The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-01-10


tobacco, and every year the area of ground
i'll which it is planted is extended. In 1919,
it is stated, the crop of seed leaf in Con- I
necticut, Ohio and Pennsylvania was set
down ut 5000 cases, one-tMrd Of which was .
exported and the rest sold nj from II to Ii
cents per pound to spectators. In 1850
Pennsylvania grew $500 cases, the largest
crop grown in the State up to that time.
Since that time there has been an annual
increase, the crop Of 1879 being the largest
yet reported.
At the commencement of the tobacco sea-
son this year, the farmers in the counties of
Lancaster, York, Lebanon and Chester We're
greatly troubled with the cut-worm, and i'll
some instances it become necessary to re-
plant two or three times Then came the
dry spell, which lasted until nearly the
middle OF July, and during all this time it
was thought by many that the crop would
I've Il failure. but the rains which came near
the close Of July had the effect of giving new
life to the plants, and 1T the end of the sea-
son the crop was found 70 he one OF the best
Yet produced.
The good quality of the tobacco here, it is
said, is owing to the fact that stable manure
is used, instead of GGano and other fertili-
zers, rs is the practice in Connecticut and
other States. II is estimated that the crop
of 1879 in Lancaster, York and Lebanon
will amount to co. 900 cases of loo pounds
each, being one of the largest crops ever
grown in these counties Half of this
amount has already been purchased by
dealers principally those in Lancaster, and
the other half is fast coming into market.
The price for this crop ranges frOE u to 80
! cents per pound for tobacco suitable for
| wrappers: S to 10 cents for seconds, and
about cents for filters. A large quantity
! of the tobacco is used in the country for the
manufacture of cheap ci CARS, this being one
| of the largest revenue districts, far rs
this article is concerned, i'll the country.
| The entire production this year, according
! to the estimate made by those most familiar
| with the business, is over n, 10000 pounds,
which will yield ill the neshborhood of So
| 900, 900.
The farmers engaged in the business plant
| from to 40 acres: and, in good season, they
| expect to gather from 1900 to 2aA9 pounds
from each acre, which yields them from 5000
to 800, according to the quality Of the to-
/ hacCo. The tobacco, when growing, looks
like hardy weed, and not at ali :! nasty
ono, but it is subject to many miShapS if not
nursed and watched with great care. In the
first place the land must be rich, and if
planted i'll tobacco every year, heavily ma
nured after each crop. The seed is planted
beds, and the yollng plant is set oat from
the last of May until late in July, i'll rows
81, feet apart, the plants from ID lSinches
apait.
The work of caring for the tobacco com
menceS soon after planting and continues
almost without intermission until delivered
into ;he warehouses of the purchaser. The
ground must not only be kept clear of weeds
and well cultivated, but the worm, the worst
enemy Of the plant must be watched for
and killed rs soon as found. If these pests
TO the tobacco grower are allowed TO remain
. ! until they attain any size they would ruin
the leaf by eating holes in ii, and thus de-
stroy it for use us wrappers for cigars. In
some places turkeys are used TO destroy the
worm. The turkey not only seems to have
Il quick eye for the worm, but voracious
appetite tor them, swallowing them as il
the ugly green things Were of the most
dainty character. The tobacco is cut about
the last of August, and then hung in build
ings TO dry. These buildings are thorough
ly ventilated, having generally Slated open,
ingS that can he closed or opened rs the
weather is favorable unfavorabe for dry
ing purposes. The tobacco is CAREFUL =
watched until ready for stripping.
The tobacco barn Is now one of the I'M
portant features connected with the bust
ness. Tic old style of using wagon sheds
! garretS, or any old building, has nearl!
or are now being, erected are large ant
costly. All these barns have cellars, which
are indispensable for preparing the leaf 10
market, for it permits the removal of tbs
tobacco from the laths when in strippn:
> condition, and its remaining in that condi
ton until the grower has time to prepare i
for sale.
The farmers before selling assert the tC
( baccn, us to have the same size and color
but when the dealer gets it he rcaSSorts Thu
leaf before packing Each bundle Of hal
= dozen leaves is shaken up and examined
and if all the leaves are of the same color
size, and quality, it is allowed to pass. The
deficient leaves are taken out and gradct
afterwards separately. Every pound is thu
handled, the lower grades, of course, no
with the same care, and each grade i, pm
in a case to itself, Il sample Of it being KEEP
ont, the sales being made by the sample
during the summer before the sweating pro
cess has been completed. But if he hold
on 10 his tobacco until the fall or winter, j
has to he re-inspected by regular inspectors
who are recognized by the trade, and TIN
samples selected by them used for sell
ing purposes.
In the counties Of Lancaster, York, Cum
berland and Perry, there are great man,
hands employed in the manufacture of SC
garS and in Lancaster alone $50. 900 wortl
of Se.ar stamps We're used III Septembe
last, which is equivalent to Il sale of ST., 900,
900 SegarS The total amount of revenue
collected from the Sesar industry Of thi
district for the fiscal wear ended June ;i0th
1870. was 800, S,ii, showing a production o
SegarS amounting to Il hundred and sixteer
million eight hundred and eleven thousand
Mr.. +. Il. Diffenderfcr, in recent repor
to the State Board of Agriculture, state
that tobacco can be grown successfully
wherever Indian corn will mature. As
rule, wherever the mean temperature dur
ing the month of July is as much as 6St
Fahrepheit, tobacco can be grown. From
this it will be seen that among the Northern
States, nearly, if not all New England, cen
trail New York, Ohio southern Michigan
Indiana, Illinois, and parts of Iowa an,
Wisconsin are adapted to its cultivation
perhaps quite as well as Kentucky and Viz
gnia, unless III seasons of unusually earl,
tro>ts. But even this disadvantage can b
overcome, by a calpfIl selection of the pro
per varieties and acclimatzat!on. South
ward of course, there is no limit, il i
able to bear any degree of heat Or humidt,
the tropics have TO offer, Were it not 10
our more variable climate, there exists Ii,
known reason why brands as choice as an,
grown in Cuba might nnt tie grown in Penn
Svivania. The readiness with which Cuban
varieties adapt themselves to our nor
northern climate is another evidence of tn
remarkable degree Of adaptahility possesse,
hv this plant Temperature is the grea
regulator, and We may set 1t down as
pretty safe rule, that wherever trosts do no
occur between the middle Of May and TIL
y middle Of September, say Il p2riod Of on
hundred and twenty days. tab;rrco CROWN
can he successfully carried Oil, He ais
states that the area of tobacco cultivation i
gradually extending to portions of the Stat
where its culture WAS unknown hitherto
Lycoming and Clinton counties now boaS
Of Il very fair acreage, and some of TIL
fields compare very favorahly with those q
Lancaster and York. Its cultivation ha
also been commenced in Westmortlar
county.
- There is still IN Lancaster from 600 t
5000 cases of the crop Of 1873.
\AMELOC.
Strange Story of Bank Note.