The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-09-17
-. rel.e. = Tebaccs naasang.

s~ue Pelnts sn Tobacco 1alsang.
Iss lamensabls fact that many % NE Arm-
ers in Western Florida, who have raised iohacco
within the last four year4 have been gresaly mis-
led with regard TO planting. curing and packing
II, by bad advice given BY outside persoas and
which advIce, when taken, has been largely 70
the disadvantage Of all concerned
Tobacco 10, In the majority Of cases, a. easily
grown and cared for as any staple crop; bat u
. lew small points are neglected n Ii ruined. 30
Il 10 with any crop. Labor and care must be ex-
ercised or no result Of value can Be achieved.
Theshief fault In the present mode Of growing
In florida b that the tobacco b neither graded
TO force II through the natural process called
E" sweating" which is process as necessary to II
a. planting, II remunerative prices arc expected.
II l. said that tO grow cotton the average cost
per acre IL $50. Nine-tenths OF the farmers who
have tried tobacco will estimate the cost per
acre at about the same figure. The average
yield per acre, sucker crop not considered, 10
perhaps 700 pounds, which would place the
price Of raising per pound al q little less than
three cents. To be on the safe side set The cost
at five cents per pound, or $35 per acre. Sup
pose, then, that the crop Is sold at Is cen,s as an
all around price this leaves a net profit of eight
cents per pound. or $5s per acre. Is there any
other crop that will pay as well for the time and
care used!
A farmer on going into tobacco growing must
make up his mind 10 devote AS much time and
care 10 it as to any other crop; and, further
more, TO sell it al reasonable price, allowing the
buyer margin as well as himself He can make
tobacco profitable crop, but he cannot make
large fortune in two or three years, Ms some have
been led to expect
In estimating the profits nothing has been said
about the sucker or second crop. This comes
an inferior grade can be grown with profit, il the
first crop is managed 50 as To allow fairly early
harvest. When well cared, for II will fully re-
pay the cost Of the first crop, thus leaving the
latter Is clear gain.
In the first place the young plants should be
started as early as posssibe after danger from
frost is over, from the third years seed tf topped
to or 10 leaves,) or from the second years seed,
(if topped TO 10 or IL lcaves,) grown from the
original Cuban seed. The seed OF the years
mentioned will produce the best weight, size and
quality of wrappers. When the plant developes
10 the time Of topping, not more than ten, and
better eight leaves, when growing from second
years seed, should he lett, which will cffectuay
prevent raising 80 many small leavcs-which
spos many crops now prOducrd-and will &C.
cure better fibre aud working capacity in the
leaf, and will raise greater number Of pounds
TO the acre. Let anyone who is incredulOus on
the latter point try it and be convinced When
the crop is cut il should lay in the field a half
hour to wilt to prevent breaking; and should
then be taken to the barns the stalk split and hung
on laihes, or in any convenient way, care being
taken TO leave ample room for thorough crcula-
ton of air through the tobacco as il hangs. AT
this point comes another error quite common
that OF splitting the stem instead OF the stalk.
Splitting the stems entails vast amount OF ex-
pensve, wasteful, and worse than useless labor
Ii spells the color, decreases the weight cOnsid
erably, and makes the leaf more brash and brit
Al. "a l. tins srSss.
ly for working. Splitting the stalk allows the
natural juices to flow into the leaf, giving il both
color and quality and elasticity II should be
kept in the dark constantly. The shed should
he cl.rsed in the day and open in the night,
(when The weather will permiI.) This is almost
the whole secret Of curing leaf 10 fine rich color,
and is the method followed by the best growers
of cigar tobacco all over the United States.
When it is properly cured, it Is 10 be taken
down and the leaves on each stalk put into .
hand by themselves and piled in rows or ranks
After il is in fit condition 10 Sort it should be
unbranded and sorted into four or five grades
~ fine or picked wrappers, ~ wrappers, 81
binders and filters. Each Of these grades should
be packed in a case by itself, when not in more
than medium case or dampness, and no COM
mon sized case in any instance should contain
less than from 800 TO $50 pounds To get this
quantity into case lever or press must be
used aud no fear need be entertained that the
W
make the leaf saleable, a merit which very little
Florida leaf now possesses. Such thing as rot
ted leaf, when not originally packed too damp,
is an impossibility. Tight packing, in the man.
ner above described, forces the tobacco into q
sweat, and will make il fit for working in eight
or ten months in this climate, and in a few in
stances somewhat before that time. If these
hints are regarded properly, and ordinary care is
used, good crop of tobacco is as sure "a any
other planting In addition, il will be saeable,
and sample from a properly packed case will
insure a sale every time. Buyers will look at it
In different way from that in which they re-
gard the almost useless mixtures evolved by the
present method of packing Leaf tobacco well
handled is crop easily sold, and good wrappers
invariably find quick market, while binders
and filters produced by allowing sixteen or
eighteen leaves 10 grow on a stalk, are cOmpar-
aively slow sale, and go ut low prices The
reason farmers find il necessary-as they think
TO split the stems, is because they allow so
many leaves to stay on stalk that they can't
cure them the proper color by any other means.
This article is written by invitation, but also
with a view 10 render some assistance, if posi-
Bile, in pushing tobacco growing In Florida, out
of its present stagnant condition. The writer
does not arrogale TO himself a perfect knowledge
Of the methods OF farming necessary in Florida,
aud peculiar to this particular country, but has
endcavOred to give general outline of the pro-
cess used successfully i'm all the States where
cigar tobacco is raised. If there are any great
objections TO the mode described, let them he
heard TOBACCO
A Good Word for COiaOm Seed.