The Grenada gazette., 1888-06-02
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
Tobacco Culture.

-'lE ElNlGt 10 luS -
thai Is soon as the plant is we'll estab-
lisrcd in its new home the soil should
boloossned around the plants with the
hoe. II this is not done the soil forms
a hard crast on the top that often cuts
the plant of a. il grows Care should
be used not to break the plant loose.
Tobacco should be cultivated every
eight or at most every ten days until
too large to get through between the
rows without breaking the leaves too
much. blink the more this crop Is
worked, if done properly and at the
right time. the heavier and finer the
tobacco. Tobacco seems to be one OF
the crops that does best il hoed a great
deal, and might be almost termed
hoed crop. From my experience in
cultivating tobacco l fud there is a
certain stage in its growth that IT
should be topped to make the best
leaf If you will notice. the first four
or five leaves of the plant are smaller;
these should be taken off Then, after
the next ten leaves. thev grow smaller
rs they near the top Now. to top the
plant as soon as you can, at ten leaves
after the smaller ones are taken of,
we have the best part of the plant
S me growers top the plant at four
teen 10 sixteen leaves, but from my
observation in this respect l find to-
bacco not so heavy or as large a leaf
BY this plan. besides having more
leaves 10 keep worms off of and more
leaves to handle in stripping and
otherwise handling.
De attention must be given to
worming DESTROYING all eggs that can
be found. The fl cs most usually lay
their eggs on top Of the leaf have
not tried it myself. but some hav g
planted jamestown weed in their to-
bacco fields and then put fly poison in
the blossoms with good IF ct 1t is
mnr. tedious to keep the small worms
# but ii hey are left to grow larger
they will iujurc the looks Of the leaf
greatly.
4, soon as the suckers are large
enough 10 take IF handily they should
be laken of that the strength of the
roots may so to the leaf Tobacco of
mos, varieties will usually sucker tonr
times At the leaf. but will sucker al
the ground until the roots die. They
must he kept OF until the crop is cut.
| have left them to grow sometimes
when my crop was late. They cause
the crop to ripen earlier which it
should be to make it cure up well;
neither do | think thcv draw as heav-
iIy as the first suckers thai come on
the plant.
Tobacco should never be cut soon
afer heavy rain; it will wash the
gun of. and the leaf viii be thin and
weigh light Tire. OF four nights
heavy dews will make it all right.
When convenient. it is best to put the
crop in the bNu as it is cut. arranging
the sticks eight inches apart. 1t save:
much re-handling. which must neces
sarIIv brursp the leaf some; besides,
it takes moro labor 10 put it first on
scatfods. Some prefer 'yellowing
their .obacco on 4 scatfnld before put
ting in the barn. bu' | do not To
bacco should not hang long ii
the barn before fire is put under it. A
soon as it shows signs Of yeltowins
commence firing. aud here is whert
some skill - well ns knowledge is re
req riIrd. II avy fires should b. pu
under and It allowed to lower mucl
for SIX or eight days, or until wei
cured Aft the fire once dies dowI
and The tobacco comes in case it Il
dag ccsous to fir any more. If brigh
tobuco is drsjre |. then the tobacco
shouId get well ycltowcd before fire il
put nn1er it.
A. .por as tobacco is well cured i
ohoulG be Stripped. l prefer selling
befur. Christmas. | take y dolla
less pr hundred. rather han sill j
late in the spring, Tobacco loSr.
greatly in going III and out Of order
prefer 10 sci round rather than sci
the rush at one price, Jugs at anolhe
and lcaf at another. Selling roun,
will give the best Satisfac ion as TO th
way it is classod.
In stripping make as many grade
as you have distinct classes. This !
impor ant. as manufacturers can no
handle mixed tobacco without pains i,
sorting that the farmer ought to tax
and save to himself the better price h
obtains In culling. put the groun,
leaves in one ella Soften you will dt
as we'll TO throw them away-th
worm eaten and Ill damaged leaves i
another class. the best leaves the
should be c'assrd rs 10 lrng h AM
color. Baking tobacco in safc-kecp
ing Order requires j 'dsmcnt and care
as all past good care may be lost il
this finishing operation. Cor. South
srn CulttUator.