The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-12-18

Maryland Tobacco.
The tobacco crop of Southern Mary
land is of primary importance to our farm
ers, and any discussion of the growing
and marketing of it, must be of interest to
them.
1t is often said that tobacco is our only
money-crop. This is true or untrue just
as the planter may have raised good or
bad crop, and has stripped, conditioned
and packed it properly or improperly. A
good crop, well handled, will pay better
than any other we can raise, but bad
crop or good crop badly handled will
bring its owner in debt Our farmers do
not seem to realize the changed conditions
both of production and trade. Thirty
years ago the growing of tobacco by for
eign countries was so small as to be OF lit
tie importance, but now nearly every
country in the world is raising it, and, of
course this enormous increase of prOduc-
ton affects us, especially in the lower
grades, for these foreign tobaccos as a
rule, are common in quality. Hence 1t
follows that to get away from this fierce
competition, we must bend every energy
to raise the higher grades of tobacco, and
lessen the quantity of common. Uufortu-
nately in our last three crops the common
grades have largely predominated, and
the price therefore has been very low. In
all competition the rule that governs is,
the survival of the tittest. Not only must
we keep our article up to the standard but
improve upon it, othe, wise some entcrpris-
iEg rival, favored, perhaps, by custom du-
ties, will snatch it from us. The great
advantages of Maryland tobacco are its
free burning quality and mild taste. 1t is
not used for chewing or cigar making but
for the pipe and cigarette; and pipe smok-
ing is decreasing, especially in Germany.
The demand for it is almost entirely
abroad the American market being sup
piled principally by Virginia and kentuc-
ky. Baltimore manufactures nearly four
tenths of all the smoking tobacco made in
the United States, and the whole Mary
land crop is inspected and sold within a
stones throw of these factories, but only
a few hogsheads of our tobacco are used
therein.
will consider first the growing of this
crop, and then its marketing. In the grow
ing of tobacco many elements of uncer-
tainty necessarily enter, for it is subject
to the conditions of soil and climate. 1t
is also dependent on the experience and
judgment and industry of the planter
whose first care should be the selection of
seed and seed beds. 1t is not enough to
have tobacco-seed, but it should be chosen
from plants which have furnished the va
riety wanted. Formerly weight paid as
well, if not better, than quality, but now
the light texture and bright color are es-
sential to renumerative prices, because the
trade demands them; and If we cannot
supply its needs, some other tobacco will
be substituted. This is always dan gerOus,
because it frequently happens either that
the substitute is preferred to the original
article or that the taste becomes accus-
toned to it. and so its use is continued.
The careful farmer, if he has not already
the best seed, will therefore seek it from
his successful neighbor whose tobacco has
obtained an established reputation for
merit. In making beds, location as well
as soil should be considered. If possible,
new land will be used, and a southern ex-
posure sought for. Generally fertilizer is
dug in the beds when being made, but a
practical farmer tells me that he has dis
carded this practice. Instead, he selects
good piece of land, prepares and sows
the bed early, SO that the plants may have
stronger roots, and in the beginning of
April, when they are about to appear. he
top dresses with fertilizer at the rate of
two water buckets to a space fifteen yards
e.
top dresses again, later on, if necessary.
The introduction of cotton GOV ering for
tobacco beds has been the most important
advantage in tobacco culture made for
many years. Owing to the change of
seasons, it seems to be impossible to raise
a crop of good quality unless it be planted
early, the last of May or first of June, and
our beds as rule would not provide the
plants before the middle of June, with
an occasional total failure from the fly.
With the aid of cotton covering it is easy
to have good plants by the last of May,
and the danger from fly is eliminated.
The cotton used costs only IL few cents a
yard, can be sewed together at home and
lasts several seasons. Forks should be
driven down on two opposite sides of the
bed, upon them should be placed stout
poles, and galvanized wire stretched across,
about a yard apart. Upon these wires the
cotton can rest, tapping over on all four
sides sufficiently to be fastened to the
ground by any kind of weight. Thus the
covering can be easily removed and dam
ger of tearing is reduced to a minimum.
The soil in which tobacco is grown ma
terially affects its character; that grown
on light or sandy soils possesses quality at
the expense of weight, and on heavy or
clay soils weight at the expense of quail
ty, while sandy loan is the happy mean.
The proper preparation of the land for
planting varies according to its nature;
light lands can be plowed in the spring,
while stiff lands should be plowed in the
fall or winter and cross-plowed in the
spring. BY this means the vegetable mat
ter in the stiff land will rot and the frosts
will assist to bring it in order. The prop
err condition of the land i'll which the
plant is set is essential to a rapi start and
continued growth; and quick. continuous
growth is necessary 10 oil in a fine quality.
Some fertilizer in the hill or drill is of
benefit, but care must be taken in its Sc
| lection Materials which contain chic
rine should not be used among them may
be mentioned salt, and kainit-for they
tend to destroy the free burning quality
of the tobacco. Possibly one hundred
pounds of salt or kanit to the acre, broad
| cast, will not hurt, but larger quantity
will, and the use of these substances is
easily detected because the stem of the
| leaf becomes white. Potash is beneficial
| and for this reason many persons have
| used it in its cheaper grades, the muriates,
| which contain much chlorine, whereas
| they should have got the sulphate which
| is not Objectionable for this reason.
Freedom from grass and continuous cul-
tivation must be given the plant until it
is laid by Especially sLo lid the land be
worked in dry weather thereby furnish
i 4