The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-20

THE OUTLOOK ENCOURAGING.
The report says: ''While twenty States
made gains on the number of cattle for
1900, yet only two had a greater number
of cattle than in 1892 There We're TO-,
le5,17o more cattle in 1892 than in 1900,
and while we were losing these 10,165,lI6
cattle, we We're increasing our population
1r.5o0,0 600 for these eight, years, our popu-
lGtion being 65,45l 600 in 1892, and Io,0000C0
in. 1906. We thus had $50 cattle for each
1000 inhabitants in 1892 and 80 per Loco
population in 1900, being loss of I'll cat
tic per LOCO population, or about Is psr
cent OF d. reduction on our ratio.
ITO maintain our present ratio OF cat
tie in 1908, when our population will reach
approximately 100000, we should have
46,Seo,G00 cattle, or Il net gain of 1,on000U
annually. Our average annual decrease
for these eight years on cattle was l.,
go, 6o0.''
But it SAYS in another paragraph: The
lowest price for neat cattle was in 1891,
being s14.76 per head, against s2t.76 per
head in 1900 The loss in number has
been more than made up in price, being
Sic in value per inhabitant, against S1i
in 1892.
MISTAKES IN TOBACCO GROWING.
Mr.. J. NJ. Bosher of Henry county the
largest tobacco grower in Virginia, a
farmer who made $1,000 on his last years
crop of tobacco, outlines mistakes as
commonly made by Virginia planters.
His remarks are exceedigly timely now,
as the season for seeding tobacco plants
is approaching
Mr.. Bosher says in part:
81 will begin with the burning and seed
ing of plant lands. Some farmers make
mistakes in selecting and burning poor
open land, with northern exposure. This
kind of land Is cold and slow, and will
not bring plants in time to insure soo6
crop of fine tobacco. while if a little
Judgment was used in the selection of
land in the woods, with q good southern
exposure, plants would grow more rapidly
and could be set out in due time, which
is very essential.
.'T4len, again. some farmers prepare
only a small area of land and SOW large
quantity of seed. in order. as they think,
to insure full supply of plants. This.
as a general rule. will not do. Lands that
are seeded too thick will not turn out
many good plants. They will be sure TO
be small and spndlins. Now, in order to
have a plenty OF good, stocky plants, it
is best to burn Il good quantity OF land
say one hundred square yards to every
twenty thousand hills to be planted, ard
not more than one tablespoonful OF seed
Should be SOWn to the one fluHGFeQ square
yards. II the seeds are good and come
up well, the plants will be thick enough
and will be stout and healthy. which Is
a very important point, as such plants
grow off better and Will make better to-
bacco than spindling, overcrowded plants.
Mistakes are often made, too. in not
Thoroughly breaking ard preparing to-
bacco lands fine and nice before killing
or RIGGING, with the intention of compiet-
ing the process after the plants are set
The best way is to break and put your
land in thorough condition before plant
ing. This can DO done with less expense
and more Satisfactorily before than after
the plants are set out. and the cuitiva-
ton of the crop will be made easier and
the plants will live and grow Off better.
Their. again, it is mistake in not work
ing tobacco soon enough after planting.
Delay. along this line is calculated to re-
.tard the growth of the plants and may
give time for weeds and grass to spring
I'm and get a start. There is nothing
that prevents the growth of tobacco more
than for it to get foul and especially
grassy. This can and should be avoided
bv working with plows and hoes a few
DAYS after planting. It is a mistake to
pIow too deep and close to the tobacco
n1anty. as the roots should never be bro
n~A., nry5i