, 1841-05-08
BOWLING-GREEN, MO. SATURDAY, MAY 10, l84I.

palea ana own as early in Februyry as tn,
"ea'ner Will admit though it will be in goot
'ime II sown any time in that month.
|. TOBACCO requires rich soil, and that which
IS new, or nearly so answers best. Next t.
GROUND which has been recently cleared
!and which has long been in grass, especial
y If pastured by sheep, answer bes, for 70
oacco. In preparing ground for tobacco
great care should he taken to plough it deep
ana PuiverIze 1t completely. Grass land in
TENDED Tor tobacco, should always be plough
ed the previous fall. And it is better t6a,
all Gihds oil land intended for that purpose
should be ploughed in time to have the bene
mt OF the previous winter frosts. Ii sbouId
De kept light and free from weeds, by repeat.
ed pioughIngs TILL near the time of planting.
II should then be laid off into ridges, by a
single horse plough, Ito prevent the ridges
being trodden by the off hore) from three to
three and 4 half feet from centre to centre,
according to the kind of tobacco which is
intended TO be planted. The ground should
be crossed at the same distance by a shovel
plough or one with a double mould board.
The ground will now be in a condition re-
curing nothing more TO be done to prepare
Tor the planting, but 10 cut off the centre of
the square or ridge with a broad hoe. This
last operation should be performed when the
plants are of sufficient size for setting, and
should be made only So many at a time as
there will be plants 10 fill the first season that
happens. Plants can only be set after a
ram. and much care should be taken in this
operation, Tor II plants are well set they will
grow quickly, but if badly set they will be
kept back some time, and many hills will re-
quire replanting. This will cause much add
tional labor and render the crop irregular as
10 the time of ripening. When the cropse is
It's cultivation must be Carefully at
10. The first thing to be done is to
see that the cut worms do not destroy the
young plants. These must be sought after
and destroyed. The plants must be kept
from weeds. In this operation both the
plough and the hoe should be used until the
plants become too large TO use the former
breaking the leaves. During the
p~loughing, tobacco should be ploughed
only during the heat Of the day, when the
caves have uiited and will not easily break.
Tobacco is very subject to be injured bv
he horn worm. This insect is very destruc-
i've, and if not destroyed will ruin the crop.
The utmost care is. therefore, required from
IN early period Of its growth. to save the to-
,acco crop. From the time the horn worm
makes lis appearance the crop should be gone
,ver once a week till it is cut. Topping
md printing are mex, to be attended to
The latter consists in breaking off the leaves
lext TO the ground. which, to the number of
or five are of no value. The number
IF leaves to which tobacco should be topped.
,aries according to the kind Of tobacco rails
ID, and the season o ftopping. The first top
ping will always admit of a greater number
If leaves being left; and in proportion as the
advances. fewer leaves should be left.
The heavier kinds of tobacco are generally
hen to ten, and still later to eight. The
lighter kinds'of tobaccoare topped to 4 great
II number of leaves. The above rule is en-
Y applicable to a rich soll, if the soil is light,
he topping should be regulated accordingly,
nd fewer leaves left.
.Suckering is n much more tedious opera
ion, Every plant requires to be twice sue
.orcd before it is ready for cutting. The
succors are of quick growth, and should
re removed before they become large, 9th
rwise they will not only in jure the growth
f the plants, but will some times break Off
he leaves in removing them.
Tobacco is usually planted from the mid
lie of May to the last of June. And the
utting season usually commences about the
middle of August and is rarely finished until
lte in September. Between the planting
nd cutting of tobacco, the labor of attend
ny to it is light, but very tedious. 1t requires
nore hands than any othercrop, for the same
of acres, but weak hands and chill
rem can asst and do much of the work.,
When it begins to ripen, stouter hands are
though children may still aid in the
ubsequent operations. A little practice will
nable the planter to distinguish, very readi-
Y, the ripe from the green planters. At the
rst cutting the farmer must be selected and
ut leaving the others to become ripe. When
obacco is ripe the leaves become spotted,
With a greenish yellow color. and leaves are
o thick and rigid that by folding and press
lg them between the thumb and finger,
hey will break or crack. But a little expe-
fence will enable the planter to determine
which plants are ripe by sight alone. To-
acco must be split while stading; and such
ands as can readily distinguish between the