The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-03-01
MELVIN GrLLETr, Assessor.
Tobacco Culture.

some of our readers, who have had prac-
sical experience in the matter, would re-
-spond to the request. but as none have
done so, we win try and give, from au-
thentic sources, a statement Of the nsodus
operandi.
The seed should first be sown in bed,
and as early as the season will permit,
because they germinate very slowly
The spot selected for bed should be the
south side ola gentle elevation protect
ed, if possible the soil should be of
rich loan, warm, mellow, and perfectly
pulverized, enriched with well-rotted sta
BILE manure. Sow one gill of seed to
every ten yards square, and roll or tramp
it in. fsown early in the season keep
the bed covered. Never sow if the land
be too moist, or not perfectly prepared.
as it will be time and labor thrown away.
Keep the bed perfectly free from grass
and weeds, and this must be done with
the fingers After the plants are up, an
occasional top dressing with plaster, ash
es, or liquid manure, will prove service
able. Y -
The soil best adapted to the growth Of
Tobacco is light, friable soil. or what
is commonly called a sandy loan, not too
flat, but rolling, undulating land-not
liable to drown in excessive rains. New
land is far better than old. The land
should be well plowed early in the
spring, subsoiling any part that may be
very stiff, or likely TO hold water near
the surface, and let it be we'll narrowed
soon after breaking up. It should be
kept clean, light, and well pulycrzed by
occasional working with cultiyators and
harrows. Hills should be made two or
three feet apart, about six inches high,
and smoothed off at the top. ,y -9
When the leaves of the plant are about
two inches in length and one in breadth,
or when the fourth leaf is sprouted, the
plant will bear transplanting. In draw
ing them from the bed. be very careful
not to bruise or mash them. They should
not be set in the hill deeper than they
were in the bed. Make hole in the hill
with the finger, and straighten the root
before inserting it. Press the dirt well
around the root, which may be done
with the thumb and finger. If the root
is crooked up the plant viii not thrive.
Cultivate as you would cabbages, being
particular to keep the soil clean and mel
low. and leaving the land as near level
as possible.
AS soon as the blossoms or the buds
are fairly out, and the seed plants selec-
ted, all the others should be "topt" as
sem as the blossom is fairly formed
They should be topt with the thumb and
finger down to the leaves that are six
inches long. if early in the season; if
late, still lower. The " suckers" should
be pulled off as soon as they get two or
three inches long. They spring out
abundantly from each leaf where it is set
in the stalk. The ground leaves" or
those which become dry on the stalk,
should he gathered early in the morning,
when they will not crumble. The appar-
ent signs Of the maturity Of the plant are
the leaves, as they approach state of
ripeness, become more corrugated, or
rough, and when fully ripe appear mot
tied with vellowish spots on the raised
parts, whilst the cavities retain their
usual green color. They are at this
time thicker than before. and are COW
cred with kind of downey velvet. Rain
happening at this time vii damage the
plants by washing this substance off In
this case, however. if the frosty nights
have not begun. let them stand. and If the
weather is propitious, they will recover
the substance again.
When the tobacco s ripe enough to
house. it should be cut off close to the
ground with sharp knife similar to
those used in cutting up corn. Let it
lay on the ground for a short time, to
fall" or wilt. Then carry it to the
barn. or tobacco house. and hang it up
where it will have light and dry air. to
yellow and dry out. Hard winds and
dampness should be excluded. After
becoming well cured, the stem of the
deaf being free from sap, the first mild
damp spell of weather It will become pill
ant, and may then be stripped off the
stalk. In preparing it for market there
are several other processes which the
tobacco undergoes,e but is needless for
us now to detail them.
In gathering the seed. the earliest and
largest plants should be selected. One
hundred plants will give over peck of
seed. If the grower wishes to raise fine,
light, yellow tobacco. he ought to select
plants that grow quick, with leaves small
and far apart in the stalk. lft
he wishes to raise heavy crops to the acre
and most Of it curing fine red, he
should select such plants as are broad
and long-leaved. set close together on
the stalk. with large stems and thick
leaves. .Aher the seed pods have fully !
developed themselves. the tobacco should
be pruasd--lopping Of all the small, de-
fective, or Indifferent pods that are found |
on the head, sieaving only The we'll form
ed pods 10 mature. 50 hat the whole
strength ofthe plant may be concentra-