Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1896-06-11
CULTIVATION OF TOBACCO.
A Few Notes of Interest.

80
any other crop, save hat the soil
must be stirred often and all grass
kept out of the field. The to-
bacco plant grows rapidly after it
gets a start. If the preparation
of the soil has been thorough, a
few quick workings will see the
crop large enough to take care of
itself and shade out all appearance
of weeds and grass.
at is important to commence
cultivation soon after planting, to
loosen the soil and start the plant S
growing. Just at this point many
planters fail TO do their duty,
which no subsequent work can
atone for. Early, rapid and
thorough cultivation is necessary
to produce first-class tobacco. 1t
the preparation has been thorough,
thrice blowing, followed each time
with ii hand-hoe, will suffice for
the crop. For the first owing
no implement is better than the
wing coulter; the next best, the
c%ultivator or double shovel with
the coulter points. The second
blowing may be effectually done
with the turning pillow OF cultiva-
tor; if grassy, use the first. The
last blowing is most e~ffectually
done with three burrows with the
single shovel-a furrow on each
side, then splitting the middle with
the third and last furrow. Never
'scrape down tobacco with the
hoe without putting back on the
hill or bed as much dirt as is scrap
ed down. This will prevent bak-
ing, and save many plants should
a dry spell follow the hand-hoe
working. Any process which
stirs the soil effectually and often,
and keeps the plant free from
grass and weeds, will constitute
good cultivation, no matter how
and with what implement done.
Old land will require more work
in cultivation than new, and dark
grades more than bright. Short
singletrees should be used after the
plants arc half grown, to prevent
tearing and breaking the leaves
Careless hands can and will often
do great damage to the crop, IN
less they + watched, 1t does
not pay to use the pillow when the
leaves have grown to certain
size; for the hoe can be made to
answer all purposes. A little care
along this line will often save
many pounds of fine tobacco in a
single field.
Having got your plants all set,
the next in order is, in q few
days, to hoe out the same. Take
a cultivator narrowed up, and
with d boy to guide the horse, go
through; ones to a row is sufi
Gent for the first hoeing. Then
with a common hand-hoe, c 1t up
all the grass ana weeds, bush
the dirt down level around the
plant; stir it but very slight y
close to the plant; leaving the
stirring anc hauling dirt up to
the plants to a future dressing.
Go over the whole in like mans
ner; then again in ten days or a
fortnight. keeping the worms eff
in the meantime. With your cul
tivator. go twice to a row. This
time you can stir the dirt pretty
freely around the plants. and re-
new it. being careful not to leave
any leaves covered up. or par
TALLY so. as it will spoil them.
AS the leaves are what tobacco
is grown for. DE sure. in all the
different processes you &C
through with, to save them from
anything that will injure them
Should any plant have it's center
bud brokel or eaten off, it will
come up with several suckers OF
sprouts, and will not amount tc
much; better replace sucb,
if mt too late. II is better
to do the rest of the hoeine
without the use OF the culUivator
stir the ground and keep it free
from weeds by going through as
often as necessary with the hoe.
WoRMS.-The tobacco having
got up from ten to twelve inches
high. louk out for the greer
worm which eats the leaves
They are often found earlier
You will see a small round hole
oftentimes no larger than a large
p%in-hole in the leaf; if you turl
it up you will be very apt TO dis
cover on the under side a small
worm no larger round than
common thread needle. and hal
!. an inch in length. Kill him
, and all his kind. for if left. b.
will grow to the size and length
of your finger. aud would no
make much Of a breakfast off
, full>grown leaf: keep the grow
: ing plants free from all such b,
, |, by going through the field often
and picking them of. Well
trained turkeys will often>tlme
. assist in destroying them. Al
: other fowls should be kept Off
as they often do more damag
, !, than good by scratching, an,
: otherwise injuring the leaves.