9—rertilizer Experiment at Caguas Substatiou.—The crop has been partially harvested.

THIRD AXXUAL EEPORT

38

Strain 791 is thc highcst yielder, and evidcntly is statistieally signifieant over thc othor strains included in the expci'iment. This Irial will be eontinned for a number of years.

Samplcs wero takcn of ''pie, mata inferior, and mala superior" from all plots for burning tests.

Larger samples were taken for

eigar tests and for other observations.

(D) Shade Tobacco Trials The sliade tol)aceo triáis were eontinned this year along the same lines as on previovis years. Nine strains developed l)y Dr. Nolla and one liy ]Mr. Bunker vere eompared for yield and cpiality. Each trial was replieatcd five times in 1/56.72 aere plots. All the strains, ])ut one, tried last year were retained and two new ones were ineluded in the triáis for the first time.

There were seven rows

of 22 plants in eaeh plot, l)ut border rows were disearded. leaves were ])rimed.

The

The re.sults of yields are pre.sented in the following table: SHADE TOBACCO TUIALS

Y'EI.D PEK acre. ORDER of PRODI CTION AND AVERAOE DCRATION OF lU RN OF TEN STRAINS OF tTOA R WRAPPER TOBACCO

DilTer-

ent-e in

potinds

A verajío

poiiiids

helweeii

Dnralion

per acre

treatinent 2

of iiurn

numhcr oi

and ot lier

In seconds

treatinent

trea'nients

(1)

Yipid

Onier of

Variely

ITodiiction

accrirdlm: lo

o T

<>

224-3-3-1 271 l-O 213-0

271-1 IS. 10

Fia. IOS (730) 243-2 243-7-.';-12

!( 4

243-7-.1-10

1

141-0-1-7

(i. ól

r.41 (;()2

42

m2 m2 47!) 40) 402 322 2()j 223

K2 S2 Pir. 240

242 312 370 421

S. 74 10. 71 7. 02 23. 3ii 12. 32 0.00 is. 40

14.00 7.00

(1) Ave. diiration of b'.irn in second.s of "priined pie. medio and corona."

Beeaii.se (juality is more important than yield, we lu'lieve tliat statistieal inteipretation based on iiroduetion |)er aere is of no use; as (|uality is so imjiortant in tobáceo and there are so maiiy ways foi- grades determination we think we have no statistieal metliod at

hand lo inlerpiet fpiality. However, the produetion data will serve as an index for seleetion for erosses witli other varieties that have

low yields but good quality.

OF TlIK TOBACCO INSTITLTTE OF PUFIÍTO RICO

39

Tlu* tablo shows that treatment niimber 2 is the hii>lu'st yioldiiií»-

one; l)ut il' we eonsider tlie quality of the tol)aceo aiid tbo pereontago of liood lii-ades produccd l)y oach treatment, other varieties oiitrank treatment number 2. A eareful jírading" has l)een made with

tlie pur|)ose of adoptiiifí the jírade and erop indexes developed at Windsor, Conn. This stndy will undoubtedly enable ns to make a better eomi)ar¡son of these varieties as wrapper types. Strain 739 seems to be the best in quality. The experiment will be carried on for a number of years.

(E) Bric.ht Ton.\eco Trials

Some ehanjies were made in the cultivation, eurino- and storini? proeesses of bright tobáceo. These chanoes eonsisted of loeatiiiíí poor, sandy soils, and tlie usinp,- of a fertilizer low in nitrofien (2-8-12) applied once .iust ahead or immediately after transidantinjí at the rate of 1,000 i)ounds per acre. Some innovations were made in the barn, such as lowerin»- the tíues as near the ^round as possible, and the usin<>" of j^round ventilators. The crop was stored, not in '"furdos'' (l)undles) as we did in i)revious years, Imt left in tiie sticks until the tobáceo was <>raded.

