The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1902-02-14

TRANSFORMING requires the utmost care.
Carelessness and neglect here, is certain
to tell seriously on the result of the crop.
Great care should be exercised in the
drawing of the plants from the bed.
Before removing plants, the bed should
be thoroughly wet the night previous,
unless this has just been done by good
rain. The most careful hands should be
employed in removing plants from the
bed Plants should be drawn one at
time, and should be removed so as not
to iDjure the rootlets.
BARNARD CIsTERNs.
Wisconsin tobacco growers should pro-
vide barnyard cisterns to catch and hold
the leech of the manure pile, which is
continually going on during the early
part of the season. 1t is reasonable to
say that one-fourth of the strength of our
barnyard fertilizer is leeched out and
lost in the early spring. This means an
annual loss of about three hundred
thousand dollars. If the planters would
utilize this annual waste, and use the
liquid fertilizer thus saved to water out
the plants when transplanting, the re-
suit would be most gratifying AID pro-
fitable, as this liquid fertilizer could be
evenly distributed by the use of our
transplanters, and the liquid supplied
where the young plant would receive
nourishment and strength, plant food in
sufficient quantities to push the crop to
quick maturity. AS a direct result of
this supply of plant food the tobacco
plants would start with an even growth,
ripen with uniform finish, with at least
one-fourth more pounds of good mellow
ripe tobacco per acre. 1t logically fol-
lows, that it One-fourth more pounds of
good desirable leaf can thus be produc
ed, the grower has gained at least $25
per acre. If the majority of the growers
in the state would avail themselves of
this single feature, they would gain an
nually at least one-half million dollars.
This liquid fertilizer if saved and prop
erly applied would place the Wisconsin
farmer in the lead of all cigar leaf pro-
ducing states. 1t would have the same
effect on plant growth that an abund-
alice of sweet milk has on young animal
growth. The young plants then, when
transplanted, would throw out their
fbrous roots and feed upon this liquid
fertilizer, until the tap root had reached
the coarser manure, and as a result,
plant food would be supplied. There
would be vigorous growth, an early
maturity and and an enhanced value of
the annual product.
CULTIVATION.
An abundance of fertilizer does not re-
move the necessity of thorough cultiva-
ton. Cultivation should begin early, to
preserve all the soil moisture possible.
It should be shallow and level. The to-
bacco especially needs thorough cultiva-
ton. Care should be taken as the crop
advances not to injure the fibrous roots.
1t is the glory of the thrifty tobacco
planter not to allow weed to disgrace
his tobacco field. When land has been
thoroughly plowed in the fall, and pull
verified weekly from the first week in
May until setting time, the weeds are
well-nigh eliminated, and in shallow cul-
tivation, weeds can be kept down until
the plants SO shade the ground in it's
later stages of growth that weeds cannot
flourish. Stir the soil as soon as prac-
ticable after rains; this prevents evapo-
ration, and let's il the warm rays of sun
light to the roots of the growing plant.
Concluded next week.