Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1858-07-10

most likely will, to cure it in tobacco houses,
by the gradual application of heat from wo cd
fires, carelessness will easily make differ
ence of $l0O, more or less, in the worth of
the weed per ton. In the curing, tobacco
undergoes species of sweating, or prepara-
ton, upon the proper regulation of which it's
flavor and value depends. During the pre-
paration process, the fermentation set up,
converts the fat or aromatic oil which the
leaf contains, into the aromatic principle
called nicotim. II, therefore, the heat is too
little, the quantity produced is deficient; if
too great, the volatile micotin is driven out.
The object, therefore, in curing is in the first
place, to retain all the fat of the leaf; and in
the second, to get the largest quantity of aro-
matte principle in the prepared tobacco.
The proof Of the pudding is said to be in
the eating; but from the foregoing remarks
it will be perceived that the value of tobacco
depends principally upon the manner in which
it is cured.
In cultivating it, the Minnesota farmer must
likewise be aware, that the plant is a tremen-
dous feeder, and must have a rich soil.-
Chemical analysis of its ashes show that fully
one third of its composition is potash; while
nitrate of potash (salt petre,) and ammonia,
(the volatile and pungent principle of stable
refuse,) have been found in large quantities in
the juice. Therefore, the strongest soils,
black with humus. and enriched by leaf de-
composition, should if possible be selected for
the experimental trial. There are some farm
ers who do not at present see way of dis
posing of their manure piles to advantage,
their land being now rich enough for grain
crops. Feed it, therefore, to the Unsuitable
nav Of tobacco-thus directly furnishing
both the nitrates of potash and ammonia, o
which the plant is SO large a consumer and
the increased and superior product will re-
ward you abundantly for the labor of cartine
it out upon your tobacco field.
Should it ever so happen in the course o
time, that we raised more tobacco than we
could find a market for at home, we need
borrow no trouble on that account. 1t pos
Sesses great value, contained in compara-
lively small bulk and weisht-for instance
when compared with the value and bulk and
weight of aeheat-and would easily, therefore
bear the cost of transportation to a more
dis ant market, without materially detractng
from the sum of the profits.
We repeat, what we on former occasion
urged--that We must begin to help ourselce:
mere in Minnesota. The time for talking
about our immense resources" is pretty
much over; and we must deuelope them. We
must first produce ourselves, a multitude O
things that we have before imported and paid
pretty dearly for Our grain-our tobacco
our beef and pork-our hOrses-our wood
en- ware-our machinery-our household
iurniture-and thousand d-and-onc other item:
necessity, or luxury, which demand of u:
money to pay for them, and especially requir,
4 big item of expenditure for freight to for
eign owned steamboats-can all be Just a.
we'll produced or manufactured in Minnesota
| as to impcrt them from abroad. In word
we must all go to work ; quit borrowing
money and spending it too; if we wish to &C
complish our proper destiny of making Min
nesota the greatest and most prosperous
State of the Valley of the Mississippi. Worl
will do it.