The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-02-03
Tobacco Culture.

A'i~~ ~OC PcI SOA, Ut All ufuS S@Ore5.
/ Tobacco Culture.
Clark Arnold, in a letter to thu
Galveston News, says: A shor
communication in your paper a few
weeks ago on the subject of tobacco
raising in Texas has brought me {
deluge of letters asking for infor.
nation on every phase of the sub.
ject. So many of them are of the
same nature that, with your per.
mission, I will endeavor to answer
through your columns. In these
answers we desire it to be remem-
bered we have drawn largely from
private letters and published in
structions from Mr.. F. b. Noodle,
one of the most extensive and sue
cessful tobacco growers in Florida.
The Seed-Experience has de-
monstrated that cigar leaf is far
more profitable than the large,
heavy varieties, such as enters into
the plug or chewing tobacco. Of
the cigar leaf the Vuelta Abaio has
proved to be an excellent variety
on account of its fine textures, flaw
or, color and good burning quail
ties. This variety of Cuban tobac-
CO is said by experts to be the most
valuable and is perfectly at home
in the coast country. The seed
can be had at rs cents per ounce
or 50 per pound. Last year they
sold at Lake City, Fla, at $50 per
pound. A letter addressed to the
president Of Florida Tobacco grow
ers' Association at Lake City, Fla,
with the price enclosed will bring
the seed.
The time to SOW the seed-For
this latitude select time in Janu-
airy or February when the ground
is moist, not wet. Virgin soil we'll
covered with leaf would make the
best seed beds, and if located very
near stream or lake SO much the
better. Too much care cannot be
in the preparation of the seed bed.
Rake off the leaves and lay the
poles about FIVE feet apart, cover
these with brush and then on top
OF this place more poles or small
logs to hold it down close. The OBJ
ject being to burn the ground
thoroughly SO that all grass or
weed seeds may be destroyed, and
at the same time secure a GOOD
coat of ashes, which makes a good
fertilizer. After the larger pieces
are nearly consumed draw the
pieces to the margin Of the bed. |
and after an hour or two dig ND |
your bed, be very careful not to |
turn the burnt soil upside down.
Now take a rake and thoroughly
pulverize the ground, remove all |
roots and clods and leave the sur
lace of your bed perfectly smooth |
and level. Your ground is proba- /
bly, cool by this time; If SO take |
one heaped teaspoonful of good |
seed to every fifteen feet square of
bed, mix them well with corn meal !.
1r white ashes, so as to see when
he ground is covered. Sow in
and about four feet wide broadcast
nth three fingers. If you can SOW
he ground one way and then cross
low you will cover the ground more
ocular. Sweep gently over the
'urface with a very light brush and
ramp every inch of the surface
nth the feet. Now cover the bed
Nth leafess brush and leave it on
Until danger of frost is over. saw
he last of March.
After the plants have reached 4
n 5 inches in height they are
eady to set out. Cut q ditch
round the bed 80 that no water
Vill stand on the bed. "A good
prinkling once week with water
vhich has stood for few days or
manure taken from the horse stable I
r COW pen will produce wonderful |
esults. t,
Any good sandy loan will pro-
uce fine tobacco. Avoid all lands {
hose surface is impregnated With | j
lme or clay. For natural indica- {
ions in timbered lands the oak,
ickory, beech, dogwood and chin