Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-24
Preparing for the Tobacco Crop


If light tobacco is to be grown
successfully, there are several mat
tiers to which special attention must
be directed. These include the con-
sideration, preparation and fertiliza-
ton of the soil, the relation of ma
nures and lining to the requirements
of the tobacco crop, the best varie
ties to select and the methods of pre-
pairing and laying out the seed bed.
Tobacco is a crop which makes rel
atively heavy drc IT'S on the fertili-
ty of the land. 1t is very dainty
about its choice of soil. Unless
properly MANFRED, it's character may
be materially changed from the
grade to which it is desired to pro-
duce.
The observations recorded below
represent information collated by the
Division of Agronomy of the Geor-
gia State College of Agriculture,
They may, therefore, be relied upon
from the standpoint of our Georgia
farmers.
Great care should be given to the
preparation of soil for growing to-
bacce. To make the best quality of
tobacco. the crop should have a rap
id and uninterrupted growth. Land
on which tobacco is to be planted
should be thoroughly prepared by
ploughing and narrowing, after being
broken in the fall to medium
depth.
Soils on which bright tobacco is
grown, are sandy and in many cases
rather infertile. However, they are
light and friable and respond readi-
~ to commercial fertilizers, Ferti-
lizers increase the chance of profit
in two ways. They greatly increase
the yield, and, if properly balanced,
viii in most cases improve the quail
ity.
Tobacco contains a larger portion
of potash than any other of our COM
mon crops. The amount of plant
food removed from the soil by a
good crop Of tobacco is given by
Hopkins as FLOWS:
Tobacco leaves, $50 lbs. dry mat
ter, 34.6 lbs. nitrogen, lbs phospho-
rus, 35.4 lbs. potassium, S7.5 lbs. cal
cium.
Tobacco stems, $50 lbs. dry matter,
24.6 lbs. nitrogen, Az lbs. phosphorus,
ga lbs. potassium, 80 lbs. calcium.
complete fertilizer Gone contain
Ing ammonia, phosphorie acid, and
petash) is usually needed and the
greatest yield cannot be obtained un-
less each Is supplied in sufficient
Quantity. No general rule as to the
proper proportion or balance between
.hese materials can be given. The
pest proportion of the three ele-
ihehts Is likely to vary a great deal
On on, oiIIerent fields according to the
SOL ana It's state of Improvement.
haeh element affects the quality of
ehe leaf in different way. Too
much ammonia will make the tohac-
GO coarse, dark and late in matur-
ing. Excess Of ammonia also causes
tepacco to be more subject to wild
hre' and "frog-eye" .'Wild-fire :"
whlcn is leaf rot, is very common
on rich pebble soils. Usually these
soils need only a light application Of
ammonia. Without a sufficient sun
ply of ammonia the leaf will be small
and thin and the yield per acre. low
although the color may be good. pot
ash improves the body of the leaf
and makes the plant more resistant
10 diseases. No doubt liberal appli-
cations of potash would prove very
beneficial on land that has a tendency
to disease" Phosphoric acid plays
an important role. It increases
growth, hastens maturity, and seems
10 give brighter color to the leaf
Dy the decided effect In ripenine the
leaf. A soil well supplied with hu-
mus would require more phosphoric
acid than a light sandy soil,
For heavy sandy loan an 1922
ana Tor a light sandy soil an 8-S-3
applied at the rate of 500 to 600
pounds per acre according to the fer
tlllty of the soil will give good re-
SUITS. Usually good pebble land
should not receive more than 500
pounds. Very poor sandy soils will
require 1000 pounds per acre for the
best results. Dried blood, cotton seed
meal and fish scraps are good
sources of ammonia. Cotton seed
meal when used alone acts too slow
~, unless applied two weeks before
the plants are set. Su1phate of am
monla is good source of ammonia.
but not more than one-third Of the
ammonia should come from this
source.
The use of nitrate of soda under
tobacco has not been satisfactory and
Is not recommended. When nitrate
OF soda Is used the tobacco has a
tendency to remain green and does
not r1pen nor cure properly. Where
sulphate of potash can be had it
should be used as a source Of potash
instead of muriate of potash or kali
nit. Muriate and kainit contain large
quantities Of ehlorin, which element
mas q tendency to make tobacco burn
poorly.
Fertilizers for tobacco are gener-
Ia
method no doubt gives better imme-
dlate results. The rows should be
Iald OH -FOUR feet wide and the fer
slIlzer applied with distributor or
FERTILIZER drill. The fertilizer should
be thoroughly mixed with the soil hv
running shovel plow in the row be-
fore 1t is bedded Usually two f,1r-
rows with a Dixie plow or cultivator
are used to cover the fertilizer. This
should be done ten days or to weeks
before time to transplant in order to
get rain to settle the beds.
In no case is a second application
OF fertilizer advised, as this is likely
10 cause second growth which is un-
desirable. The fertilizers under to-
oacco should be nearly exhausted by
the time the tobacco begins to ma
lure IN order that maturity may be
hastened and the tobacco ripened
properly.
There are opponents as we'll as adj
yocates of barn manure for tobacco.
While commercial fertilizers are
widely used in tobacco growing, barn
manure has been used in small quan-
titles on poor sandy soils with good
results The principal objection to
its use is that it is rich in ammonia
and has tendency to make the to-
bacco coarse and dark. Too much
manure tends to cause fungus dis
eases. The poorer the land in am
1nonla, the more likely is the manure
TO be found advantageous. Not more
IMAM three to five loads per acre
should be used and when possible it
should be aDplied the fall hafnra