The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-08
Tobacco Cnltura

Tobacco Culture.
AS the days lengthen out and the sun
shines warm the young plants make the
beds put on an appearance to gladden. the
heart of the tobacco-planter, writes j. p.
Alexander in Home and Farm. It's now
all danger of disaster has passed by, ex-
cept it be dry weather. If the first half
of May should pass without rain the
plants will cease growing. OF course,
water is the only remedy, which APP
ply two or three times a week, keeping
the canvas in good order. At the
same time there is such a
thing as having plants to early.
In our section of country the 18th of
May is considered early, the last ten days
of the month to be preferred If we
could have our choice and there was no
danger of delay. we would much prefer
the 10th of June to the 10th of May. We
have known plants so injured by cold.
cloudy and wet weather in May as not to
entirely recover throughout the season.
GETTING READY.
When the leaves of the plants are as
large as the thumb-nail the preparation
of the land should commence and there
after keep pace with their growth. How
often have we heard it said 4 could
have finished setting if my land had been
ready or -, could have put in as much
more ii | had been looking for this rain?"
The point is to be ready, yes, more than
ready, for if one rain should follow an
other closely there is no chance for pre-
paration In this event your plants will
be crOwding one another in the beds and
the season slipping by. Besides this. if
you should prepare too much il can be
gone over with the harrow, being assured
that each stirring of the soil before plant
ing will be richly raTaid.
For growing white Burley the land
should be laid only one way, no matter
how convenient it would be to have it
otherwise, or how much il would add to
the ease of cultivation. 1t is well
known that in this case weight would be
added, but at the expense of Their qualities
more to h9 desired; that is, texture and
color, BY planting both ways not more
than 5000 plants could be set on an acre.
while, to get the best results, it should
contain nearly 1000, especially If the land
is up to standard. The trouble is, if the
plants are too widely sepa-
rated, the sun gets in and burns
the leaves during the process of
ripening; the wind shakes the plants,
wearing the leaves on the ground, while
dashing rains falling on the uncovered
soil scattered dirt about where it shouln't
ne. NJ ulp-lOp crops dIG SIOWu unless
the land is covered while the crop is
maturing and ripening
PLANTING.
As the time approaches when planting
should begin, arrangements for a supreme
effort should be made Extra help is now
very acceptable, for this is the hardest
labor 10 be encountered in growing the
crop, and everybody must move around
briskly while the season lasts. All the
tired backs in these times, for there is no
royal road to the accomplishment of this
work, as no machinery has yet been in
vented that will set out tobacco like the
human hand. Let the plants be drawn
one at a time and placed in straight rows
in the basket or box, and when carried to
the field protected from the sun
for two settlers, keeping close to-
gether so in case plants are wanted
they can be had as it cannot be expected
that they can be put down in exactly the
right place or in the right number. Each
setter should carry hand plant" that
is a plant that he sets out where one has
already been dropped. After setting it
he picks up the other, and as he passes to
the next hill draws the roots through his
fingers to arrange them for proper put
ting out. This may appear a small mat
should be insisted on in every tobacco
field. If the ground is very wet a slight
pressure of the fingers is all that is ne
cessary, and the plant should be put as
near the top of the ground as possible
AS the season disappears let the<
work be done more carefully, setting
the plants deeper and adding more pres
sure. Notice occasionally if each one is
setting the same distance apart, or if the
plants are being put in line, as this adds
much to the case of cultivation; and more
especially see if the roots are being put
straight into the ground, as there are
more plants lost by slovenly work in this
way than by any other. Any hand that sets
tobacco badly had better be sitting in the
shade as far as profit goes. Do as little
tramplng of the wet land as possible,
especially near or between the plants
where the plow can't reach it. Stir the
surface as soon as possible with a double
shovel pillow, thereby destroying the
starting weeds and covering tee tracks
made while putting out the crop.