The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1885-10-02
HOW TO GROW TOBACCO.
Practical Directions by a Veteran Planter.

RALEIGH, \. c., September 1G 1885,
There are two kinds of soil favored by to
bacco farmers. One is the rich black o
dark brown soil, with a deep subsol o
gray the other a light top soil with sub
soil OF clay. South Carolina affords botl
these conditions. The former soil suits tn,
culture Of the heavy seed leaf; the lattc
is adapted to the now famous yellow o.
bright tobacco, which has brought so much
wealth TO North Carolina. and has actual,
revolutionizcd her agriculture in ten years
In South Carolina and North Georgia to
bacco can be grown successfully, and it i.
a question OF time only, and perhaps {
very short time, when that culture will he
an important part of agricultural enter
prise. 1t is doubtless the case that tn,
bright tobacco will be grown in your State
and as the directions for its cultivation
apply with practically equal force to ;hc
| dark tobacco they are given. These drec-
tlons are given by Il veteran tobrcco grower
in Granville, the most famous tobacco
growing county in the world
PREPARATION or SEED BEDS.
Select fine, gray moist spot, with sunny
exposure, along the holIows or near little
drains in the woods. Rake off the leaves
and lay down small pocs--about three
inches in diametcr-tour or five feet apart,
all over the size you wis, the bed Through
the middle, on a width Of eight or ten feet,
cover with wood eighteen or twenty inches
deep. Chink in with dry wood and brush
sufficient to burn till the '>kids' or poles
beneath are consumed. Now, with hooks
or hoes fastened to long handles, pull the
remaining wood and chunks in opposite
directions over space Of six or eight Feet
throw on enough wood to burn as before,
and SO continue till all the space is gone
over. Now clear off the chunks and Goals.
and hoe up with grubbng hoes to the dcpth
of about three inches, taking care to loosen
tic soil without bringing the clay to the
surface. Now make liberal application
OF hog pen or hen manure previously pre-
pared by chopping fine. This is then
chopped in with hilIing or wedding hoes
and the soil made perfectly fine by repeated
rakingS.
If the location is fiat lay off in beds six
feet wide, with small shallow trenches be-
tween for drains. If rolling, none will be
necd!l The bed is now ready for the
seed. Mix well in about peck Of ashes,
one tablespoonful Of seed to each forty
square yards Mark off with hoe or rake
handle in widths of about four feet. and
SOW over, using about half the seed then
.,,.. l. ..,~-. s''E Ht''Et '"'!. H'H
is done to secure regular seeding. Now
tramp the patch over with the feet or com
press the soil with small roller. cover
thickly with brush, fence in and ditch
around to keep off surface water.
TIME FOR rRErAnArIoN or BEDS.
The beds can be thus prepared at any
time. when q soil is sufficiently dry, from
the 9th Of November to the lst of March,
and no further attention will be needed till
the plants are we'll up and square or have
four leaves. At this stage the nursing
must begin. Sprinkle over at midday, or
early in the afternoon, some fine conccn-
tratcd fertilizer at the rate of half Il peek
per fifty square yards. once or twice a week =,
and increase the quantity as the plants
grow Fresh stable or hen manure, dried
in the sun and finely pulvcrizcd, and APP
piled at the rate Of half bu>hcl-morc
or less, according to strcngth-to the fifty
square yards is about the best substitute for
a concentrated fertilizer. The point is to
bring the plants on early, in time to trans.
plant, from the 1O.h to the 10Th Of May.
After the plants begin to cover the
ground remove the brush, pick uut the
grass and weeds continuing to manure as
before directed Not less than forty square
yards should be burned and seeded for
every acre allotted for the crop.
THE SOIL FOR THE CROP.
\ light gray sandy soil, with yellow clay
subsoil, is the iavoritc, but tol acco OF
equally fine texture and flavor is made on
fine white hrury land with similar Su;.soil
On any light, thin soil with growth oj
huckl cherry, sour>wood, chinIucpin, per
simmon, po>t-oak, black jack or either OF
them, the fine yellow will grow. Some OF
the best planters select old fields gIown W
in pines or broom-ScdSc These produce
the very brightest wrappers Of Il fine silky
texture, but generally the virgin woud-nn,
gives the desired texture, with more weigh
and elasticity.
FERTILIZERS.
4 liberal application Of fertilizers is NJ
important requisite. In the choice of fer
tiliZ9rS there is a difference of opinion
There arc dozen or more good varieties
Your rich phosphntcs, with special treat
mcnt, will give as good and satisfactory
fertilizer, perhaps. as the world affords
Homemade fertilizers, rich compost, Nc
are of special value, also.