The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-07-11
TOBACCO NOTES.

then l prefer strong pocket
knife or pruning knife. Don't split
the stalk, but cut it off carefully an0
remove worthless leaves, suckers
and worms and lay it on grassy
place, not in the rain or sun. Begin
about 4 p. M, unless you are favored
with cloudy morning. 1t is fatal
to have it sunburn, and it is liable
to burn in ten or fifteen minutes by
10 or IL o'clock a. IN. sun. When
it is wilted lay it carefully on your
wagon first putting little straw on
the bottom) and haul it in to the
barn and lay it off on a clean place
on straw or rug-when it should be
spread on laths and put on the poles
at once, for it must not lay horizon
tally in heaps over warm night, for
it will heat and spoil. If needful to
leave over night spread or stand it
against the wall with stems upward,
permitting the heat to escape.-B.
F. Noodle.
There is a little pea-green grass
hopper prowling around the crown
Of our tobacco stalks and eating
holes. They are small it is true, but
in due course Of time become huge
in dimensions, so large that the leaf
is no longer considered under the
head of wrappers. Kill all of them,
and the sooner done the better.
Fields must be kept thoroughly
cultivated, and free from weeds.
The soil should be kept mellow, and
should it for any reason become hard
or crusty, it must at once be worked
with team or hoe.
Plants should be hung TO inches
apart both ways.
There is a spider to be found at
the crown of the plant. We have
watched him and believe him to be a
friend.
The cultivation of tobacco in Flor
ida is no longer a doubtful expert
ment, as too many people seem to
think. While in one sense it is
new industry, nevertheless it has
remarkable history and one alto
gether encouraging, for in ante bel
lum days it was one of the staple
crops as we'll as one Of the most lu-
crative in some sections of the state,
mainly in Gadsden county, which
produced in 1850 10 less than 776,-
OFT pounds. B. F. Noodle.
Some tobacco has been cut already
in this portion Of Leon county.
Be sure to come to Lake Hall Sat
urday, July II, and hear Tobacco
Agent Fenton on that subject.
It is an established fact that all
good tobacco growing districts are
to be found the most prosperous and
opulent cl ,ss of farmers. The PEG
pie in the rural districts Of Connec-
ticut and Housatonic Valleys. and in
portions of Virginia and North Caro-
lima we're very poor until they grew
tobacco. Now they live in princely
palaces and regal splendor.-B. F.
Noodle.
Crops Of Vuelta Abajo tobacco
have been harvested in Florida 10
days after planting.
T, bacco should be harvested by
cutting the entire plant when it is
thoroughly ripe, and not stripping
it's leaves from time to time, as is
sometimes done.
When on the stump last winter
inaugurating the tobacco movement
which now has so h-althy growth
in Leon county, we promised the
people 10 have Tobacco Agent Fen
ton with them before curing time
He will be at Lake Hall July II.
AS soon as the bloom shows, the
bud should be broken off, leaving on
the top of the plant good, healthy
looking leaf. Some difference of
opinion exists as to the best time for
topping, but the best results have
been oh aimed as above.
Bear in mind that the Inherent
moisture is best to ferment or sweat
tobacco after all this has escaped
by hanging on the poles too long, it
never can make first-class article
Within sixty days after it is cut 1t
should be in the "sweat," even if it
should be assorted afterwards. In
deed l think the Florida tobacco
grower, for few years to come, had
better not attempt to grade his to-
bacco more than to cnt out the best
wrappers and throw away the worth.
less. 1t is poor economy to ''sand-
which" poor, trashy leaves into 6
crop Of good tobacco-better throw
them away or sell them as trash OF
"lugs. "-B. F. Noodle.
You can learn something at thu
Lake Hall tobacco meeting.
After plant is cut, it should, i
nOssihlo not no laid nnOn the Ur0unC