The sticks were ])laced one on top

of another forminj»' a square pile. In order to ol)serve how these chaní>es would effect the cro]) on

different .soils five fields were selected. One íield was planted at the Oaíi'uas Sub-station; another at the main farm at Río Piedras; a

third one on a field near Bayamon on a white .sandy soil ((^orozo fine sand) considcred of very low fértility; a fourth one located near

Utuado on a red clay at the Demonstration Farm of the Extensión Service, and a fiftli one located at Pa.so í'almas (¡n a loose, ixior,

yellow sandy loam (l'tuado loam). Two varieties were tried: 740, a local selection of an Orinoio

tyi)e, and 144-9. a strain selected from a cross of Turkisii X Ouban tobáceos. Al)out one thou.sand plants of each variety were ])lanted on each field. The íield i)ractices were tiie same as those employed in ciliar tol)acco culture. barn at Caiiuas.

The curinj»- was done in the flue-cui-ini>-

We were able to ji'et a yellow crop for the first time in four years. Variety 740 i)roved best in Caii'uas, followed i)y Bayamón and Paso

Palmas, respectively. Strain 144-9 ])roved best in the latter field, but failed in all the other fields. The leaves from Bayamón Avere Rolden yellow, but coarse and rou^h ; those from Paso Palmas were

butf, lijiht, pliable. Bottom and middle lea\es cured bri^hter tban

40

THIRD ANXUAL KEPOET

tops; tips did not cure at all. Rankness of growth seems to interfere grcatly with satisfaetory yellowing.

\Ve found that on the average the best time to start picking is two months and a half after planting. Later than this time the

Icaves either eured too dark or did not cure at all. Early picking causes leaves to cure green or black. \Ve assume that the right moment to pick does not last longer than two or three days, during whicli time there seems to exist an equilihrium conducive to satis

faetory yellowing. This aspect will he studied next year. Grading was made hy dividing each lot into yellow and not yellow leaves. The former were later sorted into diíferent shades of yellow, irrespective of size or other characteri.stics. iMo.st of the tobáceo from Caguas and Paso Palmas was manufac-

tured into unhlended cigarettes a short time after graded. Altho it was not properly and sufíiciently aged, the cigarettes were veiy mild

and had a high comhustihility. Strain 144-9 from Paso Palmas ])ioduced a ]iea\.\ smoke with a sweetish taste. In flavor and aroma

hoth \aiieties lia\e a .striking resemhlance to the imported cigarettes of American manufacture. Plowever, our tobáceo lias sliglitly le.ss leducing sugais, and slightly more nitrogen than American ñue-cured tobáceo.

(F) Qu.xlity Tk.sts

A good numl)er oi plañís of each of the strains tried last ^■eal■

in the \aiieties exi)eriment in Gaguas was planted for tlie |>urpose

of making quality tests. Sam])les from "pie, mata inferior and mata superior" were taken of eacli strain for Inirning tests. All strains

A\ere .stalk-cut, except .strain 742. A good sample of each is being kept for cigar and smoking te.sts.

REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY Miguel A. ^Maxzano, División Chief.

In Sc'i)tcml)er 1938, I was appointed chemist of the Tobáceo In-

stitiitc. Howcvcr, actual lal)oratory woi'k could not be startcd until late in January 1939, since the electrical, «ias, water and vacuum installations still needed their fiiiishiní>- touclies,

Our first assi«nment was the outliniii|í of a proji'ram of tobáceo industrial research. In our view, a loi>ical arran«»ement of the work m¡j»ht possibly be as follows:

1. Post-harvest treatment of the crop. Curing, fermentation,

ageing and ])reservation of the leaf. 2. Industrial utilization of the leaf. IManufacture of cigars,

cigarettes, pipe-tobacco, chewing-tobacco, snuff. 3. Idilization of by-])roducts of the tobáceo plant. Nicotine, tobacco-seed oil, organic acids, etc. PROGEESS MADE DURING THE YEAR

1. Post-harvest treatment of tiie leaf. Due to lack of adcfpiale eípiipment, no ex])erimental work has been carried out as yet in this íield. Jlowevcr, an extensive and rather ambitious re.search ])rogram has been outlined. Tahi.e i

NirOTINK

rONTE.XT OP^ SEVKKAL VAHIKTIES OF .VICOTIAXA

Vnrioly

No. oí I'lanls Ilarvfstpd

W.Miíiit of (lí)s.)..." Weiülit of sltMiis (ll>s.) l'er cení nicoíitip iti loavos Per eeni

iiieoiine in stems

KU-STICA

N'iiniber

Xuniber

Xtiinber

Xtiinber

Xnnilier

11

12

11

I.T

80')

1 IS

03

13L' MU

7. 7.S If)

Wei'.'lil of nieoline in leaves (Ihs.)

