Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-21

and the quality. Taking the average
yield and the average quality very small
margin of profit will be secured. But
! when good quslity is raised so that q
price considerably above the average can
be obtained, or when heavy yield can
be made, very fine profit can be real
lied.
The kind and quality of the soil have
much TO DO with the quality of the crop.
| As an instance of this white hurley to-
bacco, if grown on strong, ricF, rather
J black loamy soil, produces tobacco that
| is considered too strong, while if the
same variety is planted in 8 lighter soil,
such as we have in many parts of Mis-
souri,, this quality is much better. 1t is
therefore important to understand first
| the variety of tobacco that is best adapt
F., &c to your soil and locality. The soil
| should be dry and warm, contain consId-
| cradle lime and lye. if possible, reasopa-
bly, well protected from high winds.
As with most special crops, some ex-
perience is necessary to handle properly,
and for this reason the bstter plan is to
begin on a small scale and then gradually
increase the acreage as experience is &C.
quired. This will lessen tn chances of
failure.
Plenty of fertilizers should be used
Like cabbage, rhubarb, asparagus and
onions, tobacco is grass feeder, and if
the best growth is obtained plenty of
fertilizers must be used. Stable or farm
yard manure and everything else that
will add TO tie supply of available plant
food should be applied. Nitrate of soda
or any material containing a good per-
centage of phosphates can always be ap-
nlia6 Whotayar IL usad sbould
be thoroughly incorporated with the soil.
When it can be done the ground should
be we'll ploughed in the fall, the manure
applied during the winter and then thor
oughly worked in with the soil by Guilt
waiting and narrowing. 1t is essential
that good care be taken in this respect;
for the plant food must be placed in an
available form if any considerable amount
of benefit is to be derived.
Ia the spring the first important work
to be done is the preparation of the seed
bed and the sowing of the seed to secure
the. plants. The bed should be as free
of seeds and grass seeds as possible. The
plants will not make a satisfactory growth
among weeds or grass, and 1t is import
ant TO have strong, vigorous plants. One
of the best plans of making a seed-bed is
to take piece of new land, plough or
spade up thoroughly and then pile up
lot of brush all over the bed aud set it
afire. The object is to destroy the weed |
seeds, and for this purpose the heat
should be kept up fOe some time, usually
about an hour. This can be done either
before or after spading up. The more |
thoroughly the weed-seeds are destroyed
the easier will be the task of getting
good plants. When the condition of the
soil will permit, the seed bed should be
made reasonably early in March, if pos
sible; if not, early in April. Take pains
to do thorough work, getting the soil in
the very best filth. The seed is very fine
and if a good termination is to be Sc
cured it will be necessary to have the |
soil thoroughly prepared.
One ounce of seed will, under average
conditions, make plants enough to set
out three acres of land. 1t is difficult to
SOW the seed evenly, because they are so /,
small, and many prefer TO mix them with |
about twice their bulk of finely pulveriz-
ed soil, taking plants to SOW as evenly as
possible. The seeds are slow TO germi |
nate and will require from II to 20 days,
depending upon the warmth of the soil
and the season. If the bed should get
dry it will pay to water it. To prevent
the plants taking too spiudling a growth
care shoBld be taken to thin out, leaving
plants about an inch apart. This work
can be done with sharp toothed rake
and will always pay with the better plants
that will result. After the plants are u p
we'll, sprinkle over them mixture of
ashes and plaster. This will be found
necessary to protect from the tobacco
fly that often causes considerable damage
to the young plants.