The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-07-27
BY JupsoN rorENoE, OF MONTGOMERY
COUNTY, ONO.

| commenced the cultivation of
tobacco about fifteen years ago; ]
therefore write from experience, and
shall try to give that experience, in a
short and plain way.
Narieties.-I have cultivated va
riOus kinds of tobacco, but have
come to the conclusion that what we
call the Ohio seed leaf is the best and
most profitable kind for general cul-
tivation. There are other kinds of
tobacco that sometimes are profitable,
and do well, but most of these do
not cure out so well, nor color so
evenly, nor are they so fine and sal
able as the seed-leaf. The Havana
tobacco is too small and has not the
fine flavor of the imported. The
Connecticut seed leaf believe to be
identical with our Ohio seed-leaf;
the difference in the climate may
make slight variation in the quality,
but we plant the Connecticut seed
leaf here in Ohio, and | don't think
they can be told apart. The most Of
the tobacco raised in this district is
the seed-leaf, which is strong evil
dence that it is the best and most
profitable kind to raise here.
Seed.-At topping-time a few of
the most thrifty stalks should be left
to grow without topping, for seed.
When the crop is cut, let the seed
stalks stand, stripping off the leaves
and suckers. AS soon as the seed
pods are black, the seed is matured;
then cut off the seed-heads below the
forks of the plant, and hang them in
dry place, out Of the reach of mice,
to cure. AT leisure time, during the
winter, strip the seed-pods from off
the stalk, rub them IN the hands I'M
til the seed is rubbed out, sift
through a fine sitter, put in dry
place, secure from vermin of all
kinds, and it is ready to SOW. |
have sowed seed six years old which
grew as well as new seed. l think it
is good plan to raise seed enough
at any time to SOW for ten years, as
it is thought to deteriorate by con-
stant raising without changing. If
seed snaps or pops when it is thrown
on a hot stove, it will grow.
Preparing Seed BedS.-There are
two plans of preparing beds for SOW
ing seed the first, and best, is to
spade or plow bed in rich, dry
ground, with southern exposure;
the south end of barn is a good
place, as the reflection helps to warm
the ground. Where you have tobac-
cO-stalks, as you make a furrOw with
the plow or spade, fill one-third full
with the stalks and turn the next fur
row over them, and so continue until
the bed is broken up. The stalks
hold moisture, make the bed warm,
and help to drain it, Take we'll
rotted hog manure and spread over
the bed, to the depth of about two
inches, then harrow or rake until the
manure is thoroughly mixed with the
surface of the bed, and all is well pull
verified, and as fine as garden mold.
For a bed one rod wide and four
rods long take two common sized
table-spoonfuls Gas much as will lie
on conveniently of seed and mix 1t
with four quarts of ashes, or Stacked
will enable the seed to be sowed even
| ly; then take and:roller and roll
the bed evenly, or place board on
one end of the bed, walk on 1t to press
the ground to the seed, move it over,
and repeat this until the bed is all
pressed over. Another plan is to
burn large brush heap in clear
ing, or on any new ground, in the
evening; in the morning dig the
ground up with the ashes on; while
warm, rake the bed fine and SOW the
seed as above directed. Very little
wedding is required where the ground
is burned, as the fire destroys the
weeds and grass seeds.
If the weather is dry, the plants
will need watering after they are
sprouted, (Which will be about three
weeks); in fact the surface of the
bed should be kept constantly moist ;
the beds should be kept clear OF
weeds; do not let the weeds get a
start of your plants or they will soon
choke them out. If the plants grow
well and evenly, the above sized bed
will plant four or five acres, but it is
always safe to have two or three such
beds, to guard against failure, anC
to supply your neighbors. The usu
al time to SOW is from the middle o
March to the tenth of April, or as
soon as the ground admits of work,
ing in the spring. | have knowr
seed sown in the fall make gooC
plants, but do not recommend it.
SOFIA rich, sandy, second bot
tom, believe to be the best fo
raising tobacco, although our choco
late colOred uplands, when very ricl
and highly manured, will grow al
excellent quality of tobacco, hut viii
not yield as much to the acre. Blacl
river bottoms will yield more to th
acre than any other kind of land, bu
the tobacco is not of so fine quality
it grows larger, has coarser stems
and heavier body, and consequently
in my opinion, is not so good TO
wrappers or fine cut as the secon
bottom or upland tobacco.
Manuring and preparing for plant
ing Tobacco Is gross feeder an
! grows rapidly when once started