The National tribune., 1891-04-02
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
TOBACCO GrowrNa.

40 the last meeting Of the New York Far
Ters' Insiift &c. Mr. T. J. Preston said:
4" In this vicinity and in Connecticut and
Massachusetts, adjacent, is produced the best
quality OF tobacco Tor cigar wrappers. The
importation Of the Sumatra leaf had lowered
the price Of our product, but we are now hoping
that with new legislation our prices viii be in
creased. We cannot afford 10 grow binder to-
baceo, as the price seven to eight cents per
pound is too low to admit Of any profit. IL
we count the manure, which is an important
item. manure disappears where tobacco is
grown the next year; where it goes, do not
know
THE call now is for lighter colored kind
Of tobacco. The old heavy, dark cOlored sorts
do not sell well any more they do not pay.
We must now grow the Spanish varieties The
seed will cost 81 per ounce. IL is fancy price,
hut we caunot get IL much cheaper Put this
seed in a cloth lag and the bag between two
sods aud wet them; in few DAYS the seeds will
be sprouted. As soon as spTouted sow in bed
covered with white sand, and cover the bed
with n cheese cloth OF a thin muslin cloth /;
cover so they will not freeze. The earlier the
| plants are started, tho better the quality and
quantity of the crop.
Put the plants out in a sandy loan. This
soil is hest. The light-colored soils will pro-
duec the liphtest -colorcd tobacco The more
! fertilizers the better. Barnyard manure is the
best where grain has been fed. Supplement
this with commercial manures. Cottonseed-
hull ashes are excellent. Buy the suIphates,
! rs they make q better burn or ash on the cigar
The muriates make the poorest burn or ash
Set the plants as early as possible; they will
stand more frost than the bean OF the tomato.
! DO not pull the plants harshly, as You will
| by loosening the roots. Keep the plants clean.
Put the roots all one way in the basket. and be
| careful 10 keep all earth from the leaves. Do
not set out plants too late. If plants fail. do
not Oh tho places with late ones, as this course
will iniUre the average crop by having a lot Of
small stuff Pinch OF the tops as soon as the
seeds start. The dark-colorcd soils put more
nicotine into the tobacco. second crop on
the same land will produce a finer quality Of
leaf
"The first enemy is the cut worm. Mix
Paris green ard plaster and scatter il on tho
plant. one pound Of Paris green TO 200 pounds
Of plaster. The green worm must be picked as
soon as seen. For the last few years little
red hy has injured the leaves. 1t eats holes
into the small leaves; il stings the buds. Top
the plant and 50 kill them, and get rid Of these
| injured leaves. The flea comes later. This III
sect breeds more on tho potato. Potatoes should
not be planted near the tobacco. Paris green
aud plaster viii kill these fleas when on the
/ potatoes. Paris green must not be used after
the tobacco has got much of a growth.
Dead-Tipe tobacco is not good; IL will pole
rot Cut IL when the top leaves have got their
growth. The curing Is done in all sorts Of ways.
/ IL should DO cured in clean place. not in the
wood.shcd, nor the hen.house, nor the COW.
stable. In moist weather like the last year
much Of il will spoil. What shall we 90 in
such a caso2 In hot and muggy weather build
little smudge fires. Use charcoal ST possible,
aud dry the rooms. DO not try 10 hide defects.
You may do this enc year, but not two, To the
same man. Put the good together and the
poor A small bundle eight to ton inches square
is best We paper the bundles. This j. best.
The dealer likes il SO much better that he will
pay for the paper, but not at tobacco prices.
Put on enough strings TO hold it well, but do
not try 10 sell string f9r tobacco. DO not keep
il or store il in the cellar. TWENTY i've pounds
Of seed may be grown on an acre. The aver
age yield Of tobacco last year was is TO Is
hundred pounds per sore. Good tobacco will
always sell well. Get up reputation for pro-
ducing good article and putting it up well,
and il will sell itself'