The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-05
BIGGEST ANYWHERE
COL. JOHN S. CUNNINGHAM WILL
THIS YEAR LPLANTa SIX [HUN-sE
DRED ACRES IN TOBACCO.
1t will EGive Him Between two and.Ea
Half and Three Million Hills of To-
bacco--Some Suggestions
About Tobacco Culture
by Col. Cunningham.
DRED ACRES IN TOBACCO.
II will [Gixe Him Between two andIa
by Col. Cunningham.

To the Editor: Col Jno. G. Cunning
ham, of Person county, viii this year
plant six hundred acres in tobacco.
This area will enable him to make
between two and half and three mill
lion hills. It will be the largest to-
baeco crop in the United States if not
intheworld.
Col. Cunningham has been forsever-
al years the largest tobacco planter in
the State, and the fact that this year
he will clear large body of tin,bered
lands (fresh land is the best for tobae-
COZ to increase his crop, shows that it
is "A paying crop.
At our request, Col Cunningham has
prepared the following article for the
tobacco edition of the News and Obser-
yer.
GROWING AND CURING TOBACCO.
This crop is so entirely different
from any other crop, that it cannot
be undertaken without full instruc-
ton, and in order for those who expect
to make the venture to be successful
this knowledge of growing and curing
tobacco should be acquired to a cer-
tain degree in the beginning.
1t is true in this crop as in all other
crops, that it requires attention,
thought and practice to attain eff
cheney, so that the crop. will become
a profitable one, and experience shows
that tho hncf &c
lightened, progressive efforts.
The space allotted to me will not
permit my going into the details fully
of this crop, but / trust that | may
furnish some of our planters who de-
sire to become acquainted with the
methods adopted and practiced in the
Golden Tobacco Belt, with some ideas
that viii be of benefit to them
No industry has made greater pro-
g1ess in new and improved varieties,
implements, fixtures, and manage
ments than tobacco planting during
the past decade, and success therein
greatly depends upon starting right,
and pursuing the latest improved
methods and practices.
The best grades of the various types
pay handsome returns, demontrating
the Importance of making quality
rather than quantity of most consider
alton in its production.
In the first place, to grow good to-
bacco it requires good seed, soil, cli-
mate, and management. Bright yell
low tobacco cannot be produced on
dark, rich soil, nor heavy shipping
tobacco on poor gray soil. A gray,
sandy top soil, with a yellow porous
sub-soil is best for yellow wrappers
and smokers. Tie production of
brights, requires more skill and care
full managementand the price obtained
makes ample compensation for all the
attention bestowed upon them. The
selection Of a proper locality for a
plant bed is Of the utmost Importance.
The original woods is preferable and
near branch or stream with south
ern exposure. The plant land must
be burned before sowing, the soil
should be gotten in a fine condition,
and enriched by manuring SO that the
plants will be ready to set out early.
The best time to SOW the seed is from
the 1st of January to 1st Of March.
The modern method Of covering the
bed with thin cloth is now being al
most universally practiced. 1t pro-
tects the plants from cold and is a
preventive of flies. 1t is necessary to
be careful in selecting the land, as
well as the proper cultivation of it.
a skilled tobacco curer lis the most
valuable person on bright tobacco
farm, and it usually follows that
man who understands the cultivation
and curing of tobacco in most every
instance handles it properly after it is
placed in the storage barn. to be got
ten ready for the sales floor
prefer new land for tobacco, it is
well if possible to cut down the land
two or three years before putting it
in tobacco, it greatly helps it's fertility,
and IL is much easier to prepare the
land for the crops.
Experience teaches that good pre-
paration is half cultivation and this
is true of all crops.
Every planter should be careful to
plant varieties suited TO the soil. The
plants are usually set out the first Of
Nav and it requires a good season IN
order that the plants may live, and
thrive. Graceful, early and thorough
cultivation is necessary TO produce the
best grades of tobacco.
DO not begin to cut until the tobacco
Is ripe, and endeasor to fill the barn
with tobacco that will be- as uni
form AIS possible.
The primitive method Of curing to-
bacco with wood and charcoal has
given place to the system known as
fue-curing. by this method the smoke
and dust, with which the tobacco be-
cones filled, is avoided.
The stripping and asserting Of TO-
bacco properly adds materially to It's
value " hen placed on the market.
If Is conceded by those who have
been engaged for long time in grow
NO tobacco that the chief cause Of
failure results from ineNperienee Iii
not knowing how to prepare for rais-
ing tobacco. 10 constructing suitable
barns and pack-houses. and skill N
curing and not selecting the proper
land and the best varieties Of. tobacco.