The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-05-13
Tobacco Growing.

At a recent meeting Of the Connecticut
Board OF Agrcultu DR.. w. G. Sturgis
gave history of the fungus diseases Of
tobacco. He started with the statement
that man who has grown tobacco one
year knows it all, while the man who has
grown it II lifetime comes to believe that
ne knows nothing about it. Fungus,
the speaker said, grew on almost every
thing, and that poicswcet on tobacco is
caused by fungi. For five months he
has been ut work experimenting ON pole
sweat tobacco. He found upon some
leaves little pmplcs, which under the
microscope showed little sod like plants
which on development rapidly grew and
spread. In aglass tube he showed, grow
Ing on piece of potato, some of the
fungus plants which cause ,polesweat.
lie found that heat and moisture were
required tod evelop this fungi, and that
sweat he decided, was a bacterial disease
growing on tobacco. caused by heat and
moisture. The remedy lies in keeping
out heat and moisture from the tobacco
barns. He claimed that perpendicular
ventilation was wrong that sheds should
be built with horizontal vcntilators, and
these to be placed so that the air would
not strike the leaves, but come between
the tiers. He also gave the result of
quick curing. and stated that such tobac-
CO would not sweat in the case. Tobac.
co must be cured slowly, however, to
secure the best results. Tobacco cures
better with leaf and stalk cured together.
Stripping the green leaves from the stalk
in the field is by far the most expensive,
ho
stalk will produce a Tor less weight.
He spoke of the bacteria causing sweat
Ia cases, and said that he intends to try
the experiment Of changing the bacteria
of Havana and other tobaccos, similar to
the experiments given recently in the
Hartford Times as the result Of some Ger
man researches. Artificial heat will stop
pole.sweat His method OF using this
dig trenches %ff, for f4Ylsres Ylsre ip u the sheds and
side and center Of the shed, only to be
used, however, in unfavorable weather.
Another disease of tabacco is stGm-rot.
This is caused bya fungi, and may be
rcmedied by cleanliness. Rake up all
refuse from your sheds and burn it
Another prevention is burning sulphur
and thoroughly fumigatiug the sheds be.
fore housing new crop. He was asked
if white veins were caused by a fungi,
and replied that he thought not.
DR.. f. II. jenkins spoke on the sub
| jcct Of fertilizing and curing tobacco.
| The flavor Of tobacco is largely what
gives it commercial value. Volatile or
essential oils will give flavor to tobacco.
! Cigarettes ho oiassed as an abomiDation.
The burning quality of tobacco depends
largely on potash. A crop or 800
pounds will take about 150 pounds Of
potash from the soil on which it is grown,
| and this amount must be added annual y
to the soil, and more than this amount
should be used, as the plant will take up
an excess more rapidly, and with better
results, and there is no appreciable loss
of potash either by evaporation or by
teaching. Every acre of tobacco takes
out 100 pounds of nitrogen. Nitrate of
| soda will not be held by the soil. Am-
| monia, while remaining as such, will not
waste. but is soon dissolved. The soil is
| full of bacteria Chloroform and other
| autiseptics will prevent nitrogen from
leachiug through the soil Nitrogen will
escape from the soil by evaporation /.
How to prevent this is question. Sow
| ing rye after the tobacco is harvested is a
good preventative for this loss. Lime is
| also taken to the extent of 100 pounds
/! per acre from the soil. To replace this
loss 'oystershell lime is the best. Lime
| will Deutralize too large accumulation
! of acids in the soil, and will aid in pre-
| venting the loss of nitrogen. The amount
/ OF water carted into tobacco sheds is
about seven tons per acre. Several tons
| OF this cvapolates in the barn during
curing; hence the need Of thorough ven
| tilation.