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SAXTON'S HAND-BOOK

TOBACCO CULTURE,

BEIXG A C05U>LETE

MANUAL OR PRACTICAL GUIDE

SELECTION OF THE SOIL AND ITS PREPARATIOX ; KIND AND QUANTITY

OF JIANLTIES TO BE USED, AND HOW APPLIED ; GROWTH OF

PLANTS ; TRANSPLANTING AND MODE OF CULTURE GEN-

EliALLY, FROM TlilE OF PLANTING THE SEED BED,

THROUGH HARVESTING, CURING, AND

PREPARATION FOR M.mKET.

xilj ^IhxBixuixonBf

SHOWING TUB PLANT IN ITS DIFFERENT STAGES OF GROWTH.

NEW YOKE:

G. iMi. s _/^ ::^^ T o isr ^

AGRICULTURAL BOOK PUBLISHER.

1863.

PREFACE.

The census report of 1860 represents that 429,390,771 pounds of
tobacco were grown in the United States in that year, worth, at the
low price of 10 cents per pound, $43,000,000, and entering very large-
ly into our foreign commerce. Till within a few years, its culture
has been confined to a narrow zone, under a stereotyped impression
that, south of that zone, the cultivation was unprofitable, and north
of it forbidden by climatic influences. The discovery, now fully con-
firmed, that it can be grown as well north as anywhere else, has led
many farmers, yet inexperienced in the cultivation, to demand some
plain, instructive, practical directions on the cultivation adapted to
beginners and all others. Hence this manual ; and hence our en-
deavors to make it a complete guide to cultivators of less or more
experience, from the beginner upwards, and to adapt it to a wide
range of climate, by drawing from the well-considered views of prac-
tical men over a wide range of country. Such as the result of our
labor is, it is here respectfully inscribed to the farmers of this great
.and, agriculturally considered, most prosperous country.
By their friend and humble servant,

C. M. SAXTON.

Kew York, HT li, IPfrO- ~

V \f"Y

In the Clerk '^ Office

Mding to Act of Con
^vCVm;SA5
; District Court of
strict o

IV! X

ding to Act of Congress, in the year ISO^

AXTOX, * - I

the United States for the SouthOrn
DidtricTof New York. . *<s I

COJJTENTS.

Pagb

TOBACCO 5

Nasie , 6

Generic, from John Xicot 5

Specific, from Indian pipe 5

Species 5

History 6-12

Ralph Lane takes it to England 6

Sir Walter Raleigh smokes ~. 6

The practice becomes general 7

The Pope's Anathema 8

Purchase of Wives with Tobacco 12

England adulterates it 10

Taxation of Tobacco in Europe 7

Commencement and Progress of Cultivation 8

Exportation from 1699 to 1709 9

From 1744 to 1772 9

Four years preceding the Revolution 9

During the Revolutionary War 10

Commercial value 12, 13

CULTIVATION OF TOBACCO 13-18

Soils Required 13-18

Speculative vievr 13, 14

Opinions of Practical Men 14-17

Thaer, on Practical Agriculture ^ 14

Judge Adam Beatty 's opinion 15

Prairie Farmer 15, 16

Lorin Blodget, on climate 16

TREATMENT OF THE SOIL 18-22

Deep Ploughing, frequent Stirring, heavy Manuring 18, 19

A Story illustrative 19, 20

A Virginia opnion 21

One from New York 21

Another from Illinois 21, 22

RAISING THE PLANTS 22, 31

Situation for seed bed 22

Hon, George Geddes' directions 22

Peter ilinor's (of Virginia) 23

IV CONTENTS.

Page

R.H. Phelps's (of Connecticut) 28

From Alleti's Farm Book 2^, 29

J. Periam's, in Prairie. Farmer 29, 30

TRAXSPLAXTIXG 31-34

Cuts, illustrative 31

Directions of Practical Tobacco Growers 32-34

Cultivation and Protection from Pests 34r-44

J. Periam's Directions 35

Cut illustrating full-grown plant in blossom 33

Cuts to show topping, and the plant when topped 37

Cut, showing the growth of suckers after topping 33

Directions of Practical Growers 36-40

The cut-worm and the tobacco-worm 41, 42

John C. Robert's letter 43

Cut-worm and green-worm 43

HARVESTING AND CURING 44

Time to commence 44

The Virginia Practice 45

The Kentucky 50

Northern, by Hon. Geo. Geddes, of New York 5S

Western, by J. Periam, From Prairie Farmer 61

Tobacco-worm (Sphinx Carolina) 64

DISEASES, ENEMIES, CASUALTIES, EXHAUSTION OF SOIL... 65-70

Casualties Numerous 65

Spot, or Firing, Hollow Stalk, Walloon Tobacco 6G

Importance of drainage 66

Accidents 66

More of the Cut-worm and Green-worm 67

Does Tobacco Exhaust the Soil ? 67-70

MANURES FOR TOBACCO 70-74

Barn Manure 70, 71

Guano good ; Superphosphate better 71

Unleached Wood-ashes 72

Leached Ashes, Poudrette, Gas Lime, etc., etc 72, 73

Joseph Harris's opinion of Superphosphate 74

MULTUM IX VAILYO— Whole Subject in few Words 75-82

Seed bed. Sowing, Watering 75, 76

Soil for the Crop, and Preparation 76

Transplanting and Cultivation 77, 78

Topping and Suckering ". 78

Harvesting, Curing, and Marketing 78-Sl

General Remarks 82

. TOBACCO.

NAM— VARIETIES—HISTORY— COMMERCIAL VALIE.