11. 92 0. Iflf)

Weit'ln of nieoline in slenis fifis.). . . Total weiu'ht of nieoline filis.). . Nicotine per IIHI plañís filis.)

ti. 121)

f).fl7l

I). 171

91 I.Dfi ■1. 00 n. 83 0. 82

0. II'S2 II. 1133 1). fl9.ó II. Iflll

1. 19

.'). 00 3. 10

0. 2.5 1.00 3. 30

233 7.00 4. 00

0.47 0. 041

0. 33

7. 10 1.9.5

0. 008

0. .500

0. 024

0.fMI3

0. OO.'i

0.011

0.044

0.018

0. 078 0. .578 0. 248

2. Tobáceo hii-prodncis.—Some i)rogress has been niade in tlie seurch for raw materials suitable for nicotine inseclicides manufac

ture. In cooperation with tiie l)ei)artmen( of Agronomy, several varie-

ties of Kustica tobáceo were grown in the experimental idots at Pío Piedras. The plañís were harvested wiien tiiey showed their liighe.st nicotine content, as determined by ciiemical analysis of the green

leaves. The dried stems and leaves were weighed and analyzed .sep41

THIRD AXNUAL REPOKT

42

arately. Nicotine was determinod aceordiiifi; to the voliimetrie method desei'ibed in United Statcs Department of Agrieiilturc Toehnical Bulletin No. 414, pago 34. The rcsults obtained are pi'c.sented in Table 1.

The resulta tend to show that varieties No. 800 aiid No. 11 are

the most promising of the group. However, further experimentation will he necessary hefore conehisions are reaehed. It may prove interesting' to present in talde form data eolleeled with respeet to the aceumulation of nieotine in the lea ves of the growing plant. These data are presented in Tahle 2. It will he seen from Tahle 2 that the nicotine content of the

leaves rose steadily up till harvest time. This point was indicated l)y the yellowish tinge and lírittleness of the leaves. Variety No. 14, whieh was allowed to overripen, showed a fall in nicotine content after the precise harvest time had heen passed. It will he noticed that, in general, a period of 38 to 41 days

elapsed l)etwecn topping of the plants and harve.st time, when the highest nicotine level was reaehed. However, variety No. 800 was

an exception, since it attained full maturity 21 days after top[)ing. This investigation has hoth theoretical aiid pj'actical i?)t('resj, and will he continued in the following ycars. Tabi-e 2

NICOTIN'R COXTEXT OF LEAVES OF .XICOTIAXA RL'.STICA IX DIFFRKEXT STAOES OF GROWTH

Date

Fehruarv I."» March 2 March 23

Riisl ica Xiimber

Xuiiiher

Rus!lea Xunihsr

Xuniher

Rii.stiea .Xuinher

11

13

14

l.T

8(10

1.33 1.8(1 (i.:«)

Rustica

1..M 2.(18 (i.!t2

Apiil .1

April lí» T(ii)j>e<l

Fehniary

Fehniary

I.í

If.

Riisllea

l.(V. (. 13 3. 3S

1. 14 3. r.i

37

Fehniary ! Fehniary

1.99 4. 03 7. 04

.Maro!»

Our search foi' cheaj) raw material for nicotine extraclion was not limited to our own varieties of Rustica tobáceo. In addition, samples of tobáceo collected in varions localities of the Island were

di ied at 60°(/ and analyzed for nicot ine. The rcsults are in-esentcd in Tahle 3.

Tile rcsults indieate that the most promising .samples, with resfieet to nicotine content, were foinul at Barrio Braña, Salinas, at Río Pie

dras and at Isabela. However, the "seconds" fi-om Bai'rio ('iiyón, Coamo, will prohahly jirove the cheapest source of nicotine, since "seconds" i-eqnii'e ])ractically no cultivation expen.ses.

PIQ.. 10.—Cigarcttc to"bacco variety at Río Piedras Station. Plants al)Out two months after planting.

