Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-05-27
A Remedy For the Scarcity Of To-
baccO Plants.
To the Editor of the Richmond whig.

To The Eultor OF the hlcllmoud wing.
Planters of Virginia and North
Carolina have never heretofore wit
messed such a season for tobacco
plants. The earlier sowings were al
most entirely killed by frosts, and the
small plants of later sowings have
been mostly devoured as fast as they
come up by that irrepressible pest, the
fea- bug. To nurse and manure well
what the bugs have left, and to ma
nure highly and cultivate thoroughly
the few hills we can plant, seems the
only remedy for the situation. No
species of vegetable growth responds
more readily to manure than the to-
bacco-plant and although the smallest
of all our farm plants at termination,
none grows faster under proper care
and management. AS the plant re-
quires about four months from the
time of replanting until il is ready to
be cut to mature and thoroughly ripen,
it is important, particularly this sea-
son, to hurry along the plants that
they may be transplanted in time to
make good ripe tobacco. A good COM
mercial fertilizer, readily soluble, is
better than any farm manure, because
it is more concentrated and acts quick
er. But it is best to use it in connec-
ton with stable manure. The Anchor
brand tobacco fertilizer, Pacific and
Guanape are we'll suited for this pur-
pose, as the writer knows from expe-
rience, and will greatly hasten the
growth of the plants, both in the plant
bed and in the hills. Care should be
taken TO apply these or any other con-
centrated fertilizer to the plants when
dry, for if they are wet with rain or
dew they will be scorched or killed.
Apply in small quantity and eften is
best. Horse manure, dried and rubbed
fine, acts as manure and mulch,
keeps the ground moist, and facilities
drawing. Two or three applications
of this is enough for the season.
As soon as we can estimate what
amount of the crop we can plant by
the 10th or 18th of June, let us set to
work to prepare the land thoroughly,
selecting, of course, the best, and upon
this making liberal applications of
both domestic and commercial ma
nures. We can thus make one plant
weigh as much as two average plants
of our usual crops, and improve the
quality as much as we increase the
weight. 1t will pay to manure highly
with reliable, tried standard fertilizers
the remnant of the crop that can be
planted in time this year in Virginia
and North Carolina. We make to-
bacco that can be grown nowhere
else, and what we can raise will be
wanted at tremunerating rates.
The above suggestions are given for
what they are worth. and If they pos
sess no other merit they have at least
sincerity and the example of one whose
practice conforms to his recommeuda-
/ tions,
We must plant less and improve
both the quality and weight of oul
staple if expect better returns and
as the frost and bug leave US no alter
native but to circumscTibe and greatly
to lessen the average usually assigned
to this crop, we may, by pursuing
proper course, learn when we come tC
sell the crop of 1876, to view as 1
blessing what many now regard as {
misfortune. X. IL. RAGLAND.
Halifax, Va, May 10, 1876.