Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-03-05
close our eyes and go down with the
current Of rebellion and destruction.
Yours truly, 5.
agricultural.
FFtW tHt IuWa SIdte KeglsteT
TOBACCO CULTURE, &c.

AOOAOOV OULA ne, &C.
The following private letter from
lion +. 6. Bowdoin, of the Iowa Leg
islature, now in Massachusetts, to
the Secretary of Iowa Farmers
College, being of general interest, is
given to US for publication
.. SOUTH HADLEY FALLS, Mass.
| g. .... Jan. %, 1868.
Hon VIM Duane WILSON :-My Dear
Sir II find in the last number of the
Iora State Register some information
procured at your request by Mr.. kas-
son relative to the processes of raising
and curing tobacco. This informa-
tion comes from the state of Indiana,
and gives directions for its culture as
practical in that locality. The kind
raised there, take it, is the Ken
lucky or Virginia variety, used mostly
for manufacturing or for filters.
lam here in the midst of the region
where the Connecticut seed leaf vari-
ETY. is extensively cultivated and where
this is now regarded as the most prof
liable crop which can be raised.
There resides near where | am stop
ping gentleman, Paoli Lathrop, ESQ,
who has long been known throughout
this state as a skillful and leading
agriculturaiist, who has been engaged
in raising tobacco for many years,
and who has just been preparing a
statement of the best mode for its cul-
ture for the State Board of Agriculture
or the Legislature, l am not certain
which, which he has just presented,
and which will probably be published
sometime in March. To him sent
the Register containing the article
alluded to yesterday. To-day have
seen him. He makes some suggestions
by which he thinks the labor contem-
plated in the Indiana mode may be con-
siderably lessened, and that with
advantage. He does not rake in the
seed, but after sowing treads it in or
rolls it. He does not strip off the
lower leaves, and does not top but
once. The ordinary crop here is twen-
ty cwt. to the acre. This variety
is used mostly for wrappers for cigars.
The current price this winter for the
last seasons crop is from SIS to $40
per hundred. lie thinks the Connect
icut seed leaf would be the more prof
liable for Iowa, though it might be
necessary to send eastward once in
two or three years to renew the seed.
Iou can procure the seed from here
without any trouble in any quantity
In hanging it they use poles about
twelve feet long, some three inches in
diameter, passing a cord or twine
around the butt of the plant and then
around the pole, the pole being fas-
tened up before hand. In packing,
they use boxes three and half or four
feet long, aud two and a half feet high,
Instead of hogsheads, putting twelve
to fifteen hundred in case.
| have requested him to retain the
paper and look it over again and
write you any suggestions he may
deem valuable. He thought he would
do so. gave him your address for
that purpose and hope You will hear
from him. There was formely an idea
prevalent in this section that tobacco
was an exhausting crop to the land
But Mr.. Lahthrop says from long ex-
perience he has become satisfied that
it is no more so than corn. 1t will
grow on any land that corn will
! truly hope you will succeed in in
Producing the culture of tobacco. |
am satisfied it will grow even as far
north as l reside as well az in this
section. The only drawback is in OBJ
tanning suitable sheds for hanging
and drying it and these can be had
where there is will. The culture of
sorghum believe, has become fixed
fact and staple crop. Now press
on the sheep raising and tobacco
growing and the time will surely
come when farming in Iowa will be
sure to pay. l shall remain here
where is my old home. some two
months yet, and then return to Floyd
county. Send me copy of your last
winters Report, and also of this win
ter's, when published, and l will give
them to Mr. Lathrop. 6
Very truly yours,
L. q. BowDoIN.