44

THIRD ANNUAL EEPOTÍT Tabi.e 3

NICOTIXE COXTENTS OF SAMPLES OF PUERTO RICAX TODACCO Per cent

Description of Snurce of Samples

N'icotino

Tdhacco Stalk from variety number OPI

1.3C

"Tripa "Trilla "Tripa "Trip.a

1.51 2. 25

Pajiza" from variety number 590 Calidad" from variety number (üt'i Madura" from variety number lilKl Cacho Duro" from variety number 090

3.G1 3.79

"Tripa Fina" from variety number 093

j

1.89

Commercial Commercial Commercial Commercial

i I

2..55 2. 10 1.09 1.89

CijiaretlE.s Cinaretle.s Ciparelte;; Cifiaretteíí

number number number number

1 2 3 4

ITuado X leaves (sesnindn.s from .\iruadilla)

'

2.13

l'tuado X .stjms (from .V^uadilla) Tobáceo Criollo leave.s ífr.im Isabela) 'Pobacco Criollo .stem.s ífrom Isabela) Commercial Tobáceo Slalks (from Caí:ua.s) .\mbalema leaves btfore curinu (Rio Piedras)

0..50 4.92 1.30 0.92 4.01

Ka valla ¡caves before curiníí (Rú' Piedras) . _

.5.27

Tobáceo leaves (sepumlos) from Parr o Cnyón, Coamo

4.47

Tobáceo leaves from Parrio Cuyoii. Coamo

3 88

Tobáceo leave.s (boliche) from Parrio Cuyón, Coamo Orinoco Tobáceo (from Orocovis)

1.88 2.85 5.29 4.71

Tobáceo recaves from Parrio Praña. Salinas Tobáceo Virginia Prava from .\«uadilla

Tobáceo Virginia Prava (segundos) from .\guadilla Virginia 9 not cured (from .Vrecibo) Tobáceo leaves from Parrio Susúa Paja (Vaneo)

¡

0,99

|

4 74 4 09

It is oxppotc'd that thi.s work niay bo continiiod ncxt ycar, pcrhaps even more .systematically than in the pa.st. Wlieii eompleted, it will virtually ainount lo a nicotine siirvey of tlie Island. 3. indxishinl vtilizít/ion of tlic Icaf.—The work done so far has

mainly etaisisted iii .study of oiii' fíue-eured tohaeeo, in aii attempt to determine its .snitahility for eigarette maniifaeture. Similar analy.ses were jierformed on imported samples of flne-eured tohaeeo in oider to have a iiasis of eomiiaiison. Tile resnlts ohtained are prestnted in Tahle 4, v.'here the vai'ions

eonstitmnts detcrmined are ealeulated as ])ereentaíies on dry malter. Total ash hy ineineration in a mnffle furnaee al 700°('.

i (¡tal niíiosi'en hy Iv.i; Idalil metliod as modified hy Foeister lo in. l -idi- l!i(> nitro,ü(di of nitrales. .Mhiiminoid nilicyen hy .Mtílir method.

(.1. iMolir, Lamh.v. Vers.

--Stal. 1903, s. 374).

Nieotine hy Waiiiier modifiealion of Berti'and and davillier ^lavinp lrie silic,'tuiuzsíate method. (O. Wa<iner, (Miem. 7áíx. 1932, .\¡-. 47. S. 4()2).

Total lediieinjii- siihstanees and .soluble earhohydrates hy Selimuek metlH (1 as modified hy Piatnitzki and Kovalenko. (Piatnitzki, ^1. and Kovalenko, F., ín;4ilute for Tohaeeo Industry, Kiasnodar, l'KSS, 193.7, Bulletin No. 127). The rediieed eopper was deteimined hy Bertrand volnmetrie perman^anate method.

Camias.

Varielv 740. .\marillo .Me:iiano. P.'R

Río Piedras,

obscuro. P; s.i Pnlinas. rtiiado, P. K

Varielv Ill-O. .Medio Amarillo ( l.iro-2n \aranjo

Varielv 144-0. Pie .\marillo (^laro. Paso Palmas,

Paso Palini.s,-l tnado, P. R

Varieiy 144-0. Medio bajo-Amarillo claro.

Hiivamón, P. K

Vaiiely 74l!-Medio Vllo-Aiiiarillo Anaranjado.

riliado, P. I{

A:i-("aeuas. P. U. Varieiy 740 Medio Amarillo- Paso Palma.s,

Varieiy 74Ü-Metlio .Mto. Amarillo: .\-Subelase

("aellas. P. U

Varíe'y 711)-Medio Alto. Amarillo: A Subelaso A.

("amias, P. K

Varieiy Mil-Medio Amarillo: A-Siibelase A

Varielv 74t! l'ie .Muarillo; A-Suliih.se I'.'K

H (i 11 K (Inferior Orade) 1". S. A..

A 1 I. (Suix'iior (irr.de) 1". ."S. A C K iInleriiiediale }:rndc) 1". S. A

Te c" pli' n of Sniiiple

0.87

l.'J4

0.44

18. 77

4.,52

1.49

•2. 91

15. 37

10. 70

I."). 98

13. 09

3.01

1..53

1..59

1.72

1.05

0.73

0.70

0,80

0.90

0,50

4,.50

4.38

,5.00

0.00

11.-23

3-J. 93

•24.41

•25.81

14.02

8. 11

•25. 40

20. 39

22 -27

9.31

3, 12

5. 53

4.02

3.54

4.08

3.43

1.31

1.39

1 ,33

2.08

1.-23

5. 57

4. 05

4. 45

1. 50

51.2;i

•201.89

119. 89

138.09

0.5. 57

0.70

1.48

13. 04

2.88

4. 17

I,"). 38

87,51 153.44

1.85 5.30

2 39

0.97

3 79

■ 83. 20

128.87

13. 09

•2.03

93. 45

18-1. 19 151. 18 83.95

•23, 48

2.09

2.34

l.,S7

7.82 ,5. 80

10.88

3.09

1.78

1.39 0.93 1.90

O lert iior iXiim'ier

27. 05

13.00

4.84

2.82

3.89 4.91

Niealine S,-hm.iek Nauiber

7.00

10.09

23.29

14. -20

Poly-

lihenals

4.38

0 38

19.01

27,81 21.98 10. 10

ing Silgara

Reriuc-

1. 13

1.02

1.03

0.00

31.73 •20.89 12.98

tances

Sub.s-

ing

Total Re:lue-

2.02

•2. 44

•2.47

0.97

0. 57 0.00

1.24 1.-27

2. 50

noids

N'itrogen

Nitropen

3.50 3. 75 5. 44

Albumi-

.\lbumi noid

Tolal

12. 23

13.08

11.04

14. 09

P). 70 13. 00 10. 02

.\sli

Table 4

nol

PolyillO

27."8

17.87

10.40

13.71

33..38

1.5.08

22. 45

22. 10

1'3. 40

25. 42

12.25 18. 25 21. 72

.Xiiiiiber

O w H

W

>

'x; 'x: c¡

>

O

53

05

48

TJIIIÍD ANNUAL REPORT

The differonce })etwccn total reducing substances and soluble eaibohydrates is taken to represent the amouiit of polyphenols.

Sehmuck Cocffieient=

Reduoins Sngai-s Albuminoids

This coeffieient varíes direetly with quality of the tol)aeeo. Polyphenol Coeffieient=

Polyphenols X 100 Total reducing substances

This coeffieient varíes inversely with toljaeeo quality.

(.acrtnor ^ Coeffic.ent.=

Soluble sugars + Polyphenols Ash Albuminoids

This coeffieient varíes direetly Avith quality.

The underlying ])rineiples and signifieanee of these various coeffieients are fully diseussed in an artiele by the writer. (Seo Re

vista de Agricultura, Indu.stria y Comercio de Puerto Rico, Vol. 31, páginas 209-211, junio de 1939.)

The first three samples in Table 4, which were imported from the continental United States, do not truly repre.sent average commercial flue-cured tobáceo. They were cholee and specially .sclccted .samples which were on exhibition in an agricultural fair. Henee, they represent a goal worthy of striving at rather than the actual demands of the trade.

Analyses of commercial samples of cigarette to])acco are pre.sented

in Table 5. These .samples were oI)tained thru a local cigarette inanufacturer, and henee aft'ord a more truthful picture of what to expect from commercial cigarette tol)acco. However, it will be seen from Table 4 that some of our loeal-

grown flue-cured tobáceo .stand favora))le comf)arison with tho.se clioice continental .samples. This is si)ecially true of Paso Palmas tobáceo.

In fact, the Paso Palmas región of Utuado .seems to embody ideal conditions for the cultivation of flue-cored tobáceo. i'ieties (740 and 144-9) were grown with excellent Palmas, this leads to believe that varietal differences of somewhat le.ss importancc than .soil and elimatic

Since both varesults at Paso are in this ca.se conditions.

This conclusión is furthei' substantiated by the fact that variety 740 was grown with very ])oor results at Río Piedras. The Bayamón i'egion is scai'cely any better than Río Piedras. Caguas is .some what more promising, but .still far below Pa.so Palma.s.

Another conclusión to be drawn from the figures ])i-e.senled in Table 4 is that leaves from the middie of the plant (.Spani.sh ''me dio ) are oí higher (juality than both the lower and upper leaves.

TBB. . . GAB... . OHX... CGS. . .. ESB. . . .

16.71

21.29 13.53 14.84

3.28 2. 37 3.14 2.44 1.99 2.64

2.45

12.91 13.70 16. 71

Burley. .

Abs

JS

2.62 4.45

19.44

E-

<

15.43

o

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"e

ií

Turkisli.

Type of Tobáceo

u

o u o

1.21 1. 13 0.91 1.14

0.94

1.23 2.02 1.12 1.25

dionítubM.NtroiBcn 2.43

3.16

7.06 5.69

7.13

2.58

4.53

2.07 2.99 2.27 3.62 2.63

u

14. 77 4.76 11.84 4.22 5.73 19. 40 10.00

7.99 0.80

CM

=3

w

3s

! Ncotin

7.00 7.81 5.88 7.56

7.69 12.63

c

Vi

2.41 0.40 4.45 2.15 4.22

0.73

30.16 0.35

5.93

2.15 3.29 14.92

7.62

5.58 0.40 10.32 2.61

co

2.07

lPypienols

2. 44 4. 48 4.07

Schni k R1atio

0.03 1.47 0.33 1.29 0.28 0.47 2.-62 0.83

Polyphens Ra1tio

50.00 30.13 45.16 35.64 49.05 42.58 23.09 40.70

0.74 0.22 0.52 0.17 0.20 1.01 0.46

0.25

a>

11.15 18.05 10.60 13.46 9.94 14.02 10.95 9.20 12.79

Cfí

u

C

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3

tí

.3

2

O

3 Tf¡

U

8

en

ANALYSES OF COMMERCIAL SAMPLES OF CIGARETTE TOBACCO

Table 5

39.95

36.16 2.05 79.93 18.06 45.60 12.86 15.45 110.27

0.11 0.17 0.09

0.09

0.92 0.31 0.20 0.15 0.09

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1 3 4 5 7 2 6

2 6 3 7 5 1 4

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THIRD ANNTTAL KEEORT

.;

Thus, foui* samplds from variety No. 740 grown iii Caguas were analyzed. The lowei- leaves (Spanish pie) liad a Sehmuek Niimber of

2.34; the middle leaves (medio) liad a Sehmuek Numher of 2.91; while still higher leaves (medio cdto) liad Sehmuek Numbers of 2.03 and 1.85.

The validity of Sehmuek Numher'in the ehemieal classifieation

of flue-cnrcd tobaeco is substaiitiated by the faet that the three imported samples, whieh were admittedly seleeted in a deseending order of quality, showed a eorresponding range in Sehmuek Numbers. The same eonsiderntions hold true for the Gaertner and Polyphenol Numbers.

In eonelu ion, we venture to suggest that the main problems to ')e solved in - onneetion with ow flue-eurcd tobaeeo is the possibility of bringing about a decrease in the percentagc of nitrogenous bodies and an inerease in the soluble carbohydrates fraction. As a whole, we may eonsider this a pioner year for the Divisiรณn of Chernistry. It is hoped that next year will prove more fruitful,

sinee the work is now thoroly organizad and, what is perhaps even more important, we have a clearer view of whcre we are aiming at. o-O-o

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