The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1904-02-19
How to Improve The Quality Of Wisconsin
Tobacco. Farmers Standpoint.

which appeals directly TO the grower,
dealer and manufacturer. There ia al
ways good market for tirst-class arti-
Gle; this applies to any farm product,
especially tobacco.
In introducing this subject, | wish to
place great emphasis on the Importance
Of pure seed for Wisconsin growers. LIZ
the tobacco growers OF the state of Wis
consin could secure pure Havana seed
for the entire crop, and burn all the old
seed on hand in the state, it would mean
net profit of at least half million dol
lars to the farmers, and larger profit to
the packers of the state the first season.
The state experiment station, during
the last season, has grown one acre OF
pure Havana seed as starter for the
growers, and in the near future, with the
hearty cooperation of both farmer and
dealer, will be in position to supply the
grower with the very best seed obtain
able, and suited to the conditions and
environments of Wisconsin soil and clim-
ate. This is the commencement of
good work which should be fostered by
state legislation and appreciated by the
tobacco growers OF the state.
EARLY STRONG PLANTS.
Tobacco growers who make success
in growing tobacco, aim to have good
early, stocky plants, ready for trans
planting early in June. In order to
make success of a crop of tobacco, the
grower should provide himself with an
abundance of early plants. One acre of
good early tobocco is worth more than
| two acres of unripe, unfinished tobacco.
| and the net profit, to say nothing OF the
satisfaction to both grower and dealer, is
| much greater.
SUITABLE SOIL.
In order to produce a tirst-cla binder
crop the soil is one of the first considera-
tions. There is no profit in raising to-
| bacco on poor soil; better raise fewer
acres and have the land in good condi-
ton. A profit on one acre is better than
loss on five. Good, rich, sandy loam is
best suited to the growth of crop of
tobacco Generally speaking. tobacco
growers do not spend sufficient time in
| fitting and preparing the soil for the
| crop. From personal observation and
| experience. tobacco ground should be.
manured and plowed in the fall or man
ure spread on the ground in the winter
months and plowed up early the follow.
| ing spring. The soil should be thor
| oughly puverized and mellowed after
| blowing, at intervals, until the plants are
ready to transplant.
| TRANsPLANTING.
! Select only good, stocky plants, with
| fibrous roots Much depends upon an
| even stand the first setting, and in order
| to secure good stand the preliminary
work must be thorough, and hearty
plants provided. Much depends in the.
| manipulation of the planter. The rows
| should be straight and the plants evenly
distributed with an abundance Of MOIST
| ure.
CULTIVATION.
/ II the soil has been thoroughly rre-
| pared for the crop, cultivation should
commence at least three days after set
ting. Shallow cultivation is preferable.
| Never allow the soil to become packed
and sour for lack of cultivation. Tobac-
CO is crop which should grow rapidly,
| and the plant depends on the fbrous
roots which obtain nourishment and
plant food close to the surface: hence
the argument for shallow cultivation.
Farmers should bear in mind that till
age is for the purpose of improving the
physical condition of the soil and is a
| means of liberating the plant food with
in the soil. The fining of the surface
soil increases the number of soil psrti-
cles, thus giving the fine rootlets
greater opportunity to find the plant
food within their reach. This timing of
the soil also allows a freer circulation of
air, a very essential element in the
| growth of all plants, and especially to-
bacco. Without an abundance of oXy-
gen supplied by the air bacterial life
could not be as active as is necessary for
the liberation and assimilation of plant
food. The fining of the surface soil also
enables it to warm up more quickly in
the spring time, very important factor
in the cultivation and growth of the to-
bacco crop especially where one is re-
quired to deal with lands that are cold
and heavy. In the dry season the most
important office of this cultivation, the
stirring of the SOIL is the increasing Of
the amount of water which the soil will
contain.
TOPPING.
AS rule, farmers who have the good
fortune to grow an even crop of tobacco,
and top the same as soon as the buds
show, most invariably secure we'll ma
tured, early crop of tobacco. Never al
low the crop to blossom out as this has
a tendency to make the tobacco coarse
and woody IN fibre. This is one of the
greatest mistakes noticeable in the to-
bacco sections of Wisconsin. Farmers
who are unfortunate in getting a good
stand at first setting and transplant, as
rule, practice the evening up process
by allowing the first setting to go to seed
and then topping the whole crop at one
time. This is a great waste of Natures
energy and is a sure index of hard
crop to handle with profit after it reaches
the dealers hands.
HARVESTING.
1t is safe to commence harvesting the
crop in three or four weeks from date of
topping. Much depends upon the wealth
er after topping. Never cut the crop
until the top leaves begin to mottle. Al
ways sucker three days prior to harvest
ing. Tobacco should stand at least one
day after heavy rains to take on gum.
Avoid cutting until after the morning
dews have evaporated. 1t is uuprofita-
BILE to harvest tobacco until the crop is
well matursd. Much depends on the