Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1900-04-06
Tobacco Growing.

lVU0VUU OlOWuYs
Some experiences in the culture aud cur
r,ny e., Tobacco in Morrison County,
by az Old Settler.
We we'll remember when the mention
of hen."-rpun> Or gray leaf tobacco, was
the signal to close noses and pass on.
a telling of disgust is necessarily ascot
nted with the thought OF home raised to-
Dacco. Every farmer in Morrison coun-
ty can raise and cure his own leaf. If he
will t">tow upon it the same care re-
s,u;.pl W husband his Other crops The
xra,iouit lies with US farmers onrseIvet.
ToIacc" being raised merely as an ad-
5unct. doesn't not receive the attention
An,. Gaze we give to the other crops.
But, without stopping TO consider the
why's and wherefores, with which l am
afraid we are all too familiar already, we
will try to deduce a few simple truths,
which observation, experience, and the
various government bulletins bave
taught us. Tobacco grown and cured
here, mag not be equal to the finest Ha-
vana. but nevertheless it is good enough
1or anybody: it will make cigar that
will burn evenly leave a white ash, hang
together until burned up and taste good.
What more con we ask?
No dissertation on the methods of
growing. fertilizers, ETC.. ia necessary in
this article, as that is the easiest and
most simple part of the process by which
a good leaf may be obtained.
Our frost periods vary according to
conditions OF which we must be our own
Judges and act accordingly. would ad-
wise hot bed plants, but seeds sown in a
sunny place the first week in April ought
TO furnish plants blythe 10th Of June,
which is about the time l like to set
them out. but the earlier the better,
frost liabilities permitting. Three feet
apart each way is about right for our
soil anywhere in the county. no matter
now poor the soil may seem Ito be. No
special preparation OF the ground ia
necessary, and if manured at all. should
only be covered lightly with we'll rotted
harnyard or hep house manure In siew
words, manure makes the tobacco grow
raDk. coarse and strong. Farther than
three feet apart is absolute waste OF
ground, and at three feet apart the
leaves will interlace to such ian iextent,
that it will take a herd windstorm tol
tear them to pieces. Without going Tin
TO minute detail, and lengthening this
article beyond reason, we will say; plant
as before suggested: keep free from grass
and weeds, cultivate until the leaves in
4erIaee so there is danger OF breaking
hem: ''top' by breaking, not cutting,
off the flower head, just as soon as the
blossoms begin to open, leaving all the
leaves grow. Now, how many suckers
to leave on, and how many to take off
is for the individual to Judge, according
70 the strength OF the soil, the desil ed
strength OF the tobacco and the progress
III the growth OF the plant. There is no
absolute rule | usually sucker once,
leaving six or eight OF the largest sucker
leaves on tue plant, after the suckers are
I, foot long: after that sucker once
in two weeks, until the main leaves be-
come slightly spotted and brittle, when
i is ready to cut. Now BEAR constantly
IN mind, that we are up here in the
4.enter OF the state, and that what is
all right here, may not be applicable to
other parts OF this state, even. The to-
bacco stalk should be cut just under
the ground leaf, in the evening and left
lay over night to wilt. Next day as
soon as it was sufficiently timber to
handle, it should be piled twenty stalks
in a pile, and replied every twenty lou I
hours until the leaves are yellow and
become spotted, it ia now ready to hang.
Split the stalk carefully to avoid in.
juring the leaves, down to within three
inches OF the butt and hang on lath OF
small poles just far enough to keep the
plants from touching each other and to
allow the free circulation OF the air. You
may hang it tier above tier, ii you wish
as high as you please, but be sure you,
roof is good, Us ram on the tobacco is
1uinous, especially at the stage Of cur
ing where parts OF the same leaf arc sof
and he I'd at the same time. One part
OF the leaf may be dry and harsh, Will,
the remainder OF the same leafis soft ant
flexible and excessive moisture will ru1
the color,aI together and mix the favor
beyond redemption. Leave the sides 0
the house Or shed open euough to ad
nit the natural daylight, but the les.
direct sunshine the better, yet the side
OF the house must be close enough tt
permit the wind from blowing the tobac
co to pieces when it is dry. When tn
leaves have lost their greenness, 70,
may fire. if you wish to hurry it up
and accOmnlish in two or throo dova