Tobacco (nicotiana tahacum) probaljly received its
generic name, Nicotiana, from JoIbi Xicot, of Xismes,
in Languedoc. Nicot was sent ambassador from the
King of France to Portugal ; he there obtained the seeds
from a Dutchman, who had brought them from Florida.
Nicot is said to have presented the first plant to Catha-
rine de Medicis. From this circumstance the former
French name, herhe a la reine (Queen's plant) is supposed
to have been derived.

Its specific name, Tobacco, which has now displaced
all others, is believed, by some, to have been derived
from Tobago, a AVest India Island. Others, and among
them the lexicographer, Webster, trace it to Tabaco, a
province in Yucatan, where it is said (probably without
truth) that the Spaniards first discovered it. According
to Las Casas, the Spaniards, in their first voyage, saw
many of the natives smoking dry leaves, rolled up in
tubes, called tahacos. Charlevoix, the historian of San
Domingo, relates, that the instrument used by the
natives in smoking, was called tabaco. The name
tobacco, pretty evidently, comes, therefore, either from

the island Tobago, or from the province Tabaco, or from
the Indian sraoking-pipe ; quite as likely from the
latter.

Tobacco is evidently a plant of American nativity,
first used by the aborigines, introduced into Europe
something over two hundred years ago, and now of very
general use in all quarters of the globe.

SPECIES.

Louden, in his E iicyclopcedia of Plants, enumerates
no less than fourteen species of the genus Xicotiana.
Of these, Eaton's North American Botany mentions the
following four, the first three of which are marked as
exotic, the last as southern :

Nicotiana... -

' Tabacum (Virginia).
Rustica (common).
Paniculata (small flowered).
Quadrivalvis (four leaved).

The above, with ten others, enumerated by Louden,
are regarded by botanists as distinct species. The
lobelia, found so much in pastures, often causing slaver-
ing in horses, though erroneously called loild tobacco, is
a distinct genus, having no relation to the nicotiana, or
tobacco plant. Of the varieties, suited to difierent pur-
poses and varying latitudes, wo may speak in another
place.

HISTORY.

Tobacco was taken to England in 1586, by Ealph
Lane. It was used only for smoking. Sir Walter
Ealeigh was the first to acquire the practice, having
learned it from Lane. Its use in this way spread

rapidly, and may be said to have been quite general
throughout Europe for at least two centuries. It is
cultivated in Europe as far north as Sweden, also in
China, Japan, and many other eastern countries. In.
England, it has been cultivated successfully, though,
we presume, not profitably, as the dampness of the
climate must greatly increase both the labor and the
uncertainties ; and its cultivation is now prohibited.
It is nowhere seen growing in that country, except occa-
sionally a few plants in gardens, rather as a curiosity
than for use. The sort more generall3' preferred is the
Virginia species. The common, or Jiicatiana rudica is,
however, preferred in some of the northern countries of
Europe, on account of its being somewhat earlier. Sir
Walter Ealeigh is said to have preferred this, and said
he could make the best article from it,

TAXATION OF TOBACCO.

Tobacco appears to have been subject to excessive
taxation in most European countries . One might al-
most ask, if the people of Europe did not love tobacco,
where would the sovereigns get their money ? In
France the revenue on tobacco has been $10,000,000 a
year and upwards. The people of England have paid as
high as eight hundred per cent, on tobacco, and on some
qualities more than a thousand. At a meeting of tobac-
co planters in 1840, it was shown authentically, that on
an exportation of 100,000 hogsheads, valued here at
$7,000,000, the consumers in Europe paid in imposts
more than $30,000,000. Whatever may be the future
course of our Government, with regard to the encourage-
ment of home industry, Europeans, and especially En-
glishmen, can hardly have a face to complain.

COMMENCEMENT AND PROGRESS OF CULTIVA-
TION.

" 111 1611, tobacco was first cultivated in Virginia by
the use of the spade, previous to which it liad only been
raised after the rude manner of the Indians. In 161G, it
was cultivated in that colony to so alarming an extent,
that even the streets of Jamestown were planted with
it, and various regulations were framed to restrain its
production. In 1611, the prices varied from 37J to 75
cents per pound. In 1621, each person was required to
cultivate one thousand plants, of eight leaves, weighing
in the aggreg^ate 100 pounds. In 1622, there were made
in the colony 60,000 pounds. In 1639, it was enacted
by the Grand Assembly, * that all the tobacco planted
this present year, and the two succeeding years, in the
colony of Virginia, be absolutely destroyed and burned,
excepting and resei*ving so much, in equal proportion
to each planter, as shall make, in the whole, just the
quantity of 120,000 pounds, stripped, smoothed, &c. In
consideration whereof, the creditors of the planters were
compelled to accept and receive 40 pounds of tobacco,
so stripped and smoothed, in full satisfaction of every
100 pounds now due them.' This plant, when its half-
inebriating and soothing influence recommended it to
popular use, encountered much violent opposition by
several governments, which also attempted to restrain
its consumption by penal edicts. The Sultan xlmurath
IV. forbade its importation into Turkey, and condemned
to death those found guilty of smoking. The Grand
Buke of Moscow prohibited its entrance into his domin-
ions under pain of the ' knout' for the first offense, and
death for the next ; and in other parts of Kussia the
practice of smoking was denounced, and all smokers
condemned to have their noses cut off. The Shah of
Persia, and other eastern sovereigns, were equally se-
vere in their enactments. Pope Urban VIII. anathema-
tized all those who smoked in churches. Upwards of a
hundred volumes were written to condemn its use, the
names of which have been preserved and their titles cat-

alngiiod ; and among' Ihoni, not tlic least singular waa
the ' Coiinter]>laste' of the pedantic King James I, To-
bacco was cultivated in New Nethcfland as early as
1G4(), when it sold for 40 cents per pound. It was intro-
duced into Louisiana by the ^Company of tlie West/ in
1718. Some time previous to the war of Independence,
the culture of tobacco had spread into Maryland, Carolina,
Georgia, and Louisiana, from which nearly all Europe was
supplied ; but, at present, most of the sovereigns of the
Old World derive a considerable part of their revenue
from the cultivation of this plant. The amount of to-
bacco exported from Virginia ia 1622, was 60,000
pounds ; in 1639, 120,000 pounds ; in 1758, 70,000 hogs-
heads."— Patent Office Report.

