The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-03-08
Tobacco Culture.
EDITOR GUARDIAN

AS the inquiry was suggested, probably,
by your article acknowledging the re-
ceipt of some cigars of strictly domestic
character, presented by me to you. it
may not be improper that / should give
your readers the benefit of the little ex-
perience l have had in cultivating the
"yile weed for vile it is, in my view.
in more respects than one. was not a
little surprised to notice, not long since,
in some of the newspapers, the statement
that the expense for cigars, in the city of
New York, was more than that for bread
However improbable it may at first ap-
pear, it requires but little cyphering to
show that it is doubtless true. The cost of
an ordinary cigar is equal, there, TO a
pound of bread, and here in Iowa, where
we raise our own breadstuff, and import
our cigars, one of the latter costs much
more than pound of the former
am not an advocate for the use Of to-
bacco, as in almost any form it is not
only useless, but loathsome and very
expensive luxury. When young, l i'm
bibed the too prevalent idea that it was
manly to be putting a cigar, but my at
tention being accidentally called, in lu
dicrous way, TO the manner in which
cold stagers, unconsciously almost,
annoy others, was led to abandon its
use. | cannot agree with the eminent
DR.. HALVES, who has so recently seen Fl
to issue his clerical bull" against its
cultivation, and to suspend his " curse
sacerdotal" upon the very soil where it
is cultivated, that its cultivation is NOR
ally wrong. Let DR.. HAYES adopt the
apostolic simplicity in everything, and
go forth in accordance with the instruc-
tions Of the Master, giving to him that
has no coat his surplus one, and then
we may be induced by him to believe
that every indulgence of the appetite in
the form of a luxury is sin. 1t is no
doubt great exhauster of the natural
fertility of the soil, but like other crops,
under judicious and intelligent system
of husbandry. can be produced success
fully, for a long series of years, from the
same land. Its use, in my view land
consequently its production does not in
any way compare with that of intoxicat-
ing liquors, the use of which engenders
more of suife, murder, the unhappness
of wives and children, and endangers
the peace of society more than all other
causes combined. And as tobacco, pro-
badly, will be used, l go for its home
production that is, if experience proves
it to be, as l think it will, profitable
crop-in regard to which the only ques-
ton now is, whether we can raise quail
ity that will successfully compete with
that raised in other sections of our coun-
try, particularly with that in the famed
valley of the Connecticut river. Ten
years ago, its production there was con-
lined 10 a voEysfo~ forr,ars now it has
become one Of the staple articles of cul-
tivation and export, and is SO profitable
as to justify the liberal use of foreign
manures (Phosphates and Guano.) 1t is
a crop that requires close attention, but
all the necessary information is very cas-
lily obtained and put in practice.
The first requisite is to get the plants
ready for transplanting early, as il not
only secures an early maturity. but it is
much less difficult to transplant success
fully early than late. The earth for re-
ceiving the seed should be we'll pulver-
lied, and then trodden down hard, be-
fore the seed are sown, when they should
be slightly covered. | think there can
be no doubt but what our seasons here
are sufficiently long for it to mature, as
the corn that.w cultivate would not rip
en- in the Connecticut valley one year in
five. But as, l have only raised it here
one season, any information | give will be
mostly theoretical. My own view is tina.
our comparatively light soil, a consider
able constituent of which is sand, made
rich with manure, will be most likely tc
produce an article Of that quality thai
will be necessary for success. II was on
soil Of such2a character that | raised
mine the last season, and | have secured
an acre of land of that description on
which mean more fully to carry on the
experiment the present summer. / shall
carry some of my tobacco, in the leaf anc
in cigars, with me to Massachusetts,
where shall endeavor to satisfy myself
how it compares with that raised there
| shall be willing. through your columns
or otherwise, to communicate the result
to the public.
There is. also, great difference in thu
variety. Mine was raised from seed OBJ
tanned of some of the best tobacconist
in New England. of which l saved con
siderable of quantity, and l shall als'
obtain some fresh from there while / an
east, and | shall be happy to let an,
have who wish. with me, to satisfy them
selves Of its utility as crop in Iowa
| should be trespassing upon your col
umns to speak Of raising or curing it
and it will be in season if inquiries ar,