The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-26
Tobacco Culture In Georgia.

A correspondent in Washington county
says: 1.-THE papers make it appear that a
good many persons in Georgia, especially
| In Southeast Georgia, are making money
from growing tobacco. Would it not grow
as we'll in Washington county9 What kind
| OF soil is best for it? What time is 1t plant
ed outl Which is the best kind to plant?
When lit gatnered9 How curedl When
sold?'
There is no question that many persons in
Georgia have found the growing of tobacco
very profitable undertakiug-nuch mere
so than cotton, but how long it would con-
tinue to be money crop of decided value
if every one went into the cultivation Of it
we cannot surmise 1t is a crop that re-
qulres great deal more care and the dis
play oflbetter judgment than the raising of
cotton does. A man who learns all about
its culture and follows it up with intelli-
gence and energy is the man who will find
1t profitable, If any do.
A crop of tobacco is almost as easily made
as crop OF cabbage. but there is a vast
difference in the case in which the two crops
are gathered and marketed. Allowing that
the land is suited to the crop, either
naturally or made 80 artiflcally, it is COM
paratively easy TO make a CROP The curing
and fitting for market is where the trouble
comes In. 1t requires experience before one
becomes an adept at this, though this expert
ence is readily acquired by observation and
some practice.
The first thing is to secure good seeds Of
the best adapted variety. The next thing
is 20 make proper seed beds and sow the
seeds. Good sized plants in abundance must
be on hand by the time it is safe to put
them out in the field. This depends on lati-
tude and elevation. 1t is desirable to get
hnF NNTf Ina II De 81, 20 a.
though the late paintings out do very we'll
as a general thing if properly worked and
wormed.
Commencing in North Georgia trans
paintings are made in May and on through
June. Going south these settings can be
made a week earlier for about every sixty
miles of latitude, until in South Georgia
and Florida April. or even March, is the
proper time for the earlyFsettings
The seeds should be sown in February or
March sometimes in early April. AS
rule, February is the best month.
Making the seed beds aud growing the
plants requires promptness, care and
perseverance in order to have an abundant
supply OF we'll grown sticky plants. Early
gia, must be made in seed beds
cold frames, where protection can
be given by cloth or glass sash from the
cold nights or threatened frosts.
1t is an ancient practice to burn the seed
beds for tobacco, but such practice is
neither essential nor al ways advisable. To-
bacco plants can be grown as satisfactorily
in cold frames as celery or tomato plants,
but you can burn the seed beds over accord
ing to the regulation plan" if you prefer
it. When plants are grown late without
the aid Of cloth protection, and the land
where the seed beds are made is foul with
grass and weed seeds, then burning becomes,
in a measure. imperative.
Where the ordinary cold frame is used
land these are usually made of size 3x6
feet cloth sash or cover will do as we'll or
letter than glass sash.
Enough of these should be made to raise
the necessary number OF plants. A heaping
tablespoonful of tobacco seeds contain
something over 200 900. If such quantity
of seeds were perfectly fresh and good and
were sown with the utmost care enough
plants could be grown from it to set 200 acres
allowing 900 plants to the acre. But IN
practice such quality of seed is not usually
obtained nor the necessary care to make
every seed make plant. One tablespoon
full of good seed will sow 500 or 800 square
feet OF bed or more. The beds should be
three feet wide and as long as necessary or
number OF short beds can be made with
narrow walks between.
The seeds should be sown on a finely pull
verized surface that has been sufficiently
fortified with some good old compost, rich
in potash and phosphate, and that is free
from weed and grass seed. Then the bed
should be raked very lightly and then rolled
or otherwise firmed. This can be done with
a hoe or plank. There are as many va
reties Of tobacco as there are of cora or
cotton, and the selection of variety is mat
ter Of great i'm portance. The Vuelta Abaio
makes fine filler and also good wrapper.
1t is a very popular kind. Other good kinds
are the Sumatra Flanagan, Ornoco and
Missouri Broad Leaf. The usual price Of
tobacco seed ranges from 80 to 60 cents an
ounce y Other questions will be
covered in following numbers.
Prasaruinr Driad Paachaa In the