The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1891-04-09
FARMER AND PLANTER.
BRIGHT TOBACCO CULTURE.
Practical Methods of Successful North
Carolina Planter.


well-say one hour at a place before the
fires are moved. After it is thoroughly
burnt it should be dug up finely, with
out turning the sod; then sow about
four tablespoonfuls to bed ten yards
square, but before sowing the seed there
should be a good load of stable manure,
well pulverized, dug in, and then rake
the bed well; then sow your seed, cover
the bed well with green brush or hog
hair-the latter is preferable-let it stay
covered until the plants are well up.
Tobacco should be planted on gray,
sandy land; the land should be broke
well in the winter months so it can
have the advantage of all the freezes
and get well pulyerized; it is very es-
sential that the land be thoroughly
broken and plowed well before the to-
bacco is planted. There should be
about 800 pounds of guano used on
ordinary land and-some will require
little more, some less-but 800 pounds
on an average, is about right. Plant
about 1900 hills to the acre, which will
oe about three feet apart; guano put in
the drill should be about the same as if
it was drilled. If the land is rough
and stumpy it viii be the best to hill it.
Tobacco should be planted the first
season in May, and in order to have
good plants by that time the beds should
have guano put on them before every
rain, after the plants are up well-a
small quantity, say a gallon to bed
ten yards square.
After your tobacco is planted it should
be worked as soon as the bud turn
green and the roots are beginning to
take a hold, but be careful and not
shake the plant loose; if the plant is
loosened it is apt to die in dry weather;
do not pillow too close to it the first time
it is worked-if so you are apt to retard
its growth. Tobacco should be worked
three times, about two weeks between
times. 1t has been my observation that
early tobacco always sells for more
money than any other; it will be easier
cured than late tobacco.
Top your tobacco at ten leaves always
and never prime it under any circum-
stances; the lower leaves will protect
the body of the stalk from sand and
hea-bugs.
Keep the worms and suckers off and
you will have good bodied tobacco.
Tobacco should stand on the hill six
weeks after it is topped, until it is ready
to cut, in an ordinary season.
When it is ripe and yellow on the hill,
cut it, put from five to eight plants on
stick; you must be governed by the size
of the plants. Be very careful that
your tobacco does not sun-burn, for if it
gets sun burnt it will turn black, and it
should be handled very carefully while
hauling from the field to the barn; if it
is bruised any way in hauling it can't
be cured yellow under any circum-
stances.
Tobacco should be put in the barn
uniformly, about eight inches apart on
the tier, and every plant regulated on
the stick; this is done in order that the
heat may strike each leaf Tobacco
should never be crowded and iammed
in barn. When your barn is full your
fiues should be fitted up well; build
your fires the same evening, keep a lit
tie steam under it all night and the
next day, say 80 deg, the second
night you may go to a 100 deg, al
lowing your fires to cool occasionally to
80 or 95 deg. when you have yellowed
about thirty or thirty-six hours You can
raise the heat to los, with the door
shut then back to 100; open the door
for it to cool; as soon as it
goes down to 100 shut the door and
raise the fire to 1O8 again. Open the
door the second time to allow the to-
bacco to cool. The next heat is 112
with the door shut; be very careful
that the fires go no higher than 112; as
soon as you get there open the door
and let the heat go down to los, then
back again to liz or lis; then hold your
heat at liz or lis about six or eight
hours. This is done in order to sap the
tobacco throughout the barn. The
door may be partly opened occasionally
through this time without hurt. 1t is !,
hard matter to give the tobacco too
much air. When you have lis
go to 100, where you may stoa
four hours; then go to 12!e
stay there three or four hours
then stay between 125 and $50 until the
leaf is thoroughly cured; then YOU can
| go up to 14O, then $50, and on to $50, un-
til the tobacco is fully cured. When the
stem and stalk is dry pull the fire out
and open the barn-door, and in one
nights time it win be in case enough &c
rehang. l mean by ''rehanging.'' tc
slip two sticks on one; by that means
you save stick. When you have rehuno
1T haul it to some dry barn or house
and bulk it down with the leaf in and
the stalks all out; this is done in order
that it may not mold. 1t may STAY in
i the bulk until you are ready to strip It,
then remove it and hang it in the barn.
Tobacco should always be bulled after
it is cured, a short while any way.
| In ordinary tobacco there should be
about five grades made. When stripped
there should be six leaves tied in hand
of the leaf tobacco. but the Tugs should
be tied some larger.
When your tobacco is stripped bulk II
down for awhile in order to give it a
sweet smell and good flavor
Bring it to market in good order.
w. Groom, in Greensboro IN. C.) Pa.