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

RALEIGH, N. c., September 16 1885
There are two kinds of soil favored by to
bacco farmers. One is the rich black OF
dark brown soil, with a deep subsoil o
gray; the other light top soil with sub
soil OF clay. South Carolina affords botf
these conditions. The former soil suits tn,
culture of the heavy seed leaf; the latte,
is adapted to the now famous yellow OF
bright tobacco, which has brought so much
wealth to North Carolina, and has actual,
revolutionized her agriculture in ten years
In South Carolina and North Georgia to
bacco can be grown successfully, and it is
question Of time only, and perhaps q
very short time, when that culture will he
an important part of agricultural enter.
prise. 1t is doubtless the case that the
bright tobacco will be grown in your State,
and as the directions for its cultivation
apply with practically equal force to :ne
dark tobacco they arc given. These direc-
tlons are given by veteran tobacco grover
in Granville, the most famous tobacco
growing county in the world
PREPARATION OF SEED BEDS.
Select fine, gray moist spot, with sunny
exposure, along the holows or near little
drains in the woods. Rake off the leaves
aud lay down small poles--about three
inches in diameter-four or five feet apart.
oil over the size you wish the bed. Through
the middle, on 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 'skids' 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 az before.
and SO continue till all the space is gone
over. Now clear off the chunks and Goals,
and hoe up with grubbing hoes to the depth
OF about three inches, taking care to loosen
tie soil without bringing the clay to the
surface. Now make a liberal application
OF hog pen or hen manure previously pre-
pared by chopping 6ue. This is then
chopped in with hillng or wedding hoes
and the soil made perfectly fine by repeated
rakings.
1t the location is fiat lay off in beds six
feet wide, with small shallow trenches be-
tween for drains. If rolling, none will be
need ID. The bed is now ready for the
seed. Mix well in about a 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
over, using about half Gsaas the seed thaa
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.
TINE FOR PREPARATION OF BEDS.
The beds can be thus prepared at any
time, when IT, G soil is sufficiently dry, from
tho 18th Of November to the 1st 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 couccn-
trated fertilizer at the rate of half peck
per fifty square yards, once or twice week +,
and increase the quantity as the plants
grow. Fresh stable or hen manure, dried
in the sun and finely pulverized, aud ap-
piled at the rate Of half bushel-more
or less, according to slrength-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 10th to the Goth Of May.
After the plants begin to cover the
ground remove the brush, pick out 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.
A light gray sandy soil, with yellow clay
subsoi, is tho favorite, but tobacco OF
equally fine texture and flavor is made on
fine white foury land with similar suhsoil
On any light, thin soil with growth OF
hucklsberry, sour-wood, chinquepin, per-
simmon, post-oak, black jack or either OF
them, the fino yellow will grow. Some OF
the best planters select old fields grown uE
in pines or broom-sedge. These produce
the very brightest wrappers of 6ne silky
texture, but generally the virgin woodland
gives the desired texture, with more weight
aud elasticity.
FERTILIZERS.
A liberal application Of fertilizers is az
important requisite In the choice Of fer.
tilizers there is a difference of opinion
There arc dozen or more good varieties
Your rich phosphates, with special treat
ment, will give as good and satisfactory I
fertilizer, perhaps. as the world affords
Homemade fertilizers, rich compost, &c.
are of special value, also.
PREPARING TIE GROUND FOR THE PLANTS
New woodland, or 'piney' old field, re
quire the same preparation in winter o.
early spring as for corn or cotton.
In March or April the soil should b,
made fiue by repeated dragging or plough
ing. Now, with shovel plough, lay of thu