Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-02-13
(From the Iowa Hopnestead.)
ON GRO WING AND CURING TOBACCO
BY WILLIAM D. WILSON.


and cured in one year. 1t is question with
MANY. however, whether the growing of to.
bacco should be encouraged amongst us, be-
Loving that it injnres the land to greater
extent than can be compensated by any prof.
it which may be derived from it, and some
are opposed 10 its growth on moral princi-
pies. Notwithstanding all these ohjectionsi it
piU DO cultivated somt where, and used IN
some cDrrn everywhere. and many Of the far
lncrs or this State think that the cvil il it is
one. will not be extended or lcssened by all
they can grow-at least, they may ,honorablv
think that they have right to share in I Q
profits offs cultivation, and many MiN strive
to do Il. That they may do so intelligcntly,
Ill the "a. entail information which could be
obtained rendily orythe subject is embraced
in this article, for generals cultivation. For
much of it I am indebted to the Transactions
ofthc Connections State AGRICULTURAL Society,
believing that the practice Of that State wo'd
b.a safe guide for this latitude. Awriterin
the volume for 1856 introduces his mode of
culture with the following important truths.
upon which i. would he well for those opon-
der who propose entering upon the tobacco
su:ture in this State. styI.-y ~ ,...s ,... ...
"Thc attempts that are making to grow
tobacco without manare, are, and necessarily
must be, mostly failures; other crops may
be grown on land not well fitted; we may
grow corn at twenty five bushels to the acre,
and get good quality but tobacco must come
up toa certain point, or it is worth little or
nothing as crop. No man can grow tobac'
co who is not willingto devote all the manure
he can get to i, and all the time that IS want
Cd, let what clse suffer that will. No natu-
TMlstrength of land seems to be OF much &C
count; high manuring, the most careful cu'-
tivation, watching close from day TO Day
ncglecting all else where tobacco wants any
Thing done; setting it all the rainy weather
during the season of setting, and cartlng wa
terie ii does not rain at the right time, are
all necessary and must be done in short, the
man who is not willing to make himself
slave to one crop, will not succeed well with
tobacco"
Its 10 DC ho,e! no one will 60 into the
kctsinire Of tobaccv extensively in this State,
. s,nlcss possessed Of the necessary experience
or until he has experimental in small and
safe way. For the latter, the following, on
its: cultivation, &C., is intended as guide.
sSasqsh y PREPARATION OF SEED BED,
Much. depends on having good plants.
I hence care should be taken to have good seed
and good seed beds. The best, and perhaps
the only suitable soil and location, IL well
cleared spot in the timber, as the timber
gives good aud necessary shelter to the
Young plants. Select well drained spot,
with southern exposure. and as soon as the
frost is out Of the ground, spade the soil up
to the depth OF three or four inches, then
cart on brush and straw, spread and burn
. them which must he done thoroughly to kill
/. the small weeds and make the ground frable;
give it also good dressing Of old, well rot.
ted manure, which spade and prcp,re nicely !;
spade deep, then roll the bed WE'LL but be-
fore sowing draw a rake lightly across the
bed that sufficient soil may be thrown up to
cover the seed. ...a..au.
s4s SOWING THE SEED. Pro- nv
... In sowing the seed it cannot well be put
in too shallow, provided the light be exclud-
ed-thc quantity is, say common table
spoonful for one hundred square yards, and
in that proporiion-miX that quantity OF seed
thoroughly WITH two quarts Of ashes; the
seeds being so small it is necessary to mix
them with ashes that they may be distribu-
Ted more evenly over the bed; roll again,
and the bed is done. Those who have no
rollers, may lay plank or planks over the
bed. and by tramping upon them effect the
same purpose as a roller. 1t is almost death
10 the plants to have grass and weeds grow
4 ing amongst them, and extreme care must be
taken to pluck them out when the plant is
lumng. BOG 7 G yhf s2s q
MANAGING SEED BED.
When the plants appear, as they will in
about six weeks after sowing the seed, wa
ter them If the bed is dry-but it must only
he dcne after shutdown or before sunrise
There is no plant more sensitive than the
tobacco. especially in its early culture. Soft
water or water that has been boiled, must
Gully be used for watering, and the water
must be Of temperature that would be
comfortable for bathing-in short, the plants
must not be watered with cold water. When
the plants are taken up. If the beds are hard,
water to soften the earth. and that the roots
NAV be wet when transferred to the field.
If the DAYS and nights are cold, glass
frames should be kept over the bed unit! the
plants appear, which will bring them up in
shout half the time mentioned. AT e. they
are up the frames may be dispensed with.
except when frost is expected. II the seed
is sown very thickly, the plants grow HAT
and close to tho ground.
KIND OF LANE 10 RECEIVE PLANTS-irS rhEfA-
RATION, &C.
The best E1nd for tobacco is rich loan,
with an admixturc Of sand, Of which there
is any quantity in Iowa.
8 Prepare il 50 as that it would raise one
hundred bushels Of shclled corn to the acre.
With such spot, and care and attention. a
good crop of tobacco ,nay be expected. Fall
plowed land is best, and cross brake in the
spring then harrow and pulverlze soil well.
Lay il of three and \ half feet each way, a
bail tongue pillow being the best for this pur.
pose. Prepare the land"bont week before
setting the plants. Make little hill at each
cross. in which put the plant. the earth being
little packed around the plant. II plants
arc set too close the lower leaves arc thin and
worthless. IL the weather should be dry
when setting out, clod Of earth may DC
placed on the plant to shelter it until the FIRST
hoeing. tits best, however. to set the plants
when the ground is damp; if becomes dry,
ard the sun shines hot, old hay is taken
which has been run through hay cutter,
. wet it thoroughly. and put little ON each
plant, say as lnu h as can be taken up De-
tween the thumb and two fingers, winch
l.. UA