Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-04-23
How to Grow Tobacco.
By II. $. PoMERoY.

1t is the purpose of this article to
give as briefly as possible, u few
practical hints on the cultivation of
tobacco. | do not presume to in
struct experienced and successful
growers, but | may be able in some
degree, to assist those who are about
to begin the cultivation of the weed.
There are hardly ever two seasons
when the crop requires exactly the
same treatment; differences in the
seasons requiring different treatment,
and while the experienced grower
will use his best Judgment in the
matter, his efforts are not always
crowned with success. In favorable
seasons the crop will be good, even
though the grower be inexperienced
and to some extent negligent, while
if the season be bad, the most skill
ed and careful grower cannot make
a good crop. In growing tobacco
so much depends on what the wealth
er will be in the future, that il may
almost be said to be matter of luck
and chance whether the crop will be
a success or not. This is particular
/ ly true in regard to raising plants
and also the hanging and curing of
the crop. To have the plants ready
to transplant at the right time, and
when there are seasonable rains, and
to know how far apart to hang the
plants and how to ventilate the shed
so as to prevent white veins and
husky, papery leaf, if the season be
dry, and still avoid shedburn and
stem-rot if the season be damp, are
problems which cause the tobacco
grower no little anxiety, for very
often on their successful solution
depend the success or failure of his
crop. These statements need not
discourage the beginner, for, al
though it is almost impossible to
produce a perfect crop, it is very
seldom the crop is a total failure.
Out Of twenty-seven successive crops
which | have helped to raise in this
state, / have never known but one
total failure, viz: The crop of 1859
which was destroyed by frost on the
night of August 2Sth. All the rest
were paying crops The highest
price realized was four hundred dol.
lars per acre. The average for the
ast eighteen years being over one
hundred aud fifty dollars per acre.
The following hints may be of
use to beginners. In the first place
use good seed. The old fashioned
seedleaf which was formerly raised
in this state, has now almost entirely
given way to the variety known as
| Spanish or Havana seed.
THE PLANT BED.
Select rich, mellow piece of
ground as free from weed seed as
possible. Sow dry seed, as soon as
the ground is in order to work in
the spring, at the rate of one and
one-half tablespoons full to each rod
of ground. Pulyerize the ground
thoroughly and leave no low spots
for the water to stand Mark the
bed into strips about three feet wide
for sowing, and scatter the seed
evenly over the ground. After sow
ing, roll or tread the ground down
solid to prevent the top from drying.
Now cover lightly with straw or
marsh hay, being careful to use that
which is free from seed. Brush
with the leaves on make a good Gov
ering. When the plants are nicely
up rake off this covering, not all at
once, but the thickest first and the
balance in few days. BE sure and
keep the weeds carefully pulled from
| the bed. The black flea or bug, a
little larger than the head of a pin,
may appear as soon as the plants are
up. If the weather is good and the
plants stand thick on the bed these
bugs will probably do no damage.
If necessary sprinkle wood ashes
lightly over the bed when the dew
is on, or a tablespoon full of kero-
sene to a pail Of water, may be
sprinkled on the bed. When the
largest leaves are two and one-half
or three inches long the plants are
ready to set in the field.
Sowing sprouted seeds has Of late
become a common though not uni
versal practice. To do this, take
tin pan or a small box and fill with
rotted wood from a deoayed log.
Pulyerize finely and mix the seed
through. Keep moist and cover
with damp cloth and set in a warm
place to sprout, being careful not to
I'get too warm. When the seed be-
gins to sproGt, SOW IS above, raking
in Lightly. Some cover the plant bed
with cloth, as this hastens the
growth Of the plants. Unbleached
cotton cloth can be had at five cents
per yard by the piece of fifty yards
Two widths Of this cloth are sewed
together. Make long, narrow bed.
Set ten or twelve inch boards up