The hogsheads, at that time, were about 600 pounds.
Larger hogsheads and closer packing have since been
in use ; the quantity per hogshead has gradually in-
creased, and now often reaches 1,800 pounds, averaging
probably as high as 1,800.

It appears, from official documents, that the yearly ex-
ports of tobacco for ten years, ending with 1709, aver-
aged 28,868,666 lbs. From 1744 to 1772 the average
exports were 40,000,000 lbs. During the four years pre-
ceding the Revolutionary war the exportations were as
follows :

1772 97,799,263

1773 100,472,007

1774 97,397,252

1775 101,828,617

Total the four years 397,497,139

Average for same time 99,374,785

This shows, that, at the commencement of the Revolu-
tion, the exportation had reached a little more than
100,000,000 lbs., it having been almost 2,000,000 above
that fig'ure for the year immediately preceding the war,
and falling but little short for the three preceding
years. During the Revolution the exports were ; for

1^76 14,498,500

1777 2,441,214

1778 11,961,533

1779 17,155,907

1780 17,424,267

1781 13,339,168

1782 9,828,244

Total exports these seven yeo.rs.. . 86,648,833
Averag-e for same time 12,378,504

How tlie smokers of Great Britain contrived to make
themselves comfortable through the revolutionary years,
is not easy to say. But it is probable that there were
large invoices on hand at the breaking out of the war ;
and it is quite possible that the London dealers had
learned then — what they have certainly practiced largely
since — how, from one pound of good, fragrant Virginia
tobacco, to make a great many pounds of a mixed
stuff, which the consumer could be persuaded to pur-
chase at a high price. Possibly the Eng-lish thought a
medley, which they could produce, mostly from herbs
grown on their own soil, quite g'-ood enough for their
cousin-germans; for we hear of their shipping largely
of something, tliat passed as tobacco, to Germany and
other parts of the Continent, during the war. It will be

but a sliglit (ligTCSsion to say here that considerable
British soil has, at a much later period, been shipped to
Germany, and sold as guano ; and tliat when England
accuses us of being fraudulent, she might well look a
little at her own adulterations. It is quite possible that
those Hessian soldiers, who did her fighting in this
country, were paid in tobacco, which had more of the
name than of the nature of American.

It is a singular fact, that, from the close of the war of
the Revolution, the exports of tobacco remained just
about stationary for sixty or more years. It can be
accounted for only on the ground, that the dearth of to-
bacco, during the Revolution, induced the nations of
Europe to commence its cultivation for themselyes, and
that they have kept up the home production ever since.
The adulterations practiced by the English, and perhaps
by others, would naturally tend to the same result ; for
the people, of course, found that the tobacco grown in
their own gardens was about as good as they could
purchase under any names whatever ; and the conclusion
was, that they could grow it cheaper than to purchase.
Will the effect of our present war be to stimulate the
growth of cotton otherwhere, and thus lessen the demand
on this country ? Time will answer. That the former
war did lessen the demand for tobacco, and that very
permanently, extending sixty years at least, if not to
the present time, is certain.

Previously to about 1840, Virginia, Maryland, and
North Carolina seem to have been the principal tobacco-
growing States. Since then the cultivation has become
extensive in Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, and other
western and north-western States. Ohio, Indiana, and
Illinois are now largely in the business. New York,

New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and even some of
the New England States, are finding it profitable. The
alluvial soils of the Connecticut River, both in Connect-
icut and Massachusetts, as also in. portions of Vermont
and New Hampshire, are found to produce tobacco of an
excellent quality, and at a profit, as prices have aver-
aged the few years past, much above the profits of gen-
eral farming. Its cultivation seems to have commenced
in Virginia almost from the first settlement at James-
town. Sir Richard Granville is said to have discovered
it there in 1585. The English, then, for the first, saw it
smoked by the natives, in pipes made of clay.

COMMERCIAL VALUE.

The census of 1850 makes the quantity of tobacco
grown in that year 199,t52,655 lbs., and the value a
fraction less than $14,000,000. In 1851 the value of the
exported tobacco was about $9,250,000. In 1852 the
value of exports of tobacco was estimated a fraction over
$10,000,000, and it reached $11,319,319 in 1853. Ever
since Virginian colonists paid their clergymen's salaries in
tobacco, and bought them wives from the old country with
the same currency — not, as we suppose, that the tobacco
was paid to induce the " comely young women, of sound
health and good morals," to come into that relation ;
since then, as now, young women of this description
could have been " nothing loth " to become the wives of
such men as the early settlers of Virginia, but rather to
furnish an outfit and defray the expenses of the voyage —
from that time to this, tobacco has been among our most
important exports, in its commercial relations, and will
probably be increasingly important long to come. The

quantity grown in 18G0, was 429,390,711 lbs. From this
brief view of its history and commercial relations, we
turn to its cultivation.

n.-CULTI\^ATIOX OF TOBACCO.

