The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-12-31
Tobacco and Its Culture.

TOBACCO and Its Culture.
THERE are many varieties Of the to-
bacco plant of both temperate and tropi-
cal growth. The plant attains q larger
growth in . temperate cline but loses
that fine flavor which belongs to all tho
tobacco of the tropics. Some varieties
are but adapted for cutting; others for
snuff, and still others for cigars. There
are nearly fifty varieties of tobacco
cultivated, some of which are of fine
color, texture and flavor, while others are.
coarse, dark and strong. There are many
kinds cultivated in this country, includ.
ing the following: Connections seed
Leaf, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and
Wisconsin seed leaf, Virginia, Maryland,
North Carolina, Perique La.), Florida,
Missouri tobacco, and some other varie.
ties: Some of these are very similar in
kind. Virginia is fine smoking tobacco,
adapted for the pipe; Connecticut is
justly celebrated as the finest cigar
wrapping leaf known to commerce,
leaf.
Some few years since the grower of
the plant in the Connecticut Valley en-
tcrtained the belief that the valley was
capable of producing leaf tobacco ex-
cceding in flavor the variety now cult
waited and retain that fine texture that
gives it its value. Many leading varieties
were tried, including Orinoco, Latoka,
and most of the varieties grown in Cuba.
BY repeated trials they succeeded in
raising variety known as Spanish to-
baccO, which promised to be the coming
tobacco plant in New England. The
plant is of strong growth, attaining about
the same height as seed leaf-perhaps at
tanning little more altitude-has small,
hard stalk, with leaves about two feet in
length and corresponding breadth. The
plant comes forward rapidly and ripens
much more rapidly than seed leaf, there
by insuring against all danger from au.
tumnal frOsts. The Latoka and Persian
tobacco was first brought to this country
by the well-known traveller Bayard Tay.
lOr, some years since, and was tested by
many tObaccO-grOwers in all sections OF
the country, but on account of its size
being one of the smallest varieties
could not be cultivated with much profit.
1t is we'll adapted for the pipe, and is of
a peculiar flavor, while the color (about
like light Virginian) fits it for all lovers
of mild tobacco. Another variety tested
in New England has been known as Po-
dunk tobacco. This is doubtless another
variety of seed leaf, the result OF bring
ing seed from various countries. There
are quite number of varieties of seed
leaf cultivated in New England, Middle
and Western States. There are four
leading varieties in Ohio, and another
has recently been discovered in q most
singular manner. A few years since
number of plants growing near some
bushes attracted the attention Of the
grower on account of the peculiar color
of the leaf. The leaves we're carefully
picked and the plants allowed to 60 to
seed. The next season plant-beds were
made and several acres planted; the re.
suit was the same, the leaf exhibiting
the same color while growing and curing
down to very light shade,
which gives it the name "Whlte to-
bacco," or as it is known now," Congress
premium tobacco" As cut tobacco it
bids fair to rival other tobaccos used for
this purpose. In California the plant is
being cultivated to q considerable ex-
tent, and the new method of curing
discovered Mr.. Culp will doubtless
make its cultivation success, and add
still another great product to the num-
Der DOW cultivated in that wondrous
cline. But while new varieties of the
plant are being tried, new methods of
culture are being tried, which have much
to do with the growth and quality of the
plant. In the New England States espe-
cially have tobacco-growers been more
particularly interested in new varieties,
and tested more than any part of the
country. In Virginia not SO much attcn.
ton has been paid to new varieties (al-
though there are many grades and quail.
tics) on account of their tobacco being
adapted for the pipe rather than for u
cigar wrapper. While the tobacco plant
readily adapts itself to soil and climate,
it often loses those essential qualities
which render it valuable and source of
profit to the cultivator of the weed.
Some kinds of tobacco may lie grown in
almost any climate and still retain, in a
measure, their essential qualities, such as
texture, color, size and weight. Others,
however, change altogether on being in
troduced to new sections of country.
When the London and Plymouth Compa-
MES landed in Virginia they found to-
bacco (uppowoc) a very small plant,
with leaves not much larger than those
of the walnut tree, and growing about two
feet in height. The English colony took
deep interest from the first in the plant
and ut once commenced its cultivation.
The care and attention bestowed on the
plant soon changed the whole character
of it, both in size, color and general quail
ity. 1t has been SO in New England;
now the plant is of much better color
and texture than when first cultivated,
and, as new varieties are being tested,
will undoubtedly produce varieties of the
plant 'excelling those now being cult
waited. New varieties as they are intro
duced into the country cause new and
improved methods of culture to be tried
in order to perfect the leaf European
and American tobacco are decidedly diff.
ferent, particularly in strength, the for.
mer not possessing the strong qualities
possessed by the American plant. On
being cultivated, however, in America it
in short time becomes as powerful in
flavor as if always grown here. In order
to test new varieties of the plant proper
ly they should be tried upon various soils
and with the aid of various fertilizers.
In this way the grower can easily deter.
required for the plant. If the leaf is to
trary, dark leaf is desired the plants
should be "set" upon dark loan. In
this manner the grower can readily OBJ
required. Not only will such expert
gratifying and interestingly. Z. BIZ
Ings, in american Grocer.
Mind.Reading.