Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1909-03-11

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The tobacco crop in 1907 amounted
almost to 5000, 100000 pounds. Allow
ing as q moderate average 20 cigars
and 100 cigarettes to the pound. this gives
an annual product OF 2o.0O0.OOO.ooo
cigars. 100000. 100000 cigarettes for
the worlds consumption during the
year. with plenty to spare for all the
SNUFF, chewing. and pipe tobacco de-
manded by such users OF the weed.
Assuming that the total population OF
the world is 100000. 900. the per
capita employment OF tobacco can be
reasonably calculated.
Tobacco is grown from the SEEDS
and its cultivation does not diner ma
terially from that OF the cabbage. the
preparation of seed for distribution 10
planters is an important part OF the
Industry. because much depends upon
the quality OF seed used. and the ap-
preparedness Of such seed for the par
ticular soil and climate IN which 1t IS
proposed to grow It. Tobacco SEEDS
are small. and plenty OF them are
needed to insure q good growth. More
over. they react noticeably 10 iniiu'
ences OF soil. producing leaf that pre-
serves O color traceable to the color
Ing matter Of the soil in which It
grows. The plant Is one also that
crosses readily, so that It may be
easily modified to suit conditions. but
at the same time It must be carefully
guarded to prevent accidental cross
Ing. The cultivation OF tobacco for It's
various uses has received as careful
attention as that Of any agricultural
Industry, and the agricultural depart
ments of all governments have given
elaborate study to the question. as a
scientific and practical problem vitality
concerning all farmers and producers
of staple crops. Each year the plant
must be reared from the beginning.
thus resembling wheat and potatoes,
and differing therefore from trees or
the vine. Cultivation in every detail
has become a nicely technical pro-
cedure, every step being carefully con-
trolled; after seeding. and, II this Is
adopted, after transplanting. tobacco
must be fortified, and there Is no
plant so susceptible to fertilization as
tobacco. The demand Of any particu-
lar variety of plant for Its natural
nourishment must be most exactly
met, or poor results are apt to follow.
Consequently the chemistry OF plant.
soil, and fertilizer has become almost
an exact science. More than half the
states Of the United States are en-
gagged in the production OF the leaf.
and throughout the union new areas
are brought into bearing. because anal.
ysis has shown that soil. seed. and
food can be so combined as to pro-
duce a commercially profitable article.
Agriculture experiment stations the
world over are showing how TO 60 to
work to get q good crop, and the old
fear. ending in real disaster In Virginia
many years ago. that the soil would
become exhausted and barren, Is no
longer impending over the modern
farmer who studies his occupation In
diligently. Perique tobacco. produced
IN a small area Of Louisiana, settled
originally by the Acadians. is an ex-
ception, In that II will not grow else
where. II demands the black soil Of
these bottoms for It's peculiar flavor.
Scarcely more than $4,000 pounds a
year e: Perique measure the worlds
crop.
Various expressions are used to de-
note the processes employed In the
different stages Of cultivation. Top
ping is the term implying the removal
Of the seed head; this Is done to divert
the vitality OF the plant from Its es-
sentiaIly physieloglc function-the per
vetuaticn Of the sreciea-'to the de-