SOILS REQUIRED,

Ix a mere speculative view, without the least ex-
perience, one might come to some conclusions, which
would not be far from the truth. Because tobacco seed
is minutely small, and the young plant delicate, and for
a time of slow growth, we might conclude, that it
should have a soil capable of being very nicely and
evenly worked. Because it is subsequently of rampant
growth, and requires, in order to best meet the interest
of the cultivator, to put forth its voluminous foliage in
a short time, we might infer that it should have a soil
abounding in organic (vegetable and animal) matter,
and that, in an advanced state of decomposition, so that
when the plant takes to towering and spreading, it
should have plenty of food about its roots, in a high
state of preparation, cooked in advance, if we may use
that term, and all ready to be taken in by the plant, and
assimilated. And because analysis shows that tobacco
abounds in the alkalis, especially in potash, we might
infer, that the soil should be well supplied with alkaline
matters, as in the case of virgin soils, just cleared from
the forrest, or those, which, having been long cultivated,
have been well manured for previous crops. We might
infer, also, that if a sod be chosen, it should be plowed
1*

beforehand, at least as long as the preceding antumo,
in order that the grass roots and other organic mat-
ter might have come into a soluble state in lime to
supply the plant at its rapidly growing period. One
might almost infer, also, from the nature and habits of
the plant alone, that, in high latitudes, a lightish, rather
sandy soil w»uld be preferable, because suited to bring'
the crop forward earlier than any other, but that in lower
latitudes, with long summers, a heavy loam, or even a
clay soil might do well.

OPINIONS OF PRACTICAL MEN.

But we prefer to turn from what may be censured as
mere speculation and theory, to the testimonies of acute
observation and practical experience. Thaer, in his
Principles of Pr^actical Agriculture, says :

" Tobacco prefers a light soil ; it thrives better on a
sandy, than on an argillaceous soil. Sandy clays agree
witlf it best ; but it is also successful on soft clays,
which contain a large quantity of humus. But to pro-
duce a perfect and plentiful crop, the land must be rich
in ancient humus ; and must, besides, have been recent-
ly fertilized with some sort of manure. The best tobacco
is that which grows on clearings, especially if the turf
which covered the surface has been burned upon them ;
and still better if the wood which grew upon ttiem, or
wood brought for the purpose, has also been consumed
on the spot and reduced to ashes. It is certainly, to
this treatment, rather than to difference of climate, that
we must attribute the great superiority of the American
tobacco, which is grown not on land recently dunged,
but on the contrary, after ten or twelve crops, all
obtained without the use of dung, on the rich a.'jd burnt
cleariui'-s.''

Judge Adam Beatty, Vice-President of the Kentucky-
State Agricultural Society, at the time of writing the
treatise on tobacco culture, from which we quote, said :

" Tobacco requires a rich soil, and that which is new,
or nearly so, answers best. Next to ground which has
been recently cleared, lands which have been long in
grass, especially if pastured by sheep, answer best for
tobacco. In preparing ground for tobacco, great care
should be taken to plow it deep, and pulverize it
completely. Grass land intended for tobacco, should
always be plowed the previous fall. And it is better
that all kinds of land intended for that purpose, should
be plowed in time to have the benefit of the previous
winter frosts. It should be kept light and free from
weeds, by repeated plowings, till near the time of
planting."

Allen's American Agriculture says :

" The soil may be a light, loamy sand or alluvial
earth, well drained and fertile. New land, free from
weeds, and full of saline matters, is best for it ; and next
to this, is a rich grass sod which has long remained un-
tilled. The seed should be sown in beds which must be
kept clean, as the plant is small and slow of growth in
the early stages of its existence, and easily smotliered
by weeds. If not newly cleared, the beds ought to be
burned with a heavy coating of brush."

In the Prairie Farmer of December 21, 1862, -we find
the following by Jonathan Periam, we presume a
practical Tobacco Cultivator : " Tobacco, being so much
afiected by soil and climatic influences, cannot be raised
in all situations, even where it will mature. In rank
soils, it will be strong and acid, and the price obtained
for it will not be sufiicient to pay the cost and trouble
of raising. In exposed situations, subject to strong

winds, it will sometimes be entirely ruined, by being
broken and bruised. Indeed, in some situations, good
wrappers can scarcely be obtained at all. In lands
highly manured with nitrogenous manures, it will con-
sist so much of nitre, that it will spit and fume in burn-
ing, which can only be tempered by age ; therefore, after
making the land sufficiently rich, some other crop should
precede it. The best soil is thought to be a deep sandy
loam, rich in potash, lime, soda, and carbonaceous
matter."

The distinctive requirements of tobacco, as regards
soils, and still more as regards climate, resemble those
of Indian corn. Hence we find that, as a general rule,
the best corn-growing regions of our country, have
hitherto most largely grown tobacco. Lorin Blodget,
author of an able essay, in the Patent Office Report, on
climatology, has these remarks :

" Wherever the growth of corn is completely success-
ful, as in districts of a temperature for July above 68°,
tobacco is and may be freely grown. Connecticut, Cen-
tral New York, Ohio, and parts of Michigan, Indiana,
lUineis, and part of Iowa, are all scarcely less adapted
to tobacco culture than Kentucky and Virginia. The
chief difference is a slight limitation of its period in
time, and experience has fully shown that, tO'this extent,
this may be very safely effected by a little care in selec-
tion of varieties.

