The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-16

subscriber furnishes the editor OF the Richmond En-
quirer with the following interesting letter, relative TO
the importance Of gaano in raising heavy crops OF to-
bacco The letter. al this particularly. cannot be
otherwise than interesting 10 all growers OF tobacco
CuMBERLASD, Feb s, 1858.
My DEAR SIR Yours OF the 10th ullimo did not reach
me t last Saturday, IN consequence OF having been dl,
reeled to Famville instead OF Stony Point Mills, and
take the earliest opportunity 10 reply TO IL
My experiment in growing such heavy crop OF To-
bacco last year has attracted great deal OF attention.
aud take pleasure in detailing II Tor The benefit oil me
planting Interest of the State The ground was pretty
literally dressed with home made manures from my sta
bes iarmpens and pits. as think ought always 10 be
done, il We would grow tobacco probably When
was going bed the land for killing. or rubbing down.
which prefer sowed on each acre the following mix.
ture: bushels sied Peruvian guano, weighing,
Judge. about one hundred pounds intimately mixed wan
one bushel ground alum salt. then mixed ~ bushels
Mexican guano-weghing, suppose, one hundred anu
sixty hundred and seventy pounds-and II bush
els Of Keewes mixture OF potash and plaster, or about
one hundred and fifty hundred and sixty pounds,
and shovelled them all well together, and sowed The
mixture broadcast The cost OF the whole was about
SO rs per The crop that was planted IN good Time
was scarce of plants and the seasons very dihcult-l
am gave me two thousand pounds per acre Inc
tobacco topped from eighteen TO twenty five leaves
and rpened remarkably well TO the top leaf without fir
ing The tobacco cultivated for the manufacturers
and is of very fine quality, and remarkably sweet.
My reasons for this mode of cultivation are few and
simple Our old lands in this region. and doubt not
generally in middle Virginia. more deficient in phos
pilates and potash than any other OF the mineral manures
and The tobacco plant must have these elements IN order
TO Tpen it well. The Peruvian guano has but small
par, of lis value in phospbates-only about one-sxth
and FIVE sixths OF its money value, near $40 to the
ton, in ammonia, which powerfully stimulates the growth
Of tobacco, without causing II to pen, or without giving
the healthy growth which will secure It against firing
The Mexican guano is The richest that has been brought
TO the country in phosphates- 81 TO 60 per
cent, and only to per cent OF ammonia. Conse
queny, about fvesixths OF its money value is in the
phosphates. and about one-sixh in the ammonia This
suggested the idea of mixing the two The salt was put
with the Peruvian fix the ammonia and TO furnish the
murates and the soda But the tobacco plant specially
needs potash especially n it's rpening processhe outer
coat OF the stalk and The stems being formed principally
of silcate of potash Thus you at glance, what
aimed to accomplish by my mixture.
The success was beyond my expectations. II was the
heaviest crop of tobacco saw and said every
who it.
The Mexican guano can be had at Baltimore, at $25
per ton Of 2,24O pounds. Sterling & Ahrens deal in
il. The potash and plaster. Mr.. Keitewell, of Bali
MORE prepares and sells 81 so per barrel OF about 800
pounds
lost, may say. no tobacco by fire, while every one
Of my neighbors had to cut their crops for fire.
With high regard, yours very truly,
j. s. ARMISTEAD