The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1890-02-12
New Ideas ON Tobacco Growing
and Curing.

ueScrlpb, worthless boDdccO IOulu OAl
all our markets; we stated the cause
to be due 10 faults that are INSOFAR
able from our present method d
curing the leaves on the stalk. II
the present chapter we will give oul
views for what they are worth about
| the feasibility of growing rich, wax,
leaves on other than virgin soil.
| We tried the experiment on an
old field that had been under The
plow and hoe for 100 years. Ii
fact, inay-pops and sassafras wert
the only things that would grow OF
it spontaneously, and from this ole
worn-out field, we grew a heavy
waxy tobacco that was manufactur.
ed into plug by itself and this sam.
plug made its mark, and 1t IS the
talk Of the town as being. the best.
favored waxy chew ever found on
enr market. First, We say that rich
waxy tobacco cannot be grown On
worn-out land with commercial fer
tilizer only.
The difference between old land
and virgin soil lies in the fact that
new soil is filled with the deposits
from decayed vegetation, from fallen
timber asd leaves for generations,
the top OF the soil IS loose, full OF
fibrous roots of trees, mulch of rot
ten leaves; the plant roots find their
way rapidly and easily to surprising
distances from the stein in search
of the food that noarishes them.
The leaves spread their porns sur
face TO the arr and sunshine equal
TO fifteen square feet IN an ordinary
plant of fourteen leaves. Iheroots
Of a thrifty plant covers is much
space under the ground ii the plant
il set in well pulYerized soil and IL
filled with decomposed vegetation.
The plan Of raising tobacco on
old land il of en- q failure by reason
| Of the hushandman not comprehend
ing the needs Of the plant lie essays
to grow. lie plows his land that's
void Of fertility Of any kind and
drops handfulof gnano III a bunch
and sets his plant upon il, the roots
Of which seize hold of the nourish-
ment and tie plant il soon found to
be club footed The roots which
should spread out over a space oi
fifteen square feet are in a scram-
Bile for q small handful Of concen-
trated chemical food, the only thing
| in its reach on which it can feed,
covering two feet square, perhaps.
Tie plant may succeed in attaining
a fair growth as to size, but when
| the virtue is TO be served, when the
oil, the wax, the gluten are called
for tho little clump of roots cover
ling two square feet cannot respond
and the plant tells the planter tina.
little was given and little was re-
| turned.
But how to get the old sell re-
newed is the rub. First grow q
crop Of tobacco on a field that has
the right grit, n clay subsoll is th,
best. You may grow the first croI
any way you choose. Have tn
rows straight and full four feet
apart. Set your plants 81 feet apart
| II your land is very poor use stable
manure il you have it, or guanoi
anything that will grow a thrifty
Tobacco stalk; get il in early. Com
mence taking off the leaves al tht
bottom as soon rs they are grown
and cure them on wires. Top th,
crop at 10 leaves. by the middle
of September the crop will be curet
and safe In bulk, where the color j
absolutely safe. Let every tahaes,
stump stand in the field. Bg thi
l30th of October there will be abou
four suckers three feet high on eacl
stump. These will be filled viii
lleayes and blossoms. Just befor
frost start 4 two-horse plow, chan
attached, along the line Of stalk
and suckers, close alongside the mex
, furrow will turn the stalks unde
and into the first furrow; then an
! other furrow up on The other sld
and thus make q ridge for mex
years row Of plants. You have nos
lowered a large mass Of vegetation,
! full-Iength tobacco stalk and four o
live suckers with q large mass D
green leaves. These contain All I'll
|. elements necessary to grow auolhe
g larger and better thu the old on
The elements are III d crude Stat,
!. leave the chemistry to the air, III
J water, and the sunshine: you wi
find the potash and the ammonia d
there. In the following June The
will Be found distributed just wfei
they are needed. The ammoniats
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