Southward, its range is, also, like that of maize,
with perhaps the exception of . producing more desira-
ble varieties in tropical climates. Cuba is the favorite
of all known districts indeed, and there seem to be no
dangers to this plant from tropical excesses either of
heat or humidity during the period of growth alone.

The editor of the Country Gentleman, July, 1802,

says : " Tobacco requires a warm, rich, mellow soil."
Ill a previous number of that work, we find from the pen
of Hon. Geo. Geddes : "A warm, rich, well-drained, mel-
low soil, and then twenty-five loads of rotten barn-yard
manure, should be put on an acre."

With reg-ard to the quality of the land required, per-
haps enough is said. These views are those of a man
eminently scientific and equally practical. Judge Beat-
ty's are those of a man decidedly practical arid of great
experience. Mr. Periam's, as quoted from the Prairie
Farmer, admirably discriminate cases of soil and expo-
sure, where it would not be well to undertake the culti-
vation of tobacco. And we have not yet heard of the
man, whose opinion on such a subject we should more
highly value than that of the Hon. George Geddes.
His twenty-five loads of well-rotted manure, on soil al-
ready deep, mellow, and rich, implies something like
fifty loads of green manure, which, at first thought, looks
rather steep ; but then it is to be recollected that 2,000
to 2,500 lbs. of tobacco is the return reasonably to be
expected from such doings, and that the land will give
forty bushels of wheat the next year, or any other crop
in proportion, and will then give clover and! herds grass
in abundance for years to come, without further manure.
The idea from the Patent Office Report, that wherever
corn will grow tobacco may be cultivated, is undoubt-
edly correct ; and yet Mr. Periam, in the Prairie Farmer^
has shown that on some lands of rank soil, and others
of windy exposure, it would not be well to undertake
the cultivation of tobacco.

"Warm," "deep," "rich," "not exposed to violent
winds," seem to be the requisites of all these and other
writers on the subject. Our own opinion is, that warmth

should be more insisted upon by the northern man ;
depth and richness, by the southern. The northern farmer
is to secure warmth by selecting an alluvial, sandy soil,
or a light warm loam, and then to increase the warmth
by abundant manuring. He must get a large crop, or
it will not pay for cultivation in his expensive way.
The southern farmer, on the other hand, we think, may
depend for warmth more on his sunny climate, insist
more on depth and richness of soil, use perhaps less
manure, and be contented with a less crop. We are not
sure, that moderate manuring and 1,200 lbs. of tobacco
to the acre, are not quite as good evidence of wise
husbandry in Virginia, as very heavy manuring and
2,000 lbs. of tobacco to the acre are in Massachusetts ;
though there is this difference, that the former will al-
ways exhaust the soil, while the latter will as surely
enrich it.

ni.-TREATMEXT OF THE SOIL PREA'IOUS TO SET-
TING THE PLANTS.

If, in turf, it is better that it should be plowed the
previous autumn, both that the frost may help to pulver-
ize it, and that the vegetable matters may be progress-
ing to that condition in which they can be taken in by
the crop at its rapidly growing period.. If not in turf,
it is of considerable consequence that it should have
been nicely cultivated and well manured for the former
crop. At any rate, if not plowed in the fall, it should
be plowed early in the spring, and the manure for the

crop plowed in. The plowing sliould be deep. Com-
posted manure, well rotted^ and worked fine, is the most
suitable ; tliongh we have known some of the best crops
ever grown, to be grown with long, green, barn manure
only, and that not applied till nearly planting-time.
But this was on warm, sandy land. The application of
such manure at a late day before planting, certainly
could not be recommended for other than very warm
land, and hardly for this. In slow soils, there would be
danger of its not becoming sufficiently decomposed to
afford its elements to the crop while in its rapidly grow-
ing stage, say in June and July. After plowing in the
manure, the soil should not lie still. The oftener it is
plowed, harrowed, rolled down, and plowed up again,
crushing, mixing, and pulverizing, the better. This
should be kept up, with occasional rests only, till the
very day for transplanting ; and the soil should then be
in the condition of a most perfectly prepared seed-bed.

All this may not be essential to the obtaining of a
fair crop ; we do not suppose it is ; but it is essential
to a large crop of a uniformly high-priced tobacco, and
therefore we say it is necessary in order to the best
profits. The extra labor is not lost, but much is gained
in consequence of it. On the alluvial soils of the Con-
necticut River, in Massachusetts, one would think, on
seeing the farmer work his field for tobacco, that he
never would get pay for so much labor. But wait for
the report of autumn, and see.

We once saw a man in that region puttfng in sixteen
acres. There was none of the " nothing venture nothing
have" about him. We confess to having* been alarmed
at his expenditures. In addition to immense heaps of
compost, one-third from the barn yard, and two-thirds

from a mnck swamp, thoroughly worked over, fermented,
and pulverized, he applied, at the last of many plowings,
a heavy dressing of Peruvian guano, and then, if we are
not mistaken (are not quite sure about this), spread
super-phosphate on the surface the last thing before set-
ting, and men and teams had been busy with the soil
from early in April till late in May. About seven
months after, we met this man in Xew York, and
learned that he had the refusal, from a reliable dealer,
of fifteen cents a pound for his entire crop — 2,500 lbs. to
the acre, which, on his sixteen acres, would, of course,
be 40,000 lbs.

The upshot was, that, before the week was out, he re-
fused the offer, and subsequently obtained a higher
price. Ordinary tobacco was then selling at but little
more than half as much as was paid for his. The great
excellence of his made the difference. AVas not this
man's extra manuring and labor richly compensated in
the extra quantity' and quality of the crop ?

