The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-03-06
Culture Of Tobacco.
Mr.. B. M. Brown, of Cam
den. Gives His Expert
ence With the Plant.

the following for farmers who con-
template planting tobacco the pres
eut year, aud at the outset let me say
that better raise &c. cotton than poor
tobacco. This being so, the aim OF
the farmers should be to raise hne
tobacco, aud the farmer or planter
who will not give his tobacco crop
constant and intelligent care had bet
ter not plant it. for be will be sure to
fail in raising a paying crop.
Taking it for granted that the plant
%bea''bas been properly prepared, and
the seed sown, and the cover put over
the bed, the most important c%onsldera,
ton is the selection of the proper land
for raising fine tobacco.
1st. Select light gray or sandy land
With yellow sub-soil (uot clay with ua-
tural drainage. This is very impor-
tant, for there is DO plant with which
have any acquaintance that will show
the effect of too much water sooner than
the tobacco plant. If the roots are
sobbed by too much water it will COM
mence to "French." and then goodbye
to all your bright hopes.
Having selected your land, break up
flush with turning plows as early as the
land is 10 proper condition to work;
then lay off rows three feet three inches
and bed out as for cotton; reverse your
beds two or three times before
LIST Of April. About 10 days be-
fore you are ready to ''set out"
distribute your fertilizer and cover
with ..double foot plow." When
your plants are large enough to traos-
plant finish beds by throwing two more
burrows with seven inch turning pillow,
run roller on beds if dry to settle the
land. If there is a season 10 the land
knock off the top Of the beds with a
board.
The beds are nov ready to receive
the plants, which set thiry-four inches
apart if land is iu fair state Of product
.ivepess; if thin land is used set plants
thirty-six inches on bed.
The plant is ready to set out when
the stalk is the size of a common lead
pencil. Very small plants do not COM
meuce to grow as soon after trans
planting as those indicated above, re.
plant as soon as possible in order to
have tobacco as near the same age. 10
some instances the second replanting is
necessary. Don't wait for rain. but
set plants aud water them. pint of
water if properly applied will save a
plant in the dryest weather. AS 5000
as the plant shows signs Of living stir
the land with the hoe, which hastens
the growth aud destroys any young
grass that may have made lis appear
ance. Keep the land we'll stirred with
sweep; I never have used any other
piow. Some planters use the turning
shovel, which may be necessary when
the land has not sufficient natural drain
age to take the water 81 rapidly enough.
As the plant leaves expand be careful
not to bruise them, for a bruised leaf
will be sure to chow up In curing;
therefore it is to the interest of the far
mer to select the most careful aud trust
worthy hand on the farm to do the
blowing. These may seem small mat
tiers, but they will tell when your tobac-
co is pu. upon the warehouse focr.
About the last of May or lst of June
the worms make their appearance. Now
comes the tug of war. If you expect
to succeed there must be no putting of
until tomorrow, but be on the offensive
and continue there. Not only kill the
worms but brush the eggs from the
leaves. Now is the time the personal
supervision Of the farmer or manager is
absolutely necessary. To destroy the
eggs that produce she worms it is only
necessary to brush them from the plaut
to the ground; when they hatch, there
being nothing for them to srbsiss on OF
course they die. Some farmers have
the eggs mashed, which consumes time
and is entirely unnecessary. Come as
near completely destroying this first
army of worms as it is possible to do,
thereby lesseniog the next army. which
will make their appearance in about four
weeks after the first.
1t is of the greatest importance to
get your plants out early and push
the growth 20 maturity as rapidly as
possible to escape the August crop Of
worms, which is more numerous and
more destructive than those already
disposed of.
The worms I have been treating OIL
is known as the Horn Worm, bu'
there is another and more destructive
little fellow called the Bud Worm,
which attacks the plant 10 the bud and
unless taken out will entirely destroy