The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-11-16
known a. Podunk tobacco. This is doubt.

KNOWN al fOQunk Tobacco. Lbs IL uOupts
less another variety of seed Leaf, the result
Of bringing seed from various COUNTRIES
There are quite number OF varieaes q
seed leaf cultivated in the New England,
Middle, and Western States.g There are
four leading varieties in Ohio, and another
has been discovered in most singular
manner. A few years since number Of
plants growing near some bushes attracted
the attention of the grower on account. d
the peculiar color of the leaf. The leaves
were carefully picked, and the plants al.
lowed to go to seed. The next season plant
beds were made,and several acres planted.
The result was the same, the Leaf exhibit
ing the same color when growing and cur
ing down to a very light shade, which gives
it's name, white Tobacco " or, as it Is
known nov, Congress Premium Tobacco
As cut tobacco it bids fair to rival other
tobaccos used for this purpose. In Califor-
mis- the plant is being cultivated to con.
adorable extent. and, by the new method
Of curing discovered by Mr.. Culp, will
doubtless make its cultivation success,
and add still another great product to the
number now cultivated in that wondrous
cline. But while new varieties of the
plant are being tried, new methods Of cul.
ture are being tried, which has much to do
with the growth and quality OF the plant.
In the New England States especially have
tobacco growers been more particularly IN
terested in new varieties and tested more
than in any other part OF the country, In
Virginia not so much attention has peeh
paid to new varieties (although there are
many grades and qualities) on account OF
their tobacco being adapted tor the pipe
rather than for cigar wrapper. WINE
the tobacco plant readily adapts Itself 70
soiI and climate. it often loses those essen
tial oualitles which render it valuable and
4 source of profit to the cultivator OF the
weed. Some kinds OF tobacco, may pe
GROWN in almost any climate and still re-
tain, ia measure, Its essentlai quaiitles'
sucb as texture, color, size and weight
Others, however, change altogether on be,
ing introduced to new sections OF country.
When the London and Plymouth, compan-
les landed in Virginia, they found tobacco
tuppowec1 very small plant, with leaves
not much larger than those OF the walnut
tree, and growing about feet IN helght,
The English colony took a deep interest
from the first in the plant, and at once
its cultivation. The care ana
attention bestowed upon the plant soon
changed the whole character OF
it, both in size, color, and general quality. |
It has been so 10 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 excelllng
those now being cultivated. New varieties,
as they are introduced into the country,
cause new and improved methods of cul-
ture to be tried in order to perfect the leaf.
European and American tobacco are de
cidedly different, particularly in strength,
the former not possessing the strong quail
tiles possessed by the American plant. On
being cultivated, however, in America, 1t
in short time becomes as powerful in t1a-
vor as if always grown here. In order to
test new varieties of the plant properly,
they should be tried upon various soil and
with the aid of various fertilizers. In this
way the grower can easily determine just
what soil and cultivation is required for the
plant. If the leaf is to be light select
light soil; if on the contrary, dark Leaf
is desired, the plants should be set" upon
dark loam In this manner the grower
can readily obtain the color, texture, and
body of leaf required. Not only will such
experiments be valuable, but the results
will be gratifying and interesting.