But this is not an isolated case. There are many in
the same region, if not quite as remarkable, strongly re-
sembling it, in the main features, at least showing high
and careful cultivation and highly remunerative returns.
In the cultivation of tobacco, as with most other crops,
too much attention can hardly be given to a right and
THOROUGH preparation of the soil for the intended crop.
Perhaps but few fields are sowed or planted in the older
parts of our country, where a few days' extra labor in
preparing the soil, and a little more expense in enrich-
ing it, would not increase the profit.

It will be observed that our remarks on the choice of
land and its preparation for planting, have a special
reference to the high cultivation beginning to prevail

in many parts of the Nortli and East. The following,
from the pen of the lamented Peter Minor, of Albemarle
County, Virginia, may better meet the wants of sec-
tions where land is yet new and plenty. Mr. Minor is
characterized by Col. Skinner, who published it, in TJie
Plough, the Loom, and the Anvil, in 1852, as '' a good
farmer and abetter man." He says :

" The best tobacco is made upon new or fresh land.
It is rare to make more than three successive crops upon
the same ground, of which the second is the best, a
the first and third being about equal. But it is more
common to make only two. The new land, after all the
timber and brush is removed, and the surface very clean-
ly raked, is twice closely coultered as deep as two horses
or oxen can pull. After this, hands with grubbing hoes
pass regularly over the whole ground, and take up all
the loose roots that have been broken liy the coulter,
which are heaped and burnt, or removed. One, and
sometimes two more coulterings are then given, and the
same operation repeated with the grubbing hoes."

Mr. Geddes' remarks on preparing the .ground imply
somewhat less manipulation of the soil than we have
often seen practiced with the best results, and have, in
a former paragraph, commended. They are as follows :
" To prepare the land, the manure should be applied as
early as the ground is dry enough to plow. The last
of May plow and harrow again, so as to mix the manure
well with the soil." J. Periam, a correspondent of the
Prairie Farmer, very truly says :

" The most thorough preparation of the soil is required
to the succfissful cultivation of tobacco. If not pre-
viously done, it should be thoroughly subsoiled in the
fall, to the depth of at least twelve or fourteen inches,
by following after the turning plow with a subsoil
lifter. As soon in the spring as the land is in condition

to work, cart on twenty-five loads per acre of well-rotted
manure, spread evenly, harrow and plow about six
inches deep. As soon as the weeds start, harrow again.
About the 20th of May, give it a final plowing, and har-
row ag-ain thoroughly, and if not sufficiently fine, roll.

IV-rRErARATIOX AXD MAXAGEMEXT OF THE
SEED BED.

"While the field for the crop is being prepared, or still
earlier, if the season permits, the bed for growing the
plants should be made. Some prepare this the fall
before. If well prepared, as soon as the frost leaves
the ground in spring, it is as well. The ground should
have a warm exposure, on the south side of a board
fence, or on a southern or eastern slope, or on the sunny
side of a building, or of a piece of woods. Two ways
have been adopted for producing the requisite warmth
at so early a period — one by the application of plenty of
manure, the other by burning. We do not consider the
burning process absolutely essential ; for we have seen
excellent plants grown without it, in northern latitudes,
and in good time for transplanting. But we choose
that practical men shall be heard on this subject.

The following is the direction of Hon. George Geddes :

" To raise the plants, the fall before pulverize the bed
fine, and mix with the soil hog or some other manure
that has no foul seeds in it. Sow seeds on the well-raked
bed, as soon as the ground can be properly prepared in
the spring, about one ounce to a square rod, equally
distributed all over the bed. Roll hard with a hand-
roller, but do not cover the seed. Glass should be kept

over the bed until the plants appear, which will be in
two or three weeks ; after tliey are up and started, the
glass will be required only at night, and in cold days.
Tlie bed should be kept moist and free from .weeds.
When the plants are three inches high they are large
enough to set."

As the growing of the plants, so as to have them of
good size, and vigorous, in time for transplanting, is a
point of much importance, we quote other authorities,
with the hope, thatj as they come from different sections,
they will prove instructive to a greater number of
readgrs, than would the sugestions of any one person,
drawn from a comparatively limited practice and obser-
vation.

The following are Mr. Minor's directions for the seed-
bed :

" A rich virgin loam with a slight mixture of sand is
ascertained to be the best soil for raising tobacco plants.
vSuch spots are indicated by the growth of alder and
hazel bushes in bottoms, and on the margin of small
streams, and if the situation^ has the command of water,
for irrigation, it is on that account to be preferred — the
spot being selected, the first operation is to burn it with
a strong fire. For this purpose the growth of ever kind
is cut off (not grubbed up), and the whole surface raked
very clean; the burning should be done before Christmas,
or as soon after as the weather will permit — and if done
thus early it cannot be well too heavy, even bringing
the soil to a hard cake,

"The wonderful fertility imparted to soil by fire, has
of late years been clearly proved and developed by
various experiments in this and other countries, but
judging from long-established practice, we suppose it is
a fact that has been long known to tobacco planters,
that this fertility is imparted by the fire, and no ways
dependent upon the ashes left by the process, is clearly

proved from the fact, tliat tlie same results will ensue if
the aslies are swept off clean. Or take another piece of
ground of equal quality, cover it with as much or more
ashes, and prepare it in every respect similar, except
burning, and plants cannot be raised in it. Hence the
necessity and propriety of regular and uniform burning,
the want of which is always manifested by a diminutive,
yellow, and sickly growth of plants in those spots not
sufficiently acted on by the fire.

