The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-04-05
eoor. IRBY's WEEKLY LETTER.
CONCLUDED FROM PAGE 1 ]
HOW TO GROW TOBACCO

.1wavs be one OF the luxuries People
iii stint themselves and families for
tbo necessities of life, but their tobacco
they must have.
Tobacco is much more expensive and
5;Ai cult to grow than the cotton crop
or any of u r staple crops, for it is sub
i,ct to so many dangers and adver-
stiles that it seems a miracle that one
- ave pu5 on the market. The grow
ors of this valuable plant deserve all
thew ever get for it.
The fret thing to be done is co get a
ana seed bed, and this is usually done
nv selecting a nice loamy spot, with
soil az fine as possible, and then piling
br1sh and wood on this about the size
NJ h seed bed desired. Fine this, and
burn thoroughly. after which rake all
the Goals. trash, etc, off, and work the
ashes into the soil as thoroughly as
nossible. Rake and work this over
until the aahes are mixed with the soil.
The burning serves a double purpose;
# kills the seeds Of all noxious weeds,
and the ashes mixed with the soil make
q very fac seed bed. OF these
conditions can be gained without burn
ing the beds, but there is usually q
Great deal Of rubbish to be burned any
wav, and thus the burning serves a
double purpose.
The bed should be located near water
40 that it can be watered when neces-
ssry. It is best to put plank around it
80 that the cloth will not rest on the
plants. The tobacco bed cloth will fur
nish abundant protection from frost.
Fertilizer may be used on any bed in
the place of the ashes where the burn.
ing is too expensive. Sow the seed
broadcast and scratch the soil lightly
with a fine rake and lay a long plank
across the BID and walk up and down
on it. Then move the plank one width
Of itself, and so on, until the bed is
levelled over and the soil is packed
around the little seeds. This will il
sure termination and uniformity Of
plants. Try to get good, strong, well
grown plants to put out as soon as all
danger of frost is past; the strong
healthy plant starts eff growing 80
much better than the small one when
transplanted.
1t is much better to select grey land
with a yellow sub soil for growing to,
bacco. II possible, plant in checks
same distence each way, for the crop
can then be cultivated much easier.
The land should be very thoroughly
well on wet land. The quantity will
surely % small ind the quality poor.
Being a rapid growing crop, it needs a
rich soil or high fertilization. The
three essential elements Of e complete
fertilizer, w: nitrogen, potash and
phosphorus, must be present in large
quantities.. The potash, which is very
essential, should be in the form of sui
phate of potash, as this is free from
chlorine ingredients which has a bad
effect on the tobacco. This fertilizer
should be readily soluble, as the plant
makes a rapid growth and the fertili.
z9r, if not speedily available, is of no
use.
The fertilizer should be applied in
the hill two or three weeks before the
plants are Get out. Check the land
very deep, and put fertilizer in this
cross turrow and run a c%ultivator over
this, covering the fertilizer up. When
the crop Is set out the fertilizer will
q have had time to mix with the soil, and
the roots will not be burned. Cultivate
Often, and run both ways when prac
tlcaL The tobacco crop needs very
careful culture and the single horse
c~ultivatOr Is one OF the best implements
Tor keeping the ground in proper con
dition.
1t goes without saying that there is a
great deal of hand work needed, and
the worms will keep one interested if
tney are to be kept up with properly.
Inc time TO kill the worm is when he is
young. There are many ways of get
ung rid Of them, but the most effective
after all is TO pick them off by hand.
curing the crop is something that has
70 De learned by experience. We can
s~neoriz9 on other things and tell people
no" to DO them, but my advice to any
one wishing to learn how to cure to-
Oacco, is to go where it is being cured,
aua learn the methods practically. We
may work hard and make q fine crop
aud then practically lose it all in the
curing.