The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-11-04

GOOD prices prevailing mas not palC
more than twenty dollars net per acre
it would seem the difference in value
would induce the most confirmed cotton
planter to try and learn something about
the culture OF the better paying crop
aside from the crop OF tobacco the land
can be sown in peas and owing to the
large amount of potash which the to-
bacco fertilizers carry, a fine crop OIL
hav or peas can be harvested later IN
the year which will greatly augment
the value of the land for planting.
Persons unfamiliar with tobacco cul-
ture will do we'll TO remember that it IS
quick crop, from the time OF setting
the plants until cropping and curelng
begins rearly exceeds ninety days, and
during this period the plant requires
frequent cultivation and attention II 1t
is desired to obtain the highest results,
if the following rules are followed with
but little variation no one need lear fall
ure, indeed failure, unless in case OF
hail storm or something of like nature,
is it not nearly so likely as it is with
cotton by reason of the length OF time
it takes to produce the latter crop and
the expense incidental to it
When selecting land for planting to-
bacco, and it is desired to make the
bright leaf quality which is so much
sought after, light sandy soil with good
clay subsoil will be found best suited,
tobacco grown on this class of soil al
ways commands the highest market
price.
Toobtain good strong vigorous plants,
select a piece of moist stiff land near a
branch if possible and pile some logs Of
wood or brush on it and burn it, then
spade or break with plow thoroughly
mixing the ashes with the soil and final
" pulverize with a rake, one hundred
poundSof tobacco fertilizer broadcasted
and worked in during the breaking pro-
cess on a piece Of land thirty feet wide
and twenty long, the seed should then
be mixed with ashes and broadcoasted
over the plot then lightly raked in, to
protect from frost and cold, cover with
light cotton cloth. In the spring tobacco
lands are prepared for setting plants in
the same manner that cotton land IS
prepared. using from eight hundred to
one thousand pounds 70 the acre OF the
best tobacco fertilizer, be sure and get
this from reliable dealer, and distrlb-
ute evenly mixing it with the soil as
much as possible, put all the fertilizer
to be used down at one time. plants
should be set as early in the spring as
the weather will permit, or danger from
frost is over and replanting followed as
soon as necessary.
The same method OF scraping cotton
can be followed with tobacco, this should
be done frequently and particularly
after rains. When the worms begin to
make their appearance ablut the full
moon in May, care should be taken to
60 through the field often and when
needed Paris Green applied with small
hand bellows, this applies the green in
dry state and there is little danger OF
burning the plant with it, this work
take very little time but should not be
neglected as the worm can greatly de-
preciate the value Of tobacco in short
time by filing the leaf full OF holes II
not promptly checked.
In building barn for curing tobacco
it has been demonstrated thoroughly
that common pole barns well chlnked
with clay is not only the cheapest but
about the best kind of building for the
purpose. The best size of barn is 16 X l6
IN the clear and arranged with furnace
located in the center of one side, from
the furnace strong well made sheet iron
lues should be arranged to conduct the
heat 10 the sides and corners as evenly
as possible, these hues should not be
less than twelve inches in diameter to
afford sufficient heat for this size barn,
barn of this size will be ample to cure
each FIVE acre tracts planted.
Harvesting usually begins the latter
part oi.June or the first of July, the
time to begin can be determined by the
lower leaves turning yellow, this shows
that the plant is maturing or ripening.
the leaves should be stripped and hung
on wired sticks made for the purpose or
with thread, as quickly as possible as
soon as the barn is full apply heat and
the curing process carried on, when
thoroughly cured the fire is withdrawn
and as soon as the tobacco is sufficiently
in order to handle, it should be packed
down in bulk and left for at least three
weeks. this will take the green out OF
the tobacco and get it in fine shape for
gradeing and marketing, when one has
learned sufficiently about what constl-
tutes value in tobacco it pays handsome
ly to grade it before taking it to the
warehouse to be sold.
1t might be well to say that the best
plan to sell tobacco is to take it to ware
house and where experienced buyers
are sent by the various companys and
sell it on the floor as in almost every in
stance the best prices will be so obtain
ed.