" After the ground becomes cool from burning, the
whole surface should be swept with a coarse twig broom
to take out the coals. In this operation some of the
ashes will be removed, but that is of no consequence ; it
should then be broken up about two inches deep, with
grubbing hoes, in which operation and in repeated chop-
pings afterwards, with hilling hoes, all roots will be cut,
and finally got out with a fine iron-tooth rake, which
leaves the ground in proper order to receive the seed.

" The most approved time for sowing is about the 1st
of February, the beds previously prepared being suffered
to lie and mellow by the frost and snows to that time.
But it will do very well to burn and sow after that time,
as late as the first of March, taking care not to have
the heat so great. The quantity of seed is as much as
can be taken up in a common table spoon* for 100 S([uare
yards, and in that proportion. This quantity of seed
should be mixed with about one gallon of clean ashes,
and half that quantity of plaster of Paris, and the whole
well incorporated, and then strewed uniformly over the
bed at two operations, crossing at right angles to en-
sure regularity. Cabbage seed, for early planting. To-
mato, Celery, and Lettuce seed may be sowed in small
quantities with the Tobacco see^, without injury to the
growth of the plants.

" After sowing the seed the ground is immediately

* This quantity of plant bed is generally considered, xmder good cir-
cumstances, as sufficient to set ten thousand hills in good time. But tlie
prudent planter, taking into consideration the casualties of fly, drouglit,
&c., will do well to make a large allowance. We know of no certain
remedy or antidote against the fly which destroys the early plants.

trodden over closely with the feet, and covered thick
with naked brush. If the frost is severe from this time
it is common to take off the brush some time in the
month of March, before the plants appear, and tread the
bed again, and at the same time give the ground a slight
dressing of manure. The dung of fowls of all sorts, is
sought after for this purpose, which being beaten, is
sifted over the bed through a coarse basket or riddle.
The brush is then restored, and not finally removed until
the leaves of the plants are half an inch in diameter ;
when the dressing of manure is again applied taking
care to wait the approach of rain for that purpose. Any
grass or weeds that may have sprung up in the mean
time are carefully picked out. In dry seasons, if the
situation admits of it, the bed must be irrigated by
draining a small stream of water around the edge of it.
If not it should be watered every evening with a common
watering pot, or pine bushes dipped in water and shook
over the bed until sufficient moisture is obtained.

** Under a careful observance of this management, the
plants, according as the seasons have been favorable or
not, will be fit to transplant from the 15th of May to the
10th of June. A planter thinks himself lucky if he can
get his crop pitched by the 10th of June. After that,
the seasons are uncertain from the heat of the weather,
and the chances of success for a crop are precarious ;
though it has been known to succeed when planted in
the middle of July."

In the American Farmer's Encydopcedia are the follow-
ing directions, taken, probably, from practice of medium
latitudes :

" The land for the plant bed is usually selected in a
warm exposure on the south or south-eastern side of a
hill in a wood, new ground being always preferred.
From this the roots should be grubbed, the rubbish
cleared away and the old leaves raked ofi*. Brush of
pine or other wood is then to be piled on, until from 2
to 3 feet thick all over the bed, and this is to be set on

fire. As the beds should be prepared for seedinj^ im-
mediately after the frost is out of the ground, the brush
should be collected, and put in place some time during
the winter. Instead of burning over the whole bed at
once, a part may be fired for an hour or so at a time,
proceding thus over the entire bed. The place is then
to be broken up with hoes, and sometimes with coulters,
drawn by horses or oxen, and the work repeated until
the earth is made perfectly fine, being careful to avoid
turning under the surface. All the roots should then be
extracted, and the land laid off in beds (slightly elevated
if dry, and more if moist or wet) 4 feet wide. And to
16 square yards, a common pipe-bowl of seed is sown.
The bed is then trodden or pressed with hoes, and well
covered with brush to protect the plants from frosts.
When the plants have come fully out, they should be
slightly manured with strong manure made fine ; this
should be repeated frequently, and in larger quantity, as
the plants increase in size and are able to bear it.

"When the plants have attained a good size, and there
is no longer danger of frosts, the covering of brush is
removed, and the bed weeded with the hand, those em-
ployed in this duty taking great care to avoid bruising
the tender plants. The beds require frequent picking to
keep down the weeds."

The following, by Judge Beatty gives, no doubt, what
the author regards as the best practice for Kentucky :

" The first step in the process of tobacco culture is to
make provision for an abundant supply of plants. Tobac-
co seed are very small, and the plants, when they spring
from the ground, grow very slowly, and would soon be
smothered by weeds if not carefully guarded against.
The places selected for plant beds, should be such as
would not be likely to produce many weeds. New
ground or that which has been long set in grass, would
be best for this purpose. To guard still further against
weeds, and to insure a thrifty growth of plants, it is
essential that the place in which the seed are to be sown,

should be burnt. A lig'lit burning with straw or other
lig'ht material will not be sufficient. A p^ood coat of
brush laid upon the ground intended to be used for a
plant bed, and arranged so closely as to make it burn
readily, serves best for the purpose. Care must be taken
also, before laying on the brush, to take all trash from
the ground, so thau the heat may readily destroy the
seeds of any weeds which may have been deposited
there. New ground is always to be preferred for plant
beds, and brush as the material for burning the ground.
But if the tobacco planter have no new ground, then he
must substitute grass land in its stead, and this should
be w^cU burned by having a range of logs (those which
are seasoned are best) laid along one edge of the ground,
intended for plant bed, and heaped up sufficiently to
make them burn readily These must be set on fire, and
after burning the ground which they cover sufficiently,
they must be moved by means of hooks, to the adjacent
ground not yet burnt ; and so on, in succession, until
the entire space, intended for a plant bed is burnt.
If one set of logs is not sufficient to burn a space as
large as will be necessary, others must be added so as
to enlarge the space, or they may be burnt at diffisrent
places as may be most convenient.

