Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-11-13

Tobacco was almost the first crop
that engaged the attention of the early
Settlers OF this country. 1t probably
exerted more influence Oh the settle
ment OF the country than any other
vegetable production. The colonists in
Virginia and Maryland relied on it
chiefly for support. For nearly a cen
fury it generally took the place of
money. In some cases taxes were paid
in tobacco. Ministers received their
salaries in tobacco, and in Virginia
brides were bought for a given number
OF pounds of tobacco. The. colonists
OF jamestown gave SO much attention
to raising tobacco that they neglected
the culture of food crops, and we're at
time in danger of starvation. The ru1-
crs Of the colony found it necessary to
compel the settlers to plant a certain
amount Of land each year to food crops
III order to prevent distress among the
people. The early prosperity Of Vir-
ginia was largely due to the production
OF tobacco, a large proportion of which
was sent to Europe. The first settlers
of Maryland became rich by raising to-
bacco. In early days tobacco was by
far the most profitable crop in Ken
lucky and Tennessee, as it could be
transported down the Mississippi and
it's tributaries to New Orleans to much
better advantage than grain. The first
settlers of Illinois and Missouri found
tobacco to be the best market crop, and
it eNerted q powerful influence on the
settlement of those states.
The cultivation of tobacco in the
northern states is Of somewhat recent
origin. For more than a century it
was raj Il TO Il limited extent for home
consulh ION in Pennsylvania and New
York, ouU it did not take its place
among Inc crops raised for market till
the period OF the late civil war. Some
experiments made in the valley of the
Connecticut river We're very successful.
A leaf was produced which was very
desirable tor cigar-wrappers. 1t is
somewhat deficient in fine flavor, but it
is large, strong, thin, and free from
blemlshes. For the purpose for which
it is generally used it is superior to the
tobacco produced in any other part of
the world. The culture OF tobacco was
undertaken in Michigan and Wisconsin
almost as 0 o as these states were set
tied. and has continued till the present
time. In several counties in Wisconsin
1t has during the past few years become
u leading crop Tor the market. Inmany
places it has taken the place OF hops,
that We're till lately extensively cult
waited. The seasons are so short that
it is necessary to cut and house the
DlnntS bnf0rn thnv bava ohtoinad tl,ai,.
full growth, in order to escape injury
from the frost. Still the crop is a prof
table one, as is shown by the prosperity
Of the farmers engaged in raising it.
A ride through the tobacco-raising dis
tricts Of Wisconsin will convince any
one that the farmers are accommodating
wealth.
Although tobacco is of tropical or
sub-tropical origin, experiments have
demonstrated that it can be produced
IN every state and territory in the coun-
try. Perhaps it can not be proiitabIy
produced in all of them, but this fact
has never been determined. No plant
is as greatly influenced by peculiarities
OF soil and climate as tobacco. Ne
teorological observations and soil anal
Uses have accomplished very little to-
ward determining whether a good quail
ity of tobacco can be produced in a
given locality. Experiments are nee
essary to decide this matter. That
there are many places in the country
capable OF producing as fine tobacco as
any ever raised in Connecticut OF North
Carolina is very likely. Considering