The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-04-12
-. BURLINGTON, SATURDAY, APRIL q, 1852
tFor the Burlington Hswk.Eye.l
TAE CULTURE OF FTORACCO.

For the Burlington Hswk.Eye.l
TAk CULTURE OF TOBACCO.
As was stated the other day in your column
the raising of this crop is certainly worthy th
4 attention Of Western farmers at time like Il,
present, when the demand for produce general
Is 90 dull. With the hope that they may prov
servicsable to some of your many readers, vii
proceed to give directions for raising and proper
" curing Tobacco, mostly taking the same from
an article published some years ago in the Anne
rican Agriculturist, aud known from experience
to be good.
As the plant is only cultivated for its leaves
the whole process Of growing, curing and pre-
pairing for market requires attention and eoot
management. In scarcely any other crop doe
90 much depend upon the skill and intelligenc,
OF the cultivator. In no other crop Is there
more difference between prime and an inferior
article, and none in which the prime bears &C
| small proportion to inferior grades It ia be
lieved that the average returns from large plan
tations may be more than doubled by skillful
management
SEED BEDS
The first business after procuring good seed
is to start the young plants. Seed beds may
be prepared under glass or In the open air; the
latter will answer in this climate, il prepared in
time to make an early start, aud is the usual
mode practiced everywhere.
The place usually selected in Virginia, issome
sunny spot in new land, sheltered and warm
As soon as the frost is out Of the ground in
the spring, the leaves are raked off and roots
are grubbed up. The whole space is then cov-
cred with wood aud brush several feet thick,
and burned over. This gives good dressing
of ashes and coal which is to be worked we'll
into the soil. The ground is then laid off into
beds four feet wide, raking and levelng off
thoroughly, raising little on dry land and more
where it is moist. A pipe bowl of seed will
be enough for sixteen square yards of bed. AZ
ter sowing the seed, cover with brush to keep
OF frost. A dressing of fine manure 10 of great
service when the plants 6rst appear, to Quicken
their growth. As the success Of the e,..;re cron
depends upon these plants, they should hass
careful attention, and be kept free from weeds.
When all danger from frosts is over, the brush
is removed, and the plants we'll weeded and
thoroughly cultivated, till ready to plant out in
the field. The essentials in this method are a
warm soil. seed bed rich and fine, and protec-
ton against frost.
TRANsPLANTING.
The plants will usually be ready for this op-
Grafton about the last of May or first of June.
They should be put out during or just after
shower, or if this cannot be obtained the bed
should be soaked with water, and the plants
covered with plenty Of earth about their roots.
The best tobacco is grown upon rich light
loamy land such as is recently brought under
cultivation. 1t requires q warm, mild season,
with Clear bright weather in the latter stages of
Its growth to be of finest quality.
FIELD CULTURE.
A clover fallow makes good field for this
crop. The ground should be previously pre-
pared by fall plowing and cross -plowing and
narrowing in the spring, so that it may be in
fine tilth. Lay it off in rows three, three and
q half or four feet apart, running each way
Every square thus made should be scraped with
q hoe so as to form hill, in which plant is to
be set. If the plant is destroyed by worms or
drouth it must Immediately be replaced from
the seed bed.
Cultivate similar to Indian Corn during the
season, working the ground deeply in the early
stages Of its growth. This will enable the roots
to penetrate through the soil and feed from it.
Deep p!owipg and cultivation are also safe
guard against drouths. Keep all weeds under
we'll, and the better the tillage the better the
crop, other things being equal No more ground
should be planted than Can be thoroughly taken
care of. As the season advances, care should be
taken to cultivate only upon the surface for fear
of ipjuring the roots. These will completely
occupy the soil by the first OF August.
PRUNING, TOPPING. sUcExRING AND woRMIEG.
The plant is not grown for its seed, but for
its eight or ten broad leaves. So we must in
terfere with its natural growth, take away its
flower stalk and small leaves, and force the
strength of the plant into the parts most desired
'or market. As the plants approach maturity
hey throw out upon the top blossom bud
called button. This must be taken off, with
such of the small leaves as are not needed. A
shoot is also thrown out at the foot of every
leaf stalk which ought to be carefully pinched
of without injuring the large leaf.
The topping is best done by measure. If
six inches OF the top Is to be removed, the top
per takes a stick Of that length and applies it to
every plant. Prune six inches and top to eight
leaves, is a good average rule. An unusually
fine crop, in some rich spot may be allowed to
natures ten or even twelve leaves. If the
plants are smaller, they should be allowed fewer
leaves The crop should be wormed and suck
cred at least once week, children and young
girls being engaged for that purpose, if other
hands cannot be spared In some seasons the
tobacco worm is very destructive, and constant
vigilance is necessary to keep the crop frsm be.
ing totally destroyed Good. management is
of great Importance atthis time.
CUTTING AND HOUSING.
This process, in the slave States, is very
primitive one, The plants, after being cut and
hung upon sticks are frequently set in the fence
corners and left there for weeks if the weather
is dry. They are then transferred in great haste
and not by any means careful handling, to an
open barn, where they are hung up with the out
er row exposed to the weather. SO that the whole
is cured irregularly or not cured at all and has
mottled mildewed appearance. On the princi
pie that the best way is the cheapest, will de.
scribe different mode Of management at this
important stage Of the crop. Some three months
sumo the spotted and yellowish appearance
which indicates maturity. A difficult part OF
the management now approaches where the
closest attention is required. A few days neg