'' Where sod ground is intended to be used, it would
be advantageous to have the sod slightly skinned off
with sharp hoes, before the space is burnt over,

" After the ground is burnt it must stand sufficiently
long to cool, and then the ashes should be carefully
removed. The ground should now be dug up with hoes,
to the depth of two or three inches, and so as to pulver-
ize it as much as possible, and should be well raked with
an iron tooth rake, so as to break up the soil into the
most minute parts. It will now be ready for sowing
the seed. It is important that this operation should be
as regular as possible, and care should be taken to put
the proper quantity of seed upon the ground. If sowed
too thick, the plants will be so much crowded as to
injure their growth. If sowed too thin, a deficiency of
plants may be the consequence. A common silver table

spoonful of seed will be sufficient for fifty square yards.
Wore than that quantity should not be sowed on that
space of ground. But if the ground prepared be abund-
ant, the plants would grow more thrifty by sowing a
spoonful of seed on seventy or eighty square yards. The
seed allotted for a particular bed should be put into a
-vessel half filled with fine mould or earth, and stirred so
thoroughly as to cause the seed to be equally distributed
in all parts. It should now be separated into two equal
divisions. And the plant bed having been divided into
convenient lands for sowing, one portion should be sowed
as equally as possible in one direction, and the other
portion in the same bed, in the opposite direction. The
plant bed should now be well raked with an iron tooth
rake, both ways, and should then be well trodden by the
feet of men or boys, so as to render the loose soil firm
and compact. The bed should be thinly covered over
with brush to keep it moist, and to protect the plants
from frost. Plant beds should be prepared and sown
as early in February as the weather will admit ; though
it will be in good time if sown 'any time in that month."

From a statement of R. H. Phelpa, of Windsor, Hartford
County, Conn., found in the Patent Office Beport for 1853:

" The Connecticut mode of management is nearly as
follows ; The seed is sown as soon as the ground is free
from frost ; or if not, a quantity of bushes is burned upon
the ground to warm it, and kill all the seeds of weeds,
&c. It is then trodden down compactl}^, in order that
the seeds, which are small, may come closely in contact
with the earth. Guano is said to act with good efiect
in giving the plants an early start, which is to be at-
tained if possible."

From Attends American Farm Book :

" Pulverize the beds finely, and sow the seed at the
rate of a tablespoonful to every square rod. Tlic seeds
are so minute, that sowing evenlv is scarcely attainable,
unless by first mixing with three or four times their

bulk of line mold. This should be done sufficiently early
to secure proper maturity to the plants in time for trans-
planting- (by the last of February or early in March
south of the Ohio, and about the lirst of April north of
it), covering lightly and completely rolling or treading
down the earth. The plant appears in fifteen or twenty
days, and will be fit for transplanting in six or eight
weeks."

From the Prairie Farmer of January 3, 1863, by J.
Feriam :

" About the 1st of April, the hot-beds should be pre-
pared thus: Having previously drawn sufficient fresh
heating horse manure into a conical pile, and turned it
at intervals of three days, to get the rank heat out of it,
mixing the dry and wet together, a space should be
cleared fifty feet long and eight feet wide, upon which
proceed to lay up the manure about sixteen inches high;
spread it evenly, long and short, patting it down from
time to time with the fork, to discover the soft places
and make it pretty firm. To heat properly, the manure
should be uniformly moist; if too dry, it should have
been moistened while in the heap. If that has been
neglected, it may be done at the time of making the bed.
Frames should have been prepared by nailing boards on
posts, which may be sixteen inches for the back by
twelve inches for the front.

The frames, when finished, should be of sufficient
width to accommodate sashes six feet long, and if in
length sufficient for four sashes each, strips should be
fastened to the frames at proper intervals for the sash to
slide on. The sash should be made of clear two-inch
pine, in the best manner, with slats sufficient for eight by
ten glass, four rows of glass to each sash, the glass
lapped together so as to shed rain. Use eight by six
glass if you can them, as there is less loss by breakage.
Place the frames upon the bed of manure, and put in two
or three inches of rich earth, free from the seed of weeds,
woods mould and strong loam, equal parts is good, to
to which may be added a little well-rotted hog manure,
2

now put on the glass, and when the thermometer ranges
between 50*^ at night and 80S during the day, your bed
is just right. Xow add three or four inches more of the
same kind of earth, and the next day after raking all
smooth and level, sow about one ounce of seed, to the
range of beds six feet wide and fifty feet long. This, if
successful, should give good plants enough for two acres,
or at three inches each way in the bed, enough for one
acre. Do not cover the seeds in the beds, but pat the
earth down, thus pressing the seeds into the earth.
Cover and keep moist until they germinate, which should
be in about ten days. After the plants are up, they
should have plenty of air in pleasant weather to make
them hardy and stocky.

More plants are destroyed in hot beds by novices
from keeping too close than in any other way. Water
at sufficient intervals with slightly warm water, gener-
ally about noon, and cover all with hay or mats in cold
weather. Extra fine plants may be obtained by making
a second bed, the last week in April, using only twelve
inches of manure, and transplanting* therein about the
first of May, the best plants from the first bed, three
inches apart, and shading until they get established,
using shutters and hay to cover with in cold weather, or
a cold frame may be used, which is simply a bed with-
out bottom heat. In this case the glass must be trans-
ferred from the