The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-16
TOBACCO RAISING IN FLORIDA.
Farming Efforts TO Secure
Finer Qualfty-whoIe Fields Under
Cloth Covers,
Quincy, Fla. Feb. 5, 1900.

Editor Messenger:
/ write from Santa Maria" farm.
n of nine belonging to The Owl
Commercial Company. Of Quincy.
Fla Tie superintendent Of this plan
tation is Mr.. Robert J. Bannerman. a
very clever and courteous gentleman.
who is wonderfully skillful in the good
and quiet management OF the en-
ployes under his control. In short,
We think he is the right man in the
right place"
This company. IL ] mistake not, put
about 500 acres In tobacco last year.
They raised from the Cuba and Su-
mAtra seed, about the finest quality
OF in this country for cigars.
The best covers" Tor leaves for the
cigars are made from the Sumatra
seed. Not much is known, however.
OF the chemical properties of the to-
! bacco leaf, especially those which con-
tribute to he avor and aroma It is
believed that tbs market demands. ex-
cept in a general way do not depend
upon h o OF nicotine. Expert
ence teaches that excessive nitrogen
Gus manuring produces n larger leaf
OF inferior quality, containing a great
er amount Of nicotine.
1t is also found that on the Florida
leaf there exists two kinds OF oXidiz-
ing enZyms. distinguished as tobacco
oXldase and tobacco p~aroxidase. II is
discovered by comparison with the
Connecticut leaf that it is on the diff
ference in these eXZyms, and on their
presence or absence, that the differ
ence in flavor n aroma depends;
an effort is being made TO so EN-
ploy these as to produce the flavor and
aroma OF the Florida leaf in the Con-
necticut tobacco.
While this seems to be so, this en-
terprising n energetic company is
putting forward a greater effort and
making larger expenditures 10 pro-
duce a still better quality of tobacco.
To do this they have decreased acre
6 about one-half, and adopted a
more expensive shade system, which
will enable them 10 make two crops
per annum and Will result in a surer
crop and a far superior article of to-
bacco. Not only have they a shade
system, but they nave on this and
other farms extensive works for irri-
cation.
On this farm on a high hill over
looking the large and fertile fields is
a reservoir 100 feet wide. $50 feet long
and 10 feet deep, "a to hold one and
a quarter million gallons of water.
From this reservoir runs a 3-inch pipe
900 feet to a 50-horSe-power boiler and
| pump, which raises the water 80 feet
from a perpetual stream below, thus
filling the reservoir above. From this
reservoir smaller pipes and wood
troughs convey the water to any de-
sired place on the farm. These pipes
and trOughS u neal the ground, all
among the posts, put up in rows, and
on top of which are put the wire and
cheese-cloth to make the shade. h
posts, 2x3 and 9 feet high, are placed
at reasonable distances apart so that
employees and team can easily per-
form their labor. The cloth is neatly
sewn together and put upon the wire
on top of the posts, covering the field
from end to end, and from side to side,
coming down to the ground, so that no
fly or insect car enter. Wire doors,
covered with cloth, are made for the
employees and teams to &C in n out,
and these doors are kept shut.
You may, in this way, cover as many
acres as you want in one field; and,
as / have said above, you not only
have the advantage of keeping out
flies and insects, blu you keep a warm
er and more regulated temperature,
which is so much desired in the Guilt
walton OF the plant. With these adj
vartages and in this excellent climate
they are able to make two crops Of
fine tobacco every year.
Plant beds should be prepared in De
cember and seed may be sown till the
1st Of April, thus giving you plants of
different sizes. The plants should be
put out about the 10th Of April if you
wish to make two crops by the shade
system. This crop may be. housed
about the last of June, and the second
crop put in will be housed in Septem-
Der. The plant beds should be very
carefully prepared by burning it over
with logs and wood so that the roots
and vegetation will be burned out Of
every inch Of the soil. When this is
done dig up, %pulverize, fertiIize and
make the bed as rich as possible.
Broadcast your seed, sowing pretty
thick, so hat you will have a great
quantity of plants on a small piece Of
ground.
More might be aid about the indus
tries Of this company in the way OF
gathering, curing and housing tobacco
crops, and in the way of making an
abundance Of corn, oats, hay, etc, but
time n space fOrbids.
I wish to say, however, before l
close, hat I nave had "a good time"
in this fine country. 1 hav visited the
important towns. lakes and rivers and
looked upon their beauty and their
grandeur; ] have seen the great hills,
n beautiful valleys of the country;
and the fine fish and great droves Of
ducks and splendid scenery around the
beautiful lakes. I have met as good
n h~ospitable people as are to be
found anywhere: and with such peo-
pie, and with a rich soil and healthy
climate, it may be truly said this is a
"goodly'' iand in which TO live.
w. T. p.
Mort Carolina Should Preserve Her