Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-10-16
Letter from r. II. Mann...Growth OF
= Tobacco.
To the Editors of the MINI ssOti0n.

A0stef from H H mannss.GrOWth OF
Tobacco.
To the Eiitors eftAe A5nnssotiam:
DEAR SRs: The consumption of tobacco
is so enormously on the increase in Europe,
that the market for the article appears to be
almost without limit. From what have seen
of the growth of the plant in Minnesota,
am convinced that no crop will flourish more
luxuriantly, nor pay better profit 1t is
well known that much of the New England
tobacco is of the finest quality, and COM
mands the highest market price, In Russia
and Poland the plant is largely cultivated,
countries quite as cold, if not more severe
than any part of Minnesota Mr.. COLLINS,
U. S. G. Agent, speaks of driving over Lake
Baikal, which is $40 miles long, in the heart
of Asiatic Russia, on the ice, thing unat-
tempted on any of our lakes, no further south
than Lake Superior. Yet he pronounces
these Provinces fertile in the highest degree,
and Irkoutsk, a city at the head of the Lake,
has permanent population of 20, 900, whichin-
creas is during the Fair in summer to 400, 900,
and has a trade annually, and steadily on the
increase, of 100000 900 rubles, or $225, OOO,-
600. This might seem, apochryphal, but the
U. S. Agent adds, by way of confirmation,
to this apparently exaggerated statement.
"The Governor (MoURAvIEFF) talked much
of the great commerce of his city, and showed
me the figures that summed up the value of
tea sold at the last fair; it was six million
nine hundred and twenty thousand rubles-
then said the whole value of trade was over
| three hundred millions.
In regard to the growth of tobacco with us
| in Minnesota, don't intend to write an essay
upon it at this time, but will give::a hint copy
| from a recent work on Russia, on the growth
and maturity of crops. at has been OBJ
served that corn grown in the extreme north,
when used as seed fin a southern country,
gives its first produce more speedily, rpening
in a much shorter time, although at a second
sowing it loses this quality. Hence, in Sweden
they annually import seed from Tornea, in the
north of the Gulf of Bothia, almost within the
Arctic Circle. Olonety, which is so cele-
brated for the growth of its hemp, is situated
between 81 and 65 degrees north latitude,
whilst Minnesota reaches from 434 up to 40,
difference in favor of Minnesota of II degrees
or some eleven hundred miles south of Olonety.
| The principal point to which l would now
call the attention of our farmers is the facts
in regard to seed, which has been developed
in the countries of Norwey, Sweden and
Russias-to procure seed adapted to the eli
mate. If tobacco, procure seed from the
most northern growers so far as possible, so
of corn, and other cereals. Years of labor
and disappointment may be avoided by ap-
prOpriating the experience of nations, who
have been many ages in arriving at a correct
knowledge of the plants and their manage
ment, adapted to different soils and climates.
Weneed in our State less politics and more
agriculture. The avarice with which so many
grasp at our poor depleted treasury is sicken-
ing. 1t is high time this spirit was frowned
down, and all hands would 60 to work and
try and create something to put in the treas
ury. Agriculture lays at the foundation of
all our prosperity, if we ever become prosper
GUS. We want good treatise on the growth
and culture of tobacco and hemp in northern
climates for general circulation among farmers.
From what Can learn northern hemp is most
highly priced.
| A Pioneer and Democeat this moment re-
ceived, speaks well of this summers expert
ence with the tobacco plant. would suggest
that a we'll cured, and fair sample of the plant
be sent to the Patent Office, describing the
variety, where seed was procured, when
planted, how cultivated, kind of soil and To-
calty, when cut, and how treated after the
cutting
| | am fully convinced that we are in igno-
rance to great extent of the variety ofplants
suited to our soil and climate. In northern
China which is densely populated, having CT
ties of two and three hundred thousand in
habitants, the land is cultivated like garden,
and many valuable plants are grown, not in
troduced among us, yet the winter longer and
the climate colder and more rough and severe
than in Minnesota. Here is vast field of
experience from which we may learn much
of practical value
| 1st-We should determine as speedily as
may be the variety of wheat oats, and corn,
best adapted to our soil and climate. There
may be varieties in Russia, Poland, or Sibc-
ria superior to any we possess. Our seed is
mainly Southern seed acclimated
2d-We should enquire into the natural
history Of the Hemp plant thoroughly, with
all its varieties it's average yield per acre,
value per ton-the yield of seed value in the
natural state and of the manufactured oil.
3rd-Flax, which to Russia is almost their
most valuable article of export may well claim
our attention. Since the invention by France
and improvement by England of flax spinning
machinery, this textile has once more come to
compete fairly with cotton, and its consump-
ton immensely increased. In 1853 Russia
alone consumed 665, 900, 900 of yards of linen.
4th-Tobacco. The growth of this plant
may be increased to an indefinite extent, and
from present prospects, at all times find
ready market. Yet the entire history of its
culture and curing should be closely studied
by using the accumulated experience of COM
munities in parallels similar to our own.
In regard to the growth of hemp, Minneso-
ia possesses uncommon advantages in the ia
cility of rottening grounds. 1t should not be
planted where the facility of water properly
conditioned for rottening does not exist, other
wise the planter will incur much cost and
trouble in the process of dressing the hemp
for market Where the green hemp can be