Raymond Stadelman, Agricultural Explorer for the USDA
Article from the New York Post, Feb. 1, 1937.
This is a collection of snippets from the activities of one of the USDA's agricultural specialists, who were sent across the globe during the 1930s. This sort of primary source history is a delight to read, if only for the raw adventure it narrates.
In a letter (thanks to digitizing by Jessica) from Raymond Stadelman, dated May 14, 1936, Gran Hotel Bolivar, Lima, Peru, he says about a variety of tobacco collected at Machu Picchu, "There is also a white-flowered variety locally known as 'Havana'... Seed sample No. 114." This is now labeled in GRIN as Pi 116159 (Ti 719), the variety that I have called "Machu Picchu." It indeed shows the form of a Spanish type tobacco. Given its local label of "Havana," I can't help but conclude that it was an import to the Machu Picchu area, even in 1936, and not a variety native to that isolated region of Peru. This revelation exemplifies the unfortunate loss of data that occurs between the collectors of rare tobacco seed from remote areas, and the condensed presentation available within the GRIN data.
As a result of this additional info, I will rename my Machu Picchu tobacco "Machu Picchu Havana."
Aside from near daily endangerment during his travels, Stadelman writes with dry humor and a joy in life.
Porno anyone?
Thank you, horse.
Pelicans and Cubans.
The above quote reinforces my impression that Cuban tobacco as well as Cuban methods were already being used in Peru in 1936.
The "Cuban" system.
The pro-smoking lobby.
In addition to his years of travel to remote villages throughout South America to collect tobacco seed, map his journeys, and submit drawings of any interesting plants, leaves and blossoms he came across, Stadelman also collected seed and specimens of numerous other plants (for various US researchers) as well as small fish, insects and animal specimens for US specialists, and authored at least one book [Maize Cultivation in Northwestern Guatemala (Contributions to American Anthropology and History, No 33), Carnegie Institution of Washington; 1940], for which he visited 27 isolated settlements and identified 166 varieties of maize (corn).
Bob
Article from the New York Post, Feb. 1, 1937.
This is a collection of snippets from the activities of one of the USDA's agricultural specialists, who were sent across the globe during the 1930s. This sort of primary source history is a delight to read, if only for the raw adventure it narrates.
In a letter (thanks to digitizing by Jessica) from Raymond Stadelman, dated May 14, 1936, Gran Hotel Bolivar, Lima, Peru, he says about a variety of tobacco collected at Machu Picchu, "There is also a white-flowered variety locally known as 'Havana'... Seed sample No. 114." This is now labeled in GRIN as Pi 116159 (Ti 719), the variety that I have called "Machu Picchu." It indeed shows the form of a Spanish type tobacco. Given its local label of "Havana," I can't help but conclude that it was an import to the Machu Picchu area, even in 1936, and not a variety native to that isolated region of Peru. This revelation exemplifies the unfortunate loss of data that occurs between the collectors of rare tobacco seed from remote areas, and the condensed presentation available within the GRIN data.
As a result of this additional info, I will rename my Machu Picchu tobacco "Machu Picchu Havana."
Aside from near daily endangerment during his travels, Stadelman writes with dry humor and a joy in life.
Raymond Stadelman said:The overseer of the hacienda was quite agreeable to me, and gave me oranges and coca leaves. This region, by the way, is a great producer of coca.... It is usually chewed (the dried leaf) with a bit of ashes (I think an alkali is supposed to liberate the alkaloid from the leaf), usually the ash of a certain wood, or the pod of the cocoa tree. ... They have a castilianized keshua (Ketchua) verb meaning to chew coca leaves - "picchar". And the cud that they throw away is called "picchu", which is a new meaning of the word, as it is usually taken to mean "mountain", although no one is really sure just what it does mean, as in the names Machu (old) Picchu and Huaina (young) Picchu, the two mountains at Machu Picchu, one of which is much larger than the other. I learned to chew coca, and found that it was often better than eating the food they give one at some places.
Porno anyone?
Raymond Stadelman said:Monday I went to the Museum of Archeology, and a very interesting place it is. Among other things, I learned, from seeing the private collection of pornographic art, that the ancient Chimús had a fine sense of humor. I'll tell you about it some day, for I imagine that you have a girl secretary, and after all, some things are sacred, and not to be put in a letter for your files!
Thank you, horse.
Raymond Stadelman said:We started out the following morning on a pair of worthless horses, and had to climb a considerable distance over a very narrow trail that had a very deep abyss on one side. My horse almost gave me the jitters by his apparent indifference to danger, as he walked almost on the edge. He finally became so careless that he started walking into small bushes and huge boulders on the curves of the trail, and at last, when he escaped by a hairs breadth from falling into the abyss with me, I got off his back and started cursing him for a blind so-and-so. And then I noticed that he was, after all, quite blind, for a leather blinder strap that all bridles in these parts carry, had slipped and fallen down over his eyes. As I looked back over the narrow trail up which we had come blundering along, I thanked my lucky star and felt like apologizing to the horse.
Pelicans and Cubans.
Raymond Stadelman said:Saturday I left for Tumbez. There are two roads, one of which follows along the beach for a great distance, and the other which goes inland. The beach road is the better, but it is necessary to go at low tide, of course, we sped along at full speed, and the ride was as smooth as in an airplane. From time to time we killed pelicans and other sea birds that didn't move quickly enough. I went directly to the Hacienda La Noria, which is the residence or Raimundo Quintana, Cuban expert on tobacco who is employed by the Peruvian government. Unfortunately, Quintana had gone to Lima, so I did not get to see him, but his brother-in-law, and wife were there, and treated me very well indeed. I stayed at this hacienda the entire time I was there in that region. The tobacco was being transplanted at this time. The Cuban system is used, with some minor variations in the curing.
The above quote reinforces my impression that Cuban tobacco as well as Cuban methods were already being used in Peru in 1936.
The "Cuban" system.
Raymond Stadelman said:Due to selection by the Estanco [the tobacco monopoly]. there is now a single class of tobacco planted in this region. the local "amarilla" variety. Seed beds sown in March-April, transplanted about 50 days later. and after 80-90 days the harvesting begins With the lower leaves. The Cuban system is used, with some variations to suit local conditions. The harvested leaves, strung on cords, are left in the shade of the curing barns 4 to 5 days, then taken out into the open and sunned daily (replaced in barns at night) for 8-10 days. then replaced in the barns to complete the cure, which is usually 25 days after cutting. It is then piled and fermented for 25 days, the usual precautions being observed regarding temperature of the piles. The ground is not turned over, so that suckers come up and are harvested in late September. Sometimes this second crop is better than the first.
The pro-smoking lobby.
Raymond Stadelman said:The consumption of tobacco in Peru is about ... annually, and drives the Estanco considerable worry as to how to increase it. As there is no demand for Peruvian tobacco abroad, they intend to try to increase the local use, as at present only 7 to 8% of Peruvians are smokers. The Estanco is thinking about making a cigarette suitable to the people, and distribnuting them free of charge until such time as the natives have acquired the habit, when a price will be put upon them, and they will be made to pay what they ought to, to the government! Make your own comments upon this.
In addition to his years of travel to remote villages throughout South America to collect tobacco seed, map his journeys, and submit drawings of any interesting plants, leaves and blossoms he came across, Stadelman also collected seed and specimens of numerous other plants (for various US researchers) as well as small fish, insects and animal specimens for US specialists, and authored at least one book [Maize Cultivation in Northwestern Guatemala (Contributions to American Anthropology and History, No 33), Carnegie Institution of Washington; 1940], for which he visited 27 isolated settlements and identified 166 varieties of maize (corn).
Bob