Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-01-02
SUGGESTIONS ON TOBACCO CULT
WALTON

WALTON.
Considerable interest seems to be evil
denced in the cultivation OF tobacco at
the present time. and there appears to
be a movement towards the utilization
OF this crop as a substitute for cotton
in those counties where the boil weevil
has already become fairly, well estab-
lishsd- While there may be advantages
in the cultivation OF tobacco. il is i'm
portant for those who are inexperienced
in handling il to realize that in most
cases IL is grown as more or less of a
speciality and that this crop is wonder
fully influenced by soil and climatic
conditions. and unless the right meth
DDS Of practice are followed, the re-
suits IS to both yield and quality Of
leaf and hence the price obtained are
likely to be disappointing.
In general cigar tobaccos and other
kinds in which a very thin leaf Is de-
sired do best on light or sandy lands
heavy or dark tobaccos are best suited
TO sitter soils The hurley types, for
instance, are grown largely on the lime
stone soils in Kentucky and the states
contiguous thereto. For most grades
OF tobacco newly vleared land is desir-
ablt since IL contains an abundance OF
humus. Dark export tObaccos, such as
are grown in Virginia in considerable
quantity are grown on cecil sandy loan
and cecil clay. These correspond to the
red lands met with in many sections
of Georgia Cuban tobacco does best
on the gray sandy lands and on the
OrangeburE series which occur quite
extensively in southwest Georgia THESE
soils consist OF q fine sandy loan or
clay loan with rather stih reddish clay
foar1 s-lbsoiIs. Sumatra tobacco does
test g., t., gray or sandy hammock
land o. -,-iCa when il is new and
rich
The methods of cultivation and ferti-
lization followed will be determined
largely by the type Of tobacco wnich
il is proposed 70 grow. In any event
he soil must be well supplied with
considerable amount OF easily avail
abla plant food and consistent rota-
ton must be followed in order to Keep
IL rich enough to produce pronta0ie
crops of tobacco. Some Of the rotations
which may be followed with advantage
are tobacco two years, coWpeas one
wear. OF course, the covpeas might
be followed by rye or some other cover
crop. making really three crops pro-
duced on the land in two years AT
least two out of the three crops Wouio
have TO be ploved under for the enrlch-
rnent OF the soil. If clovers or grass
- h brought into the rotation IL VIII
- an advantage as these crops seem TO
jnnrove the physical condition OF the
soiI and increase it's humus content Ell
actively. a great desideratum Wnere
tobacco is to be cultivated
Tobacco requires to be hoerauy Ter
tilted with nitrogen. phosphoric acla,
and calcium in amounts USED
bther crops. This is due TO the
"a tobacco is q gross feeder and
bus an exhausting crop to the SOIL
e the highest and choicest leaf is
produced on light or sandy soils contain
ing only limited amount OF plant 1000
at best. IL is easy TO see Why the hoeral
use Of fertilizers becomes essential IL
seems 10 be generally accepted that the
,1xe of the element chlorine in tobacco Ter
rilizers is exceedingly unfortunate be-
cause IL impairs the smoking quality.
When chIorides are present IN tobacco
the ashes on burning fuse, and hence
such a tobacco is not satisfactory Tor
smoking. especially in the form OF CT
ears. Therefore. potassium should only
he supplied TO this crop in the form of
sulphate OF calcium carbonate. Large
Quantities Of nitrogen render the leaves
thick and heavy and they will also be
found TO contain a good deal OF summS
material This is naturally objection
able in the case OF manufacturing to-
bzccos- According to the Investigations
made it would appear that nitrogen may
be supplied to the tobacco crop in va
rious forms. In many sections OF the
south cotton seed meal is extensively
used for this purpose, though. Of course,
Inorganic nitrogen can also be used
Where one is attempting TO cultivate
tobacco. il is important to keep in mind
the following points: When a complete
fertilizer should be used extensively, nj
trogenous fertilizers are to be avoided
FOR the reasons already assigned. 1t is
essential that the soil be kept well sup
piled with calcium carbonate, and as
most Of our Georgia soils are very low
IN this element. it will be seen that
ground lime rock should be literally
used on soils intended for this crop.
only those sources Of potash should be
used which are free from chlorine. In
view OF the limited supplies OF potash
now available in this country from any