The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-02-28
FARMERS DEPARTMENT.
Culture and Manufacture of Tobacco

Culture and Manufacture of Tobacco.
Last week we published an article upon
tobacco raising, taken from Western paper.
The following is from the pen of John G.
Roberts, of TarriffvIlle, Connecticut, giving
the mode of culrvalipg and manufacturing
in that State:
Preparation Of the SEED Bed-We have
generally prepared the seed bed in the fall,
by heavy manuriDg, blowing in deep, and
leaving the bed in a rough state until the
following spring. AS soon as the frost is
out of the ground, SPADE the bed over, for
the purpose of bringing the manure up to
the surface and thoroughly mixing the soil.
at the same time clearing out all roots of
weeds and grass.
After leveling the bed we make the soil
as compact as possible, either by rolling
with heavy roller or stamping with the feet.
We then rake the surface lightly with a
fine -tooth garden rake. and SOW the seed,
raking lightly to cover it, and then roll or
tramp it again.
The seed is so very small, being smaller
than mustard seed, that it is better to mix it
with dry muck or ashes before sowing, as it
is more evenly distributed on the bed We
SOW about as thickly in sowing cabbage
seed in the garden. The bed is treated
precisely as a bed in the garden, in weed
ing, etc.
The land being MANFRED and well harrow
ed, we lay out the ground with marker,
setting the teeth 81 feet apart, and mark 1t
out one way. We then raise ridge about
six inches high, by turning two burrows to-
gether with a one-horse pillow. The ridges
being made, we mark across them, making
the marks % feet apart.
We set the plants from the 9TH to the 9Th
of June, Choosing, if possible. some damp
day for the purpose, though l have seen
very handsome crops raised, set out as late
as the 9TH of July.
Insects injurious to tie Crop-Some years
we have been greatly troubled by the cut
worms, for which reason we have been in
the habit Of blowing in green crop, either
rye or clover which feeds the worms, and
consequently they do not eat the tobacco SO
badly.
The cut-worm usually finishes its work
of destruction by July 4th, up to which
time, when a rainy day comes, all hands
turn out and set over the missing plants.
The green or tobacco worm proper, com
mences Operating about July lst We often
find the eggs (of the miller, which produces
the worm on the under side Of the leaf;
they are about the size Of large pinhead,
and light pea-green color. The miller
flies by night, and is rarely seen. l have
seen but two in the seven years we have
raised tobacco The head looks very much
like an OWLS; the body is gray in col, +,
about } inches long, and the wings, when
spread, extend about three inches from tip
to tip. The green worm is constant source
of annoyance. from it's first appearance until
the tobacco is cut. We sometimes have to
go over the ground every day for worms,
though in some seasons once week Will
suffice.
Culhyatio,a, Harvesting, etc.-The tobac
CO will not grow much until ii is hoed. as
the ground becomes hard, and must be well
stirred to give the roots a chance to start
There is an advantage in setting the plants
on a ridge, for they are not so apt to be COW
cred with dirt in blowing, or by heavy
shower. We generally hoe as often as we
can, but rarely more than three times, I'M
less the ground is very weedy.
The cost of production varies greatly with
the seasons; as when we have dry season
we have to water the plants, and cover them
with little cut hay TO prevent the sun from
scorching them. The past season was very
favorable, there having been so much damp
weather about setting time that we did not
cover or water plant on Al acres.
After the tobacco is set the labor is about
double what it is on corn. have never
made an exact calculation Of the expense Of
raising tobacco, but for myself l can say Il
aOould rather take care of one acre Of tobacco |
than Of ttCo acres Of corn. The land which !
will produce 1000 pounds per acre of to-
bacco will not produce over 20 bushels Of
corn, which shows large difference in favor
of tobacco.
About the middle of August the tobacco .
is in blossom. We then go over the field |
and break off the tops, taking off about four
or six leaves with the top, according to the
size Of the plant
In about week, sucker starts at the I
junction of each leaf with the stalk. These .
must be taken off before cutting, as, if left |
on, it is very announcement to handle the to-
bacco.
We generally begin cutting about the 10th |
of September, for by that time the most of
1t is ripe, and if stands after il is fully ripe
it will often rust. The rust is in spots on |
the leaf, and Injuries the quality.
We commence cutting III Tie morning af /
ter the dew is of, and let i lie for a while /
TO wilt being careful not TO let it lie long
enough to get sunburnt After being wilted |
enough TO handle without breaking the |
leaves, it is placed in cart or wagon and
drawn to the curing house, which is gener
ally a shed or rough building, which may
be shut up close, or opened to let in air.
The best buildings are about "a or SO /
feet wide, and as long as convenience
NAV dictate-S6 feet allowing of three l2-