The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-01-21
TEN YEARS WITH TOBACCO.
Results of the experience Of Practical
Planter.

|
To the Editor Of the Meaus and Courie,
In selecting land for a tobacco crop ii
planter has to be his own judge largel
He must first acqusint himself with th
general wants Of the several types to t
grown, and then select his own lam
Rules can be laid down for guidance, b1
they are only general in character an
cannot be made specific.
AS rule the tobacco plant loves mo-
q deep mellow to any soil with subso
that is porous. The latter ia especiall
needful, as the tobacco plant will nc
thrive above a subsoil that will not kee
the water we'll drained from around ii
roots. If a dark tobacco is to be grow
the type suited for export purposes
the soil should be rich and deep and til
subsoil red or dark brown. For filters Q
the rich waxy type sandy or grayell.
soil with a light brown subsoil is vel
adapted. Wrappers of the finest grade
thrive best on grsyish sandy land having
yellow porous subsoil.
These general rules will indicate to tn
observant planter about what is wanted
in the selection of the tobacco land. Tht
character of the land determines very
much the character of the crop, ana
hence the planter should look we'll te
the selection of each piece of land upor
which a certain type is to be grown. The
growth of timber upon new land otter
indicates whether or not it is adapted te
the growth of bright tobacco. For in
stance, the dogwood, chinquapin and
like trees generally indicate very fine to.
bacco land, while oak and hickory also
grow on soil where tobacco easily -four
isbes. Some of the best results of tobac-
co growers in North Carolina have been
made since the war on lands which had
grown up in old field pines. After these
have been cleared away and the land
properly worked the choicest crops have
been obtained.
AS to the preparation of land for the
tobacco crop, that should begin early. In
fact, if it can be so done, tobacco land
should be ploughed in the fall, so as to
get the benefit of the winter frost. To-
bacco thrives best in q well pulverized
soil, and the action of the frost is, there
fore, very desirable. And then, again,
the uptu. Mug of the soil in the fall helps
to kill out the germs which develop into
cut and bud worms in the early spring
and summer. If fall ploughiDg is not
practical, turn your tobacco land as early
in the new year as your time and the
weather will permit. Let this ploughing
be followed again, say by March l, but
crossing this time the first ploughing and
not so deep. If the land is at all rough
a good narrowing after each ploughing is
very desirable. Again, say by April l, a
third ploughing should be made, and Of
ten fourth is desirable if your land is
rough. To get the land in good titlh is
the main, after that the biggest part of
the work is done.
Having the land in thorough prepara-
lion for planting, lay off your rows from
three to three and half feet apart, &C
,ordiDg to the richness or poverty of the
'oil. After placing the fertilizer in the
furrows lap with turning plough,
throwing four burrows together, similar
% the method of preparing land for the
cotton crop.
With your rows made the land is ready
or the plants. In North Carolina plant.
ng goes on from April Is to the middle
Ind last of June. In South Carolina and
Georgia it may commence much earlier,
ay the 25th of March, if the weather is
easonable.
The process of drawing plants from the
liant bed and setting them in the rows
s quite similar to that of transplanting |
weet potatoes as practiced in the South.
The plants should be drawn carefully
rom the bed and laid in open baskets.
from these they are dropped on the side
# the row from two to three feet apart,
ccording to the quality of the land. The
etter follows with a peg and, after max
ng hole in the top of the ridge, inserts
be roots of the plants therein and presses
be earth firmly, but not tightly, around
/. If the weather is dry it is necessary
hat water should be poured in the holes
efore the roots of the plant are inserted.
'y doing this even in the dry season
ood stand can generally be secured. 1t
J best, of course, to set plants when the
and is damp, but the wise planter never
rats for rain when his land and plants
re ready.
ReplantiDg is frequently necessary and
his should be done early after the plant
1g in order to get all the plants started
# for a uniform growth.
The old way of setting tobacco plants
y hand is fast giving way, especially in
outh Carolina and other sections where
1e laud is level, to machine planting.
everal excellent machines have recently
cen patented for the purpose and they
o their work very satisfactorily. They
AIRY watering attachment, and hence
,e planter is relieved of the necessity of
Altering by hand or waiting for rain.
Il. E. HARMAN.
Winston, ~ C.
HOW's ThiS'
We offer one hundred dollars for any
Ise of Catarrh that cannot be cured by