The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1913-06-20

| 10 ieit W grow anu Keep the pldnI alive.
This will stop the growth of suckers be-
low. The one at the top is allowed to
grow until six or seven days before cut
| Ting. 1t is then cut out so the plant
will ripen up. On the early plants some
three or four sucker leaves can be left
which are mostly used for tie leaves.
By this method Mr.. Chinn has had great
success. He tells us of the fellow who
wanted to sell his father coon dog, and
he blowed much about what this dog
could do. but his father said," show me
the skins on the wall" Mr. Chinn has
the skins on the wall to show, having
made for some years past the best crop
in his section, and Mr.. Petty and others
who saw his crop last year thought j
was the finest one in the State, and his
yield was good. We doubt if the one
sucker will take any more from the
plant than all the other suckers would
Mr.. Chinn does another thing that is
thought by some to be advisable. After
the tobacco is put on the stick he splits
the but end of tie stalk down to the
stick crosswise of the other split. This
is done to let the stalk dry out, which
he says is very important as it gets rid
of the dampness in the stalk and cures
up the fines, trashes and lugs with better
color. He says one man can split these
stalks as fast as three wagons can hau-
them
We should certainly make some i'm
provement in the curing of the crop.
For 30 years we have continued TO raise
tobacco and let it damage. This is due
largely to overcrowding in the barn, but
often few stalks in an open barn will
damage in very hot, damp SPELL even
after the tobacco is two thirds cured
This shows that we should have cir
culation of air through the barn to dry
it out, but that the barn should be made
close enough 10 shut out the dampness
during the damp spells, and on damp
nights. This, however, will not save
the crop from house burning, or getting
into sweat that will cause it to lose
color To avoid this it is often neces-
sary TO use some fire before the tobacco
gets too high in order. The coke or the
charcoal stoves that can be moved round
in the barn are considered the best, but
in case of necessity for quick fire, sheet
iron tubs with dry wood can be used
without much damage from smoke.
This is much preferable to having a
damaged crop. Quick fires are best to
dry the dampness out. These tubs can
be pulled around under the tobacco,
but must be moved every few minutes.
We are of the opinion that big i'm
provements can be made in ventilating
the barns. Side opening, when the barns
are full, are nearly closed up. Openings
in the top and bottom are better; big
doors all around the bottom of the barn
to open up only on the sides where the
wind is blowing, with the openings in
better current of air through the
barn.
The custom here OF cutting tobacco
and Topping it down on the ground just
where it is often allowed to stay for sew
eral days, we consider very bad one,
as it is very often caught in the rain and
the dews and sun darken and damage it
very much.
What have written is only what the
most of you already know. The dis
cussion, however, may do some good
But want to say something with refer
ence to the method of farming in this
section. 1t is necessity that develops,
and in this rich country your people
have not felt the necessity of trying to
improve their lands. Your farm is your
national bank, and your principal
aim should be to build it up and make
it more productive. My opinion is that
every piece of land in cultivation should
produce two crops every year, one of
grain or tobacco and the other some one
of the leguminous crops, with the view