The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1914-01-08
TOBACCO RAISING
IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
MR. HARPER GIVES GENERAL
INFORMATION FOR PLANTING
AND CARING FOR CROP.

| have just received letter from
the bureau of statistics, United
States department of agriculture,
which places the tobacco crop OF
South Carolina this year at $685.
900 pounds. This crop is estimated
by the bureau to be worth more
than 81, 100000. This is the largest
amount ever received for tobacco
crop raised in this State and has
greatly stimulated interest in its
culture. Clemson College has re-
ceived a good many inquiries lately
regarding tobacco raising and when
in Columbia promised to write the
farm department giving the results
of my visit to the Pee Dee section,
where went to study the tobacco
situation. find that the prevail
ing opinion among tobacco growers
is that prices are likely to remain
good for the next few years, as the
tobacco industry in large districts of
Turkey, where a great deal was
formerly grown, has been practical
ly destroyed by war and there is a
constant and growing demand for
tobacco, as the consumption becomes
greater each year in practically
every country.
EXTEND THE CROP.
Tobacco growing can be consider
ably extended in South Carolina, as
there is much land in the lower
part of the State that is we'll suited
to it's culture that is now planted in
cotton and corn. Tobacco is consid-
erably influenced by the type of soil
on which it grows; in fact, it is in
fluenced far more by soil type than
by climate. The type of soil in this
State best suited to its culture is a
loose, we'll drained, deep, fine sandy
loan. rich in humus with red or
yellow sandy subsoil containing more
or less clay. But here must not
be present too much decaying veg
etable matter rich in ammonia and
there must be no hard pan. AS to-
bacco is a deep roofing plant, it is
necessary that the soil be we'll drain
ed and free from acidity. The
quality of tobacco is considerably
influenced by the amount of mois-
ture present in the soil and thus in
directly the amount of moisture
that soil will hold influences great
ly the quality of the tobacco raised.
1t is rapidly growing plant and
must be highly fertilized and must
not be checked in its growth by
drouth. For this reason it is ad-
visable to plant tobacco on land
where the clay is at least eight to
ten inches from the surface. This
clay will hold moisture and prevent
too much damage from drouth.
While tobacco is grown profitably
in some places in a much deeper soil,
still it is considered safer to plant
only on soil where the clay is not
more than Is to Is inches below
the surface.
No crop is so much Influenced by
crop rotation as is tobacco. If there
is an accumulation Of nitrates in the
soil, the tobacco will grow rank and
the leaves will become spotted.
For that reason it is not safe to
plant it on highly manured land or
on pea stubble land.
The varieties of tobacco that are
best suited to the soil types of this
State appear to be yellow Oronoco,
white stem Oronoco, Hester, Vaughn
and Gooch. Oronoco and Hester
are we'll suited to the light soils and
Vaughn and Gooch are better
adapted to heavier soils or those
containing more silt and clay.
SEED.
Tobacco seed can be obtained
from almost any seed company.
There are a few tobacco planters of
the Pee Dee section who arc care
fully breeding their tobacco.
Beginners in its culture should not
try to produce wrappers the first
few years, but a bright lemon leaf ,
which is used in the manufacture of
smoking tobacco.
From December l to March l is
the time to prepare the land intend
ed for this crop. 1t can follow cot
ton, oats or corn in which no peas
were planted. The stalks should be
removed from the land, otherwise if
plowed under they may break the
stand. The following is good ro-
tation for tobacco: First year. corn
with peas, fertilized with sulphate