Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-12-04
How to Raise
Prom the ossse County Leader.

l Fon GfS Ssa8e SOuuts AG0UcI-
In accordance with your request,
I herewith give you q few Of my
ideas in relation to the growth and
cultivation of tho best tobacco-for
many know how TO raise tobacco,
but few the best article.
The first thing to he done is to
prepare seed-beds, or p~lant-beds.
The best ground for this is a loamy
soil. Burn sufficiently TO kill the
seeds of the wild growth; then dig
or pillow, pulverizing the soil thor
ougllly SOW the seeds, and beat
down the bed. SO US to have it quite
smooth put on a light coating of
straw ; cover with brush, to protect
the tender plants, when they first
sprout, from hard. beating rains Or
hail. AS soon as some of the plants
have Strengthened up, remove the
brush, leaving the straw as protection
to the plants i'll case of drought or
wet weather. Seeds may be sown
any time between the 18th OF Novcm-
Der and the first of March : thorgh,in
my judgment, the best time to sow Is
in Decclnber-the ground being gem
orally in better order than in Janu-
AIRY or February. March is nearly
always too wet, or else the ground
is frozen until too late. Many far
mers fail raising n crop on o
of not getting their beds sown in
time. The great cry every season is,
81 failed to SOW beds in time, and
have no plants! !" Therefore, in Or
der to be sure of plants, and Tor many
other reasons, sou the beds in De-
ccmbcr.
The ground intended for d crop,
should be cleared in the :all-clearcd
of srubs, trees and roots ~ far as pos
sible-amd broken up in early winter,
SO that tho many Insects may freeze
out, aud that the ground NAV be the
more easily pulverizcd, and the more
thoroughly mixed, by the spring
blowing; which should be done rs
soon as the ground is in good order.
with Il shOvel-plow and Golfer, 50 as
to break all the roots possible. Ilar-
row, pick up the roots, and let it lie
till tie plants begin to grow smarlly-
which is generally about the middle
of May. Then pillow and harrow
again. picking up the roots as before.
Lay off in straight rows. three and
one half feet apart ono wav-ridginy
upland two and onc-ha!f feet the
other way, making light rows-fnr
which Il pole, OF something Of the
Kind, may be tuuud convcuicnt-and
set the plants in the cross. Ii the
season is n good one, the plants will
be large enough to put Ii by the
first of June. The best time to ST.,
plants is at evening; when, with Il
good shower of rain. they will never
wilt, but grow right oil. In :. few
after the tobacco is planted, il
should be gone over and reset. in
case any should die or be DESTROYED
by worms. AS soon as the plants be-
gin to grow nicely, plow and hoe
with care, throwing some dirt to
them, TO prevent falling ovcr in Il
wet time. After this. the crop
Will not require amy further p;owln.
hocing, only pulling out The weeds
and sprouts. Should the bul-worm>
begin to work, they must be frequent
!y and diligently searched out. The
will also begin TO make
its appearance by this time.
When the plants begin to blossom
top. or break out the bud. leaving iii
1t is the middle of JULY Is good
leaves. and as the season advances. Il
less number. 1t should all be topped
by the 25th Of August, and at or
about that time leave not more than
eight or nine leaves. The bottom
should not be removed: they
serve to keep the dirt from the better
leaves above them. In about !, week
Or ten days after the tobacco is top
ped. suckers begin to grow out.
should be pulled off while
are tender; if allo wed to remain
until tough, they not only make bad
work worse, but are injurious to the
Tobacco. 1t should not be cut until
t Is thoroughly ripe: but the worms
mt suckers must be kept Oft until i,
5 ready for the kuifc-which Is ccn-
rally about the 10th of September.
II lcrha;.S later, owing to the season.
Up-ian;is are best for raising fine.
to%a'co, though tie yield is
ess in weigh! than upon bottom
ands. 1t will Always bring most
money per acre AL is easier mall
g"d. because it is lieh; ~, and less
liable be broken in handling.
| have merely given You, III Il gcu-
RI! way the manner in whl"!'' Il
'bacc" crop should be managed. In
" next | will give the process o.,
ous:TG and ruring.
u. N. DAVIS.