The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-02-09
"If at first you don't succeed,
The CuIture of Tobaeco.
KNoxvILLE, Jam. 10, 1s76.

FROM tno CnronlcIc
KNOXVILLE, Jan. 10, 1876.
Col. John III. Crozjer: ,-, .,f .sr
DEAR SIR: You request me to
give you some information in regard
to the culture of tobacco in East
Tennessee, also the character of the
soil mostly adapted. to its growth,
etc. 1 find in my travels over East
Tennessee.. that we have the finest
lands in the world for the culture of
tobacco, The climate is far superi-
or to any other State in the Union,
and see no satisfactory.reaso why
this portion of the State should not
raise as fine tobacco-as Virginia or
North Carolina, and the conclusion
must be. that Her people are salts
fed to drag along in the old way
making scarcely anything for mar
ket, when they have all the natural,
facilities that q kind Providence can.
give them. here at their doors.
The cultivation of tobacco does
not conflict with any other crop but
on the contrary, It will wait for you.
In selecting spot for raising plants.
it should be in some loypiace where
the soil is very rich and free from
sand Ia dark loan is prefcrred).
New land is best. Scrape all the
leaves and trash off, and then have
your wood ready, and some clear
dry day, between the first of Janu..
ary and the first of March. you can
burn it. In all cases the land must
be dry. otherwise the fire will bake
it. AMI make it hard and cloddy.
After burning it should be dug up,
roots all eUt ont. and the land raked
until thoroE9hly pulverized. To
every one hundred square yards SOW
with the hand. mixed with ashes,
two tablespoonfuls of seed. treading
them in with the feet. After this is
done procure good straight brush,
and cover the entire bed. AS soon
as the frost is ouS of the ground in
the spring, remove the brush. and
sow over the bed a dressing of hen
house manure or gnano. Should the
spring be a dry one. tile young
plants should he watered; and if
the fly is troublesome apply little
coal oil and water by me ans of a
waiering-pot every morning until
they disappear. The planter then
should look about him for piece. of
land if for prime tobacco, select Il
new piece of land. where the sun
can shine on it all dav. If for.
heavy, coarse tobacco, gostou theariw-'
er and. creek bottoms.s Where the
soil is rich and light. the land should
be prepared in the winter or early
inithe spring by plowing deep. and
so thoroughly cultivated that when
tie piants are nearly ready ztegre-set
you can then. with alright plow . lay.
it off abohtt3l feet. eff yoiI can
cross it. and make a small hill on
the cross, leaving the hill peaked
and sharp. When your plants are
large ennngh aud you havesa season,
cut thisSh;lI half off and with small
stick to make a hole. iasert% the
plant. pressing the dirt to. the root
with the finger and thumb. But be-
fore going any further, | would sug-
gest that during. the winter .when-the
land is not in "a condition 10 work
the planter should collect together
logs sufficient to build him. a house
or houses for curing his tobacco.
Theacheapest house is one built of
logs about p feet long, which viii
give five facing tier. and will hold
more tobacco than, those sheds, espo-
ken of by some planters, These
houses must be chinked and daubed
with mud. The mode, Of cultivating
and cdrihgI will give you in another
letter. l am. very truly,
-A s5s5-' w. w. LEFTwTTcIT. I. J
COL. Leftwitch. The writer of tile
above letter, was engaaa n great
many years. in Virginia. she cul-
ture and manufacture Of tobacco,
and. we have no doubt, he thorough
ly understand what he writes about.
He came to East Tennessee several
gears .agoyso that he has become ac-
quainted with onr soil and cIinates
During all the time he has beelfhere
he has been engaged in the manu-
facture and sale of tobacco.
j. liz. c.