Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-04-04
garna EHtrea4ta.
ow TO GROW TOBACCO.
? 7,uar the Land for Plant so..i.

iaIsburytN. Co. Herald
Con. r. b. Davis, formerly Of HEX
nry, n c., but now Of Wilmington,
was one of the most successful tobac-
c. growers in the State five years
ago. He thoroughly understands
the culture Of the weed and made
money rapidly as "A planter. Hence
we give this week graphic descrip~
ton from his pen on the all import.
ant subject of land selection and pre-
parati0n:
A soft, deep sandy soil is prefera~
Bile, which before planting should be
always put in the finest filth, it being
an adage with-good farmers that
"crop properly planted is half-work-
ed"
Ifthe land is new ground, itshould
after having been grubbed and chop
ped, be raked clearly and all leaves
and litter burnt. 1t is then ready
for the pillow, aud should be closely
broken twice and crosswise with the
bull tongue in horizontal rows three
feet apart, into which be drilled 300
pounds per acre, unless where the
land lis naturally rich, of a good
and active fertilizer. 1t is then ready
TO be listed or bedded, with a turning
ploW. IpreGer the list since it light.
ems the hoe work of killing, and is at
the same time more economical use
Of fertilizer-the balks between can
b thrown out at the first wedding.
With broad wedding hoe these lists
or beds should now be worked into
conice hills, placing them 3 feet 3
inches apart. 7 know that many
recommend mole crowded planting,
giving the rows and hills a distance
.of only three feet Hm in doing so
nothing iu my opinion is gained ia
weight, while something is lost in
Ia. .th, breadth and body Of The IeaC
which with The manufacturer ara the
IImeE.gai-..es. The hills can De
lal. of With gre. accuracy hy step.
ping ", otherwise measuring onoroW,
a1d then placing the hills of the next
between those Of the first, and SO on,
or what is called lodging them. To
prevent crowding or irregularities in
killing, this rule will be found of use
where raw hands are employed.
The hill culture, both in the pre-
paratiOn and the subsequent workings
OF the tobacco crop, should never he
departed from, for the reason that the
method of cultivation gives the land
the best drainage of which it is capa-
BILE. And in this crop drainage is
Oneofthe first things to be considered,
for the reason that all of the diseases
to which the plant is liable-such as
frenching, firing, spOtting, rusting
and shedding-come from excessive
rain, accompanied by excessive heat
The growth of the plant itself would
suggest as much, for in time Ofdrouth
the leaves stand up to gather the
rain, but as soon as it has enough OF
it they turn down and throw it off. !
repeat, then, let no water stagnate
upon the ground. For new ground
the killing can be done as early as in
April or May, and should be always
when the soil is in good working or
der and neither too wet or two dry.
In the one case it will break and pre-
vent the ready growth Of the plant,
and in the other it will require much
rain to put it in condition for plant
ing.
If the land is not new ground, eth,
er forest or pine field, it should be
fresh or at least rested and in good
heart. and upon which neither corr
nor sorghum has been lately cropped
For such land the preparation is il
all respects similar to that for new
ground except that turning pillow
may take the place of a bull-tongue
and the killing should not be done
earlier than the first of May for fea
that the hills may become grassy
while waiting for plants % a season t.
plant them. To preserve such land
and to prevent damages to the grow
ing crops from washing rains, water
furrOwing or guttering is recommend
ed.
Tobacco land, more than almos
any other, should be MANFRED with
liberal hand. Stable or barn>yarC
manure is every way the best, bu
when not to he had in sufficien
quantity, must be subtituted by som,
good commercial fertilizer, of whicl
there are countless varieties upon tn
market possessing more or less merit