Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-04-30
How to Grow Tobacco.
BY II. 5. poMERoY.

from the 10th to the 25tt of June,
but may be set earlier or later. 1t is
usually done Immediately after a
rain Pull the plants from the bed,
being careful to get good roots, pre-
serving the little fberous roots as
much as possible. Unless the bed
is mellow and thoroughly soaked,
use a table fork or sharp stick to pry
out the plants, to insure good roots
Keep the plants straight, the roots
all one way, and do not get the
leaves muddy. Make the hole for
setting with the finger, about as deep
as the length of the root. If the
root is too long pinch off the end.
Always keep the root straight. II
it is doubled up in setting, the plant
cannot start good, Never set the
plant deeper than it was in the bed,
unless it be long and spindling.
Press the soil firmly around the
roots and be sure aud fill the bottom
of the hole. Let no small plants,
leaves or weeds cling to the roots
when set, Should there be no rain
when the plants are ready to set,
then Watering out should be resorted
TO- Soak the bed well and pull the
plants with q table fork Keep the
plants straight and dip the roots into
water. Let them drain a minute
and place carefully in basket with
the roots towards the center. Take
lath or other stick and break the
crust in the center of the hills, but
DO not make deep holes. Now pour
about half a pint of water in each
Hill. la about ten or fifteen minutes
set the plant. Set while the dirt is
still sticky but not too soft. BY
having one to so ahead and water
the hills, the settlers can follow AZ
the right distance to have the soil
in right condition. Do rot water
after setting, as it will do more
harm than good. Tobacco carefully
watered out in this way will do near.
ly or quite as well as when set after
a rain, but will require more labor
Do not set large and small plants
together but have them of even size
DO not let the plants wilt or the
roots dry after pulling and before
setting.
CULrIyArING TOBACCO.
As soon as the ground is dry
enough after setting, the cultivation
should begin. The Horse Foe is
the best tool for this purpose. Cul-
tivate if possible as often as once a
week till the tobacco is too large to
get a horse through. The cut-worm
will generally appear as soon as the
tobacco is set. They are usually the
worst on sod. The green worm will
appear before the tobacco is large
enough to top, and sometimes as
soon as it has fairly commenced to
grow. When there are holes in the
leaves look for worms on the under.
side of the leaves. These worms
are not usually bad in this state, but
some seasons are quite numerous,
and should be attended TO. Grass
hoppers will be likely to do more or
less damage, II there is grass or
small grain adjoining the tobacco
field. Ii convenient plant corn next
to toe tobacco, as il makes a good
wind-break, and keeps out grasshop-
pers. Top as soon as the bud is
fairly out and before the plant is in
full bloom. Top pretty low, taking
out say five or nix leaves so that
when ripe the top leaves will be
well filled out, and not small and
narrow. Many make the mistake
Of topping too high, thus gaining
nothing in weight, and losing in
quality. In topping be careful not
to tear or mangle the leaves which
are left on the stalk, as q small hole
at this time becomes a large one
when the leaf is filed out. Soon
after topping the suckers will begin
to grow just above each leaf. When
large enough these must be carefully
broken off. Ia from ten to eighteen
days after topping, according to the
weather, the tops will be filled ont,
and the tobacco assume a mature ap-
pearance. 1t is then ready to harvest.
HARVESTING.
The harvesting is usually done
with a knife made for the purpose.
A broken hoe blade is cut from the
eye down, and these viii make two
knives. Drill two holes near the
upper edge Of each piece. Saw a
scarf in the large end Of buggy
spoke, or other piece Of hard wood,
insert the hoe blade and fasten with
rivets. A broken saw blade or other
piece Of thin steel may be used in
stead Of the hoe blade. 4 knife
made in this way is better than a
hatchet, as it does not jar the plant
and break off the leaves. Cut close
to the ground so that no leaves re.
main on the stub, and lay carefully
on the ground, keeping the leaves
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