The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-02-05

Following we take pleasure in pub
fishing an interesting descriptive arti
Gle of the famous Hyco Tobacco-Seed
Farm, owned and managed by Maj.
R. L. Ragland, of Halifax county, Va.
This is the largest tobacco-seed grow
ing farm in the world, and we are sure
the article will be read with interest
and profit by those of our friends who
are interested in tobacco culture. 1t is
from the pen Of Mr.. H. E.Harman,
editor ofthe SoatAe,n Tobacco o./onrnak:
A bright September day, with the
first tints of Autumn's coming visible
upon the sombre foliage of the hills,
an invigorating ride from South Boston
six miles across the country, and we
alighted at the hospitable gate of Maj.
R. L. Ragland's home, in Halifax
county, Virginia.
Here is the largest tobacco seed
rarm in the world, about which SO
much has been said and SO little writ
ten. Travel where you may, and you
cannot find spot where the stranger
finds more hospitable greeting than
here at Hyco, for the Major and his
interesting family know how to enter
tain and how to win the heart of the
guest who fingers within their gates.
The Ragland Seed Farm is without
peer. Here the very best varieties
of tobacco seed are grown, which are
known everywhere in tobacco sections
for their superior quality and purity.
THE ORIGIN OF THE BUSINESS
came in this way. In 1866 the Major
procured the Yellow Oronoko, a vari-
ETY. which originated in Caswell coun-
ty, N. c., and set to work to raise yell
low tobacco, and in four years his
crop brought the highest prices of any
in the country and there was consider
able demand for this Yellow Oronoko
seed. He added a few more choice
varieties to his stock, the demand in
creasing each season, his Manual
meantime naming the best kinds to
plant, till he got tired of giving away
seed, and in 1873 commenced to
charge for them. His first crop for
sale was les. than three bushels. But
it may be noted just here that at that
time, 1873, it would have been diff
cult to procure half bushel of seed
from planters or seedsmen anywhere
in the United States. Fourteen years
have changed Major Raglands Tobac-
co Farm into Tobacco Seed Farm,
and the most extensive of the kind in
the United States, or possibly in the
world.
The annual production of SO large a
volume of seed necessitated new and
better methods for cleaning them.
This Major R. invented in rough
hand -huller that effectually cuts the
capsules and liberates the seed, while a
No. 20 hand riddle cleans them eff
fectually.
THE SUPERIOR QUALITY OF THE SEED
raised on the Hyco Seed-Farm is due
mainly to the following causes: The
very finest and best varieties are
planted; only the incest and earliest
plants are selected to bear seed; from
these all tile lower thyrsi are cut off,
leaving only three or four of the upper
pinnacles (crown shoots) to bear cap
sules. These, being fewer in number,
receive the whole force of the plant,
grow larger and produce plumper and
better seed, possessing more vitality
and pre-potency in transmitting their
peculiar good qualities.
Not word of complaint has come
to the owner concerning the seed sent
out from Hyco Seed-Farm, as regard
, ing their vitality or trueness to name
and we venture the assertion that nc
better tobacco seed are grown or can
be found anywhere.
BENEFACroR TO TOBACCO PLANTERS.
In the raising of the best seed 0
choicest varieties and publishing ths
best modes of culture, curing and man
agement-..from the plant-bed to th'
warehouse"-the Major has indeed
proved himself a benefactor to tn