The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-02-12
HOW TO GROW TOBACCO.
Experience of Successful Farmer of Guilford
County.
directions Given by One Who Qualified to Instruct in the
Cultivation of Tobacco From the PlantBed to the
Curing Barn.
NJ. j. McMiehal in Winston Tobacco Journal

NJ. j. McMiehal in Wi
Mr.. M. J. McMichael, of Summer
field, N. c., whose letter appears in
this department this week, has achieved
gratifying success in the culture of to-
bacco, and is therefore we'll qualified to
give advice. For the past two or three
years the primings from his entire crop
have sold for an average Of $15.75 per
acre. In the letter published below
Mr.. Michael gives some very practical
and common sense advice:
HOW TO GROW ToBACCo-D1RECTIoN
FROM THE PLANT BED TO THE
CURING BARN.
Just how to grow and properly man.
age tobacco from the time OF seed SOW
ing till the crop is ready for the mar
ket is subject of very great impor-
tance to the planters of this Piedmont
section.
1t will be impossible for me to give
the readers of the Journal, in this
short article, full description of the
subject. 1t requires good judgment,
proper care and close attention with a
a sufficient amount of work to make
the growing and cultivation of tobacco
success to the planters and also a
success to the manufacturers and deal
ers. While claim to be a planter
and have had some success in the cul-
tivation of tobacco, do not claim to
be according to my own estimation)
a farmer. There is wide difference
between farmer and a planter. All
farmers are planters, but all planters
are not farmers. l regard farming a
very nice and pleasant occupation, il
properly managed, and one that re-
quires more forethought and deeper
research than many of the learned
professions. The farmer gets one hun
dred cents on the dollar in paymen,
for the time he spends in right think
ing before he attempts to do any farm
work. Brains and muscle should work
together. He should consider the soil,
the different kinds of seasons, strive to
avoid the routes of failure, 'make ev-
cry edge CUT" 'make hay while the sun
Shines" and yet for all that not be a
"skin flint"
THE SEED BED.
As early as possible in the month oi
January, when the ground is dry Sc.
lect a dark soil, in the woods, facing
the South, East or West, as a proper
place for burning the seed bed.
burn wood on this bed until the ground
is dry and dusty. l then dig twice
over, leaving most of the ashes on tor
of the ground; then pulvarize the bee
thoroughly by raking, then aftel
smoothing over the bed I sow on every
one hundred square yards one heap
ing tablespoonful of good seed ane
. one fourth of a bushel of fertilizer
then put on light coating OF hog
. hair or wheat straw. This will pre-
vent the ground from "freezing ane
spewing up Then pack the GROUND
by trampling or running roller over th'
same. Small poles are then laid acros
the bed three feet apart. Then plac'
, on these poles the canvass made fo
the purpose, which may be draw
. tightly and pinned at the edges Of tn
bed to the ground with wooden peg
or sharp sticks. The covering shoult
! not be over three inches above tn
= ground. Continue to burn and SOY
: as above described till a sufficien
y quantity of seeds are sown to plant tn
crop.
KIND OF SOIL TO SELECT.
The kind of land to select on whic
to plant the crop, should depend en-
tirely on the demands Of the market
When good, waxy and mahogan
wrappers and filters are mostly in de
I, mand and sought after by the buyer:
would advise the planting of red @
dark. If there be greater deman'
for rich yellow wrappers, cutters an
filters, would advise the planting G
gray soil, which has red subsoil.
= = bright yellow cutters and smokers ar
! sought after, plant gray sandy land
with yellow subsoil, and you will b
: sure to chit the market" If cigar to
bacco should be wanted, save all th
}. leaves of the succors that come afte
the crop is gathered in, and you wi
> have an excellent cigar wrapper an
:, filler, which will make a frst-cla:
smoke if cured off the stalk.
, PREPARING THE LAND.
have for the past few years plante
r. mostly old and poor land. Soon aft
y, spring begins usually with one hor:
turning plows, throw my tobacco Ian
d in beds 81 feet apart, which lie III
disturbed till near planting time.
It then with a large shovel plow n
{" deep furrows between those beds
which ] drill four wagon loads Of st
bic manure and four hundred poun'
of fertilizer to the acre. l list on Il
ID manure and fertilizer with a turnir
1g plow. then strike or cut off the lar!
y list and "pat" hills three feet apa,