Sharp County record., 1888-05-31
.OUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
Tobacco Culture.

mn hoe. If this is not done the soil forms
Tie "a hard crust on the top that often cuts
iss the plant off as it grows Care should
is1. be used not to break the plant loose.
Tobacco should be cultivated every
EIGHT or at most every ten days until
TOO large 10 get through between the
Rows without breaking the leaves too
much. think 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
il- Tho ci@ps that does best if hoed n great
IT, sdeal and might be almost termed
"a hoed crop From my experience in
90 'cnltivating tobacco | find there is a
le- certain stage in its growth that it
on should be topped to make the best
7mt leaf If you will notice, the first four
lH7- or five leaves of the plant are smaller;
these should be taken off Then, after
t1r. the next ten leaves, they grow smaller
oa as they near the top Now, to top the
htI plant as soon as you can, at ten leaves
77 after the smaller ones are taken off,
rev we have the best part of the plant
iioE Some growers top the plant at four
teeu 10 sixteen leaves, but from my
ld- observation in this respect l find to-
jo bacco not so heavy or as large a leaf
TICK by this plan, besides having more
-er- leaves to keep worms off of and more
II leaves to handle in stripping and
otherwise handling
p, b, Due attention must be given to
lJr worming, DESTROYING all eggs that can
- be found, The les most usually lay
IN, their eggs on top of the Leaf. have
i. not tried it myself, but some hav e
planted jamestown weed in their to-
haceo fields and then put fly poison in
the blossoms with good effect 1t is
.' more tedious to keep the small worms
-.- fl, but if they are left to grow larger
u they will injurc tho looks of the leaf
u, greatly.
* As soon as the suckers are large
enough to take off handily they should |
an be taken off that the strength of the
ny roots may go to the leaf Tobacco of
ugn most varieties will usually sucker four
liar times at the leaf but will sucker at
l'the ground until the roots die. They
nat must be kept off until the crop is cut.
IisnI have left them to grow sometimes
agsuhcn my crop was late. They cause
the crop TO ripen earlier, which it
ucll should be to make it cure up well;
LJ&neither do think they draw as hcav-
lily as the first suckers that come on
mi5he plant,
nd Tobacco should never be cut soon
dE after heavy rain; it will wash the
Vihgum off, and the leaf will be thin and
weigh light Three or four nights
,as lcavy dcws will make it all right
looEWhen convenient. it is best to put the
,rop in the barn as it is cut, arranging
vaHl he Sticks eight inches apart. 1t saves
ozHnuch re-handling, which must neces-
der iarily brulse the leaf some; besides,
got ttakes more labor TO put it first on
lnoBcaffolds. Some prefer "yellowing"
o d. heir tobacco on a scatfold before put
! ling in the barn. but l do not To-
an ,acco should not hang long in
err lie barn before fire is put under it, AS
N loon as it shows signs of following
ommenee firing and here is where
-, rome skill as well as knowledge is re-
, 5I,equired. Heavy fires should b. put
-, nder and not allowed to lower much
5-i risk or eight days, or until well
tlred. After the fire once dies down
= :, nd the tobacco comes in case it is
=. rangcrous to fire any more If bright
@ -, ,bacco is desired, then the tobacco
l,I ilould get we'll yellowed before fire is
1T under it, .
AS soon as tobacco is well cured it
lould be stripped. l prefer selling I
efore Christmas, if | take dollar >
HISS per hundred rather rno lhen 'Tln insos 80
On' lte in the spring. 1ooacco lo'o'
q h'reatly in going in and out of order.
rua prefer to sell round rather than sell
ms he Trash at one price, lugs at another
s nd leaf at another. Selling round
,or viii give the best satisfaction as 10 the
z way it is classod.
lt'i In stripping make as many grades
IS Won have distinct classes Ihls Is
Jsaa important, as manufacturers can not
.ort ,andle mixed tobacco without pains in
Nc iorting that the farmer ought to take
nee md save to himself the better price he
1la obtains. In culling, put the ground
caves in one class-often you will DO
le,s well TO throw them aWay-'ne
,the worm. eaten and all damaged leaves IN
nee mother class, the best leaves then
. d ,hould be classed as to length and
p color. Bulking tobacco in saie-Neop-
thsing order requires judgment and care
ood. as all past good care may be lost IN
led this finishing operation. Cor. So"'"-
vgr7 ern CuItivator.
rnik