The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-05
agricultural.
From the Rockville Md Journal.
Essay on the Culture and Preparation o
Tobacco.

Tobacco.
BY BENJAMIN WHITE, SEN.
In accordance with of the rules Of our society,
that some member shall address each of our month
ly meetings, rise, Mr.. President, to address you
on the cultivation and management OF new ground
tobacco, in which have had no short experience,
Much, however, of what may say will as well ap-
ply to the cultivation of old land tobacco in our Sec
ton of the State.
We will begin by saving the seed; and as "ike
begets like, turn out as many large and vigorous
plants you may require. Strip of the small
leaving small bunch at The top for the seed. Cut
it before frost, and put it away to dry; and when
entirely dry, rub out the pods which are perfectly
ripe, for there are always green as well as ripe pods
on the same stalk.
About the first week in March is the right time,
in our climate to make beds for the seed; then be
ready with wood or brush to burn the beds well:
! would always prefer south exposure, sheltered
by woods, and one upon which the sun can shine
nearly all day; that is very important. The ground
should be dry as possible for the season OF the
year, and when properly burnt, dig and chop hne,
and then rake il ne and clear of roots as posi-
BILE; then lay il of, and SOW the seed as regularly
over the bed as you can. most important con-
sideration here Is the quantity OF seed TO be sown
My experience satisfies me that table spoon, lit,
tie raised Is the proper quantity to the one hundred
square yards. More than that is apt TO make the
plants too thick and spindlng, which great dis
advantage in raising crop OF tobacco. When the
seed is sown, pass the rake lightly over the bed then
tramp it well, and put on the manure at once The
proper kind of manure, and the proper way ol
saving and applying it, is the grand secret, the
most Important point in the successful raising oi
good plants and should be particularly attended TO-
Manure made in the horse stables Is the best, pro-
vided no hay is fed during the time you are saving
il. My practice, for many years. has been, about
the middle of February, to have the hay loft, rack
and troughs swept, the stables well cleaned; then
feed on fodder, wheat straw, corn sh9cks' ana rye
chop, till VIC can get manure enough for the pur-
pose; and prefer 10 take il out OF the stables 10 the
beds with its ammonia and other enriching quali-
ties: great must be taken TO keep II clear oil
grass seed as that will be very injurious. Put ON
as much as will make the beds quite rich; after a
rain two, take of all coarse matter, such as coos
and fodder stalks, and then spread the manure
carefully and regularly over the bed; 1t may be left
half or three fourths Of inch thick. Let the bed
be exposed to the till the plants begin TO come
up, which will be about the first Of April; then
cover lightly with brush. The advantage Of this
course will be seen: though IL may be windy and
dry, the ground under the manure will be moist,
and the plants continue to thrive well; thus pro-
tected, the fly, which is the greatest enemy 10 the
young plants, will do but little If any damage
Keep the brush till the plants cover the ground,
or need wedding very much; and, we would say
take of the brush carefully just before rain, and
tho plants will not suffer for the covering, but will
continue TO thrive, that by the twentieth Of May
you will have plenty Of strong bunchy plants,
which all experienced planters know TO be very
important in the successful raising OF good crop
of the Tweed"
We will now, Mr.. President, commence the pre-
paration Of the land for the crop. New ground, or
rst crop land, should be ploughed as early in the
season as convenient, with two-horse coulter
plough, not deep enough 10 turn up the clay. BY
early ploughing new ground, the sod has tune TO
rot, and you can easily get out the roots with the
harrow, giving fine mould 10 the plants. Second
and third crop land-for we generally make three
crops i'm succession new land-should be
ploughcd early 20 kill the cut-worm; but great
care should be taken not TO plough the land when
"a 4. haa nQh m
ploughing tobacco land when too wet, is, perhaps,
OF injury 10 that than any other Of our crops
though injurious 10 all. Two ploughings and two
borrowings, well done, are sufhcient Second eno
third crop land should be ploughed with the common
single shovel plough thereby keeping the soil onthe
surface giving the plants fair chance TO grow of.
When the plants are nearly large enough ior set
ting out, commence getting the hills ready. In
new ground. lay of the rows two and half feet
wide, and make the hills about two feet apart. In
second and third crop land, we would lay OIL both
ways, about two and half feet, so that the crop
may have ploughing each way, which viii Tighten
up The land and very much lessen the labor OF hoe
ing the crop. The hills are made with the common
wedding hoe; they must be clear OF stones and
trash and not made too high; the plants viii live
better in hills raised only little above the surface,
in hills made the moisture will remain longer
after planting Hills and plants being ready,
early in the planting season, mere shower will be
sufficient on new land 10 set the plants; and they
grow off better when planted in dry season, as
~
wet time; but the season advances, more rain
will be required for planting.
The plants should be drawn from the beds by the
most careful hand, and separated one from the 9TH
or, tho small tender ones thrown away, or they
will be planted with the best; the droppers gene
rally being youngsters, orr those who have but ht-
tie care or judgment in the matter, drop all that
come 70 hand, thereby causing much mischief to
the crop. Care should be taken 10 put the roots Of
the plants straight into the hills and when the hills
arc very wet gentle pressure only s best so as TO
prevent the ground from baking around the plant
thereby causing bad start in growing; In what
is called dry season, the ground should be pressed
hard around the plant, to keep the moisture from
escaping too soon as that would lessen the chance
Of the plants taking root and growing OIL.
The crop being planted, we will now come TO
working IL. And here let me again impress the
importance Of not working the land too wet. In
rstcrop land, the hills may be leveled OF little
as the plants begin TO grow; and ss soon az
they get about foot high, the hills may receive
second chopping, and II the weather is dry and
warm, and the roots running quite across the
rows, IL ought 10 be very carefully done, so as not
70 break the leaves stir up the ground; chop out
the grass with the corner Of the hoe, or pull II out