The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-05
No. 251.

that season, thereby letting in the light and heat
very beneficial TO the growth of all young plants
When the plants spread over the hill II VIII be tme
to plough ! a plough made like double
shovel, just wide enough TO go between the rows
the shovel or bar is ten twelve inches long, and
three four inches wide, turned up little at the
point. The earth falls behind the plough, not COW
ering the leaves of the plant; once going through
is sufficient for each row plough each way, and
follow with the hoe, leaving the land as level as
possible to prevent it from washing, and the crop
will be less liable 10 be affected by drought.
Ploughing once each way and hoeing twice is all
the working the crop will need.
About the middle of June, the tobacco worms,
the greatest pests to the planter, make their aP-
consider the last hoeing proper time to look for
and kill them. Although the crop will generally
outgrow the effects Of the first glut still those that
are left go into the ground, and we think, at
propagate another and another glut of worms, until
the crop will be entirely devoured, unless the ut
most care and diligence are exercised both by the
master and men. In the egg state, and before they
leave the email holes which they make when they
are hatched, which they do not leave for two or
three days, is the time to make the most efectual
slaughter among them. When the worms in
that state the leaves the plant should be carefully
looked over Should they 30 far get ahead as to
crawl from hill to hill the better plan is to go over
the in all directions, that If one hand should
mss another may see the worm. Great care
should be taken to keep them out of the bud OF the
plant, as they cut and poison it very much. About
the last of July and first of August, the topping
will commence. As soon as q sufficient quantity OF
plants out, and others are beginning to show
the button, we top over the piece OF tobacco Those
plants that have run up high require longer piece
to be taken from the top than those that are just
showing out, that when the top leaves grow out,
there will be uniform appearance over the whole.
During all the operations, particular attention
should be given to the worms. In the course oftwo
weeks, the suckers will begin to grow out; and
when five or six inches g, they should be
fully broken off close to the stalk while working
through the tobacco, breaking off the suckers the
worms can in general be pretty well subdued. New
ground tobacco rarely requires more than one suck
ering; second and third crop will need perhaps
twice. If the season has been favorable, by the
Goth Of August, new ground tobacco will be mt to
house second and third crop will take more time
to grow and longer TO get ripe and yellow. From
the middle to the last of September, 1t will be in
good condition to house. At this time, houses and
wood should be ready to commence the work The
wood should be cut in the winter; the proper length
is about eight feet much round wood should be
used as possible, there is less danger in firing with
round wood than split. Close grained wood such
| as maple, gum, ash, willow, &c., consider the
| best.
And now, Mr.. President, as we have the crop
ready for the house, propose to say word about
| the proper construction of tobacco houses. Very
large houses take too long 70 I'LL, and small ones are
too confined for ease in firing. Iprefer eight rooms,
each four feet wide, or that the house should be
thirty two feet long, and twenty four wide, and
not too high fifteen feet to the joists Is high
| enough, you can then nang one enthe course over
the house below the joists, which, together with the
| roof, and what may be hung around the sides and
ends of house of that sze will cure two hogsheads
/ of new ground tobacco make one door ON each
side have the house made tight, and covered with
shingles straw covering lets out too much heat,
and Is apt TO get out Of order 20 as to leak and in
| jure the tobacco We commence housing our new
| ground tobacco about the Goth Of August, or as
fairly il has become fully ripe and yellow in the
eeld Our object 10 course 10 make the very best
yellow tobacco.
Not the smallest particle of rain dew should be
on the leaves when the tobacco is cut; and II must
not be cut when the sun is at meridian, or when II
is so hot as TO make the leaves hang down. You
should begin after the dew is entirely off and GU
till eleven O'Clock heap and carry il to the hous'
fast as IT is cut, taking care 70 let It fail or VII
as little possible You will then stick and hang
up what you have till after three O'Clock, when yor
can commence cutting again, and continue till th'
dew begins 10 fall. II your force will not enable
you to I'LL the house in one day, hang the tirst day
cutting below on each side, and carry the seconc
up to the top. For putting the tobacco on the stick
n prefer the round pointed socket or spear 10 any
other method; the old way Of splitting Is tedious, II
breaks the leaves, and IL the weather s hot, causes
them 10 spot. II tobacco il cut in the heat OF tie
day when the leaves hang down, or pressed by the
hands or in hauling, blue, stiff, paper-like spots
will appear on the leaves. rendering almost worth
less.
The house being filed with fine new ground TO-
bacco, with from eight 10 twelve plants, according
10 their size, placed at proper distances on each
stick; and the sticks placed seven eight inche.
apart, the next thing is 10 put the fires under.
have used open fires, and prefer them. Cut shal'
low ditch TRENCH about eight feet long and three
wide, each side, leaving narrow passage from
door TO door; the ends Of these hre-bolcs will come
10 within five feet Of the ends Of the house. Begin
carly, before day II you choose, 10 kindle up th'
free; for which purpose put one large rough log In
each trench, 90 which put grub or chunk endwise
20 the side Of each log in three places, which vii
make twelve small fires; then put another such
piece under each room in the middle Of the house;
thus you have sixteen OF eighteen small fires, or
rather the wood ready 20 make them; when you
begin, have something ready 20 kindle quick, and
set them all of at once; let them blaze but not TOO
freely, az that would scald the tobacco. Let me
here remark, the natural tendency In all ripe to-
baoco IL 10 turn red soon Il IL deprived OF life
just the natural tendency Of animals, as soon AZ
life is extinct, is 10 putrefaction; this doubt is
familiar 30 you ALI now, our business ~ 10 counter
this natural tendency 10 redness. cure IL quick
and give II the desirable and beautiful yellow color
Keep the small fires blazing, but not strong enough
10 scald II the weather s calm set open both doors
10 give air enough, but II windy, open one door
only; If the fires allowed 10 smother and smoke,
IL will cause sweat on the tobacco; which viii
turn Il red when there is heat enough made 20 dry
IL out. Keep the small fires going till twelve or one
O'Clock, and you will the tobacco quite lank
through the house; then you may slacken little 10
let IL turn yellow; in the evening, push up again,
and keep on through the night in the same way; by
the next morning, you will find the tips turned Up
and the leaves beginning 70 dry yellow; then il is
ralts pittt AUt pttNtr AoktNotE III Hft npttHf put
small sticks on and let them burn from end TO end;
put larger wood the middle fires and keep them
going well those in the FIRE holes; keep on
until tho leaf but not the stems and stalks.
is perfectly dry. which will be by the second morn
ing, or at the end Of forty.eight hours from the
commencement; then put on four good logs in each
trench, eide by side, first taking all the chunks
or they may cause danger by making the fire blaze
too high; stop the middle fires and put the chunks
by the side Of the logs and when the FIRE bazes too
high, put ashes with long handled shovel; by
this means, you may prevent any further danger
When the bark is burnt OF put one log ON the top
and keep them pressed together and in six or eight
hours stems and stalks will be dry enough When
done, pull the fires apart and sprinkle water 70
prevent danger from the falling Of some Of the
sticks the house cools. This s the course would
pursue with ripe new ground tobacco. II you have
large second or third years growth, perhaps not
yellow, give little more time, but never let II get
into sweat; endeavor 20 give IL heat enough the
first day 10 lsnken the tobacco 10 the top Of the
house and prevent the sweat; then you may allow
IL more time 10 yellow before you put the curing
fires. BY little time and experience you will be
able judge by the looks Of your tobacco in the