The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1871-03-02
TOBACCO.

AS many Of our farmers are turning
their attention to The raising Of tobacco,
We give placeao tho following from tho
pen Of jesse T. Hutchinson, Esq, Of
Richmond. an experienced tobacco raiser,
in the hope that it may prove Of great nd
vantage 10 the farmer.
CULTIVATION OF THE CROP.
There seems 10 DO no croprequiring less
particularly of culture. Any conceivable
mode of destroying the grass, and slirriag
tho earth, will answer to induce vigorous
growth. If the land and season suit But
lit Is desirable that The Garth should have .
deep and thorough breaking. carly in its
cultivation. which will promote broad,
healthy and vigorous growth in the plant,
and prevent the difficulty known among
planters as buttouing, Tho soft and fresh
ly broken earth. invites the young roots to
deeper and wider range, and the leaf
will not fail to take q corresponding mau-
ner of growth, Many planters recon-
mend the use Of the wing coulter, while
others use the little turning pillow, passing
both ways and bearing The earth from the
plant, andrunning as near to it as posi-
bic, without loOsening it, and if there
should be moisture in the land, even that
will do it no injury. This operation COW
ers whatever of grass may have started in
the middle Of tho row, aud, as will readily
be seen, leaves but little for the hoe to do.
II is best, however, that they pass over
after the plows, scrapc OF tue crust and
grass Immediately next TO the plant. and
draw up fresh earth. This operation il
well done, leaves the young plant in fine
condition for growth;-froe from grass,
with an abundance Of soft, fresh Garth next
to it. and underlying it in every direction.
After two or three weeks it will bo proper
that this operation be renewed. Let the
same plows pass through it in both direct
ions bearing the earth towards tue plant.
Here again will be found the grest adgan-
tage Of having the land checked, as the Ia
Dor Of billing by the hoes will be reduced
more than half, aud it will be more thor
oughly aud eiFectually done by the plOws.
By this time it will be large enough to
begin to top. The cases are rare when it
is advisable to leave more than ten leaves
upon plant. The custom is to prime to
six inches, and top at ten leaves. BY this
means you make but little Tugs and short
leaf the tobacco will be greatly moro uni.
form in length and quality, the leaves will
ripen more nearly at the same timo,-will
grow longer and ripon better, and 1t is the
approved opinion of most planters, will
yield more aud better tobacco, than If
greater number of leaves had been left n
As the season advances, the number Of
leaves must be diminished. 8E
Alter your tobacco has received the last
working, has taken entire possession of the
land, aud been all topped as you desire,
you have but two difficulties to contend
against until it is ready to bring to the.
house. These are the horn-worm and tho
suckers. Your tobacco crop should be
graduated, not by the quantity you can
cultivate, but tho amount you can keep the
worms from destroying. They certainly
constitute the most serious difficulty the
planter has to encounter. And to begin
at tho beginning, it iscertnin;every posi-
bic mode Of destroying the horn blower
should be adopted and assidiously followed
as you may feel perfect assurance that
10 corresponding ratio will the worms DO
reduced. Many may be killed with pad
dies by the boys around the jamestown
blooms, white lilies and tobacco blooms,
One of the most efficient aud interesting.
and certainly the most profitable modes of
getting worms off the tobacco, is by means
Of large aoCk of turkeys. Ifforced tore
main in the tobacco for a while they will
form a fondness for the amusement of
catching them. By these assistants it is
probable that the women and the boys of
the plantation will be ablo to keep them
under, and also tho suckers, while the men
of the farm may be engaged about other
d.; W. .,......I. -. E..