Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-11-14

the stand perfect and the plants grow
ing evenly to maturity. b..1
"Such heavy manuring as is essen
tial for premium crops causes a rank
and rapid growth in favorable seasons,
so that it is necessary to plant the
rows wider. apart than was formerly
practieed; but in order that the num-
Der of plants to the acre may be kept
good they are planted nearer in the
row. This closeness in planting is
thought to be favorable to fineness in
the grain, growth of leaf, and while
the plants stand near together in the
row there is a chance to go between
the rows for the purpose Of worming,
topping, succoring, etc., up to near or
quite the maturity of the crop. Some
times the last succoring, ETC., must be
done from the outside as the rows of
tobacco are cnt, as the plants so entire
ly cover the ground and the leaves are
so interlocked that it is impossible to
go between the rows without breaking
and greatly injuring the crop. EverI
manipulation, from sowing theseed in
the seed-bed to the delivery of the crop
to the purchaser, should be and is done
with the utmost exactitude. and care
that the product may be perfect as is
possible. In topping and succoring,
experience has taught that a clean
break or cut, not to shiver the stalk, is
essential, or the stem will catch water,
decay or become diseased and cause the
leaves to fall |; no spriming' or pulling
off of the ground-leaves is practiced,
for the reason that it Injuries those left
more than itwould add to quality; the
plant bleeds, and in efforts to recover
takes from the plant. In topping, the
Judgment of the cultivator has been so
educated that he is enabled at once in
Ientering field to- determine Just at
what point to top, that what is left
may mature, and still there beno waste
in growth or otherwise. This part he
has determined by experience, and it
cannot be impaired or obtained in any
other way; no arbitrary rules can be
laid down to govern different growths,
but each must be rule to itself. IF
the top leaves are immature they are
prone not to cure, but remain green,
or dry up a mottled color; for this rea-
son early maturityis is one object, as the
quality is better in all respects as a
general rule; late maturing tobacco,
even when not caught by frost be-
fore harvesting, is subject to accidents
after being hung, and of curing of un-
even color, etc. In The matter Of hang
ing and curing IN the barn, great if1-
provements have been made over form
er practices. Instead of depending
upon the stables, barn-foor, over hay
mows and other at present unoccupied
space in farm buildings, which are fire.
quently needed before the tobacco can
be taken down and stripped, there are
now on every farm buildings with ne
cessary conyeniences and fixtures ex-
pressly devoted to the purpose, many
of them comparing favorably with the
best of farm-buildings, in fact often
the best buildings on the farm, and of
considerable cost. With the better
price which the tobacco has brought
the producer, there has been an in
creased interest in giving it more tho
rough culture; and better culture in
one crop has begotten more thorough
and better farming in other respects,
and many Improvements besides, till
now farming lands suitable for grow
ing tobacco have reached price that
would scare the old proprietors who
occupied the same 80 or 40 years since,
as also would the cost Of the manure
and fertilizers used per acre. Manure
which could have been bought ten or
twelve years since for two to four dol
lars per solid cord, now sells readily
for twelve to fifteen dollars at the ward,
and large quantities are brought from
long distances at larger prices; labor
which could then be had in abundance
by the six months for twelve to sixteen
dollars per month, is now scarce at less
than from thirty to thirty-three dol
lars, and not as good at that; nor will
they work as many hours per day as
was then practiced, or perform as much
labor in the same time; and with all
this, what is the result to the produc-
er and farmer? Why, he has been en-
abled to stem it all, pay his taxes
promptly, add to his farm as necessary
in lands and buildings, lay aside some
money in stocks and bonds, live better,
while he himself has added immensely
to his labor, depriving himself of his
former leisure OF, winter and the interim
of slack work of the seasons. Now his
time is all occupied from years end to
years end in the necessary care and
culture of his crops, caring for his farm
and stock, hauling and accumulating
manure, etc. Sometimes his last crop
is not all stripped-as is the case this
season-till time to set for the new
crop. Ought not the proprietor who
is obliged to work thus to be we'll re-
warded? We think SO, and that the
successful producer of tobacco is none
too well paid when he gets a fine crop
and the highest price for it.
"Go through the tobacco -gowingr
section to the Connecticut valley, and
campare the circumstances of farmers
to-day with those within the memory
of the middle-aged, and you will find
almost an incredible alteration in their
financial and other circumstances; far
mers who could scarcely bring the year
around square, now have money atcom-