The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1892-12-08
Tobacco Culture and its Profit
able Features.

Tobacco raising IL one of the most prof
table industries that can be engaged in
by the farming class, and it is strange that
an interest in this direction has not long
ago been manifested by the people of this
and surrounding counties. That this va
cinity and section is peculiarly adapted
to its culture is unquestionablc, and that
the farmer would make more clear money
off of one acre Of we'll cultivated tobacco
than, with the very best results, he makes
off of u to q planted plant. in corn is unq"es-
tionable.
Why not call meeting Of the business
men of Big Stone Gap and Organize an as
ISOLATION for the purpose of more thor
oughly and prominently placing before
the farmers Of the surrounding country
the benefits and large profits to be deriy-
cd by them in turning their attention in
this direction. An interest of this kind,
when worked up and pat into execution,
would not only add largely to the wealth
of the farming community, but would in
crease the volume Of Big Stone Gaps
trade by thousand of dollars each year.
The columns ofthe PoST arc open to all
who feel an interest in this industry, and
suggestions looking toward cstahlisi
ing such al industry among our pcol'c
will he nut prominently before the public.
Later on the Posi- will furnish intorma-
ton az to how to cultivate and cure
The plant, md other valuable suS-
"cstions to the farmer who may wish To
try his hand at tobacco cultivation.
Since writing the above one of Ri"
Stone Caps business men has called the
writer's attention to the following attic
from the pen Of }. II. Winston. OF Bi t"l,
Tenn, WHO is recognized authority on
the subject of tobacco growing. M
Winston says ::
"rho soil hest suited TO tobacco is
sandy soil more OF less light il color-the
lighter the bctter-with yellow suheoil.
A typical tobacco soil is ight-colored,
sandy soil. The principal growth on this
soil is whortleberry, chinquepin, doswood-
hickory, sourwood, white oak and pine.
The next best is n gray soil, intermxed
with due proportion of sand, and the
next best is slaty soil. The tobacco
patch should have good exposure to the
sun. prefer southeast exposure next
a southern and next southwest expose
ure. Put your north land in potatoes, or
some Other crop; never in t0haGco.e IN
thc soil which have indicated it does MOI
matter whether it is old or new land, it
will produce the finest quality of tobacco.
If old land so poor as to be turned out, Gas
we call it, if plowed i'll the fall, and ma
nured in the spring with dressing of
stable or farm yard manure, spread broad
east and fortified either in the hill or drill,
it will produce fine quality of tobacco
and generally as fine as new ground. Some
of our most successful growers make their
tobacco on land that was cleared aft;
years ago; so far as they know. In plow
ing this land be careful not to turn up
the CLAY to the top or mix it i'll any way
with tho top soil. # possible make hills |
for the plants. New ground should be
killed Mt least one month before II Is plant
ed. This gives the hill time to settlc;i
retaines moisture better, and the plant
will take root and grow more easily than
in newly made hill. 1t is not SO impor-
tant to hill old land, but at every work
ing a little dirt should he put to the plant
SO as to make a hill of proper size i'll the |
course Of a season.
The gentleman who called the Posr S at
!cntion to Mr., Winston's article ex-
presses himself onthe subject MS follows.
..1'he mountain sides of this section are
we'll suited for tobacco culture and wtlepi
he people turn beirattention to cultiyat-
ng it they will realize more money than
hey will ever gel. from their coal iorn and /
timber. 1t would be well for some OF our
'arlners TO try a few acres next year. Par
les desiring TO cultivate tobacco, who
islYo no land of theirown, could, no doubt,
ease land fran The Virginia Coal and Iron.
,,o., OF solpe Of the other large land own-=
rs ii ibis vicinity apop .EgelEy reasonable
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