Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-03-17

but will be occupied for The time
being with only that portion OF the
subject which covers the period at
hand.
AS the time ls rapidly approaching
when tobacco growers will be com
PEELED to begin their preparations for
the coming season, We present our
first instalmcnt Of the general ques-
tion Of tobacco growing. Lancaster
county has assumed such a command
ing position for the extent, excellence
and value of her tobacco product,
that the methods practiccd by her
growers must Of necessity be valua-
ble TO growers elsewhere, especially
TO those whose experience has been
limited and who are not yet thor
oughly posted in the most approved
modes of tobacco culture. There are
perhaps thousands of growers 10
whom what we shall say will convey
no new information. 1t is not for
such that these chapters are prepar-
ed, but for those in other and newer
districts. who, while anxious To grow
an article that shall command the
highest market price, have neither
had the required experience nor re-
quisite opportunities for personal OBJ
| servation 10 enable them 10 do SO.
GOOD SEED.
In order TO grow good tobacco, it
is essential that nothing be left 10
chance. Every step OF the process
must be taken with the final result in
view. A defective link anywhere in
the seasons chain may render all
previous or future efforts useless, and
render the campaign a failure. II is
therefore OF the highest Importance
! that Il correct start is made if final
success is To be hoped for. 1t is true
that accident or a favorable season
may compensate for blunder or two,
but the tobacco grower must not rely
upon any such stray contingencies.
Good healthy, vigorous seed must
he had TO start with. Too little at
tention is paid TO this apparently
small but very important matter by
many tobacco growers even here in
Lancaster county. At the proper
season. which is Of course topping
time, the strongest and best plants
should be allowed TO develop their
flower stem. Not all the seed pods
/ must be allowed TO mature. All Of
them except about a dozen at the top
must be removed. This will insure
much better and stronger seed, and
consequently more vigorous plants,
a most important consideration at all
I times and in certain seasons decisive
Of the quality and value Of the crop.
II would not be aniss if every seed
( plant had a stake driven into the
/ ground by its side, 10 which it could
/ he tied and thus be secured against
I damage from storms Of wind. The
/ pod worm should be carefully search
Cd for and destroyed. When the
bolls have turned black or dark
brown the spike containing them
must be cut off and hung mp in dry
/ place, with the tops downward, and
here they must bc left until the time
/ for sowing them comes round. New,
I fresh seed should always have the pre-
ference it can be told by its dark
brown color it grows lighter in color
as ii grows older. A few growers
have suggested, and, we believe. prac-
/ ticed, the planting of few old seeds
along with fresh ones in order to
have better succession of plants
when the time comes for setting them
out and in case they should be needed.
Old seed, however, must not be
regarded as valucless. 1t preserves
| its vitality five or more years. A
good test is to throw some on hot
stove if il crackles or pops it may
/ be sown with confidence. There is
an opinion current that the quality
of tobacco will gradually deteriorate
unless renewed from outside sources
every year. There are no good rea-
sons TO believe this of any of the
varieties cultivated herewith the
Pennsylvania seed leaf or the
"Glesner" varieties. Farmers. We
believe, have it in their power to keep
up and even improve the varieties
they have by careful cultivation. The
plants set apart for seed should stand
near each other; this enables the
winds and insects to carry the pollen
from one to the other more readily,
and thus effect more complete fruc-
tilication. This plan ought TO be
observed instead of the present plan
of letting the seed plants stand in
every part OF the field. These are
apparently trihing points, but they
all contribute their due share to the
ultimate success Of the grower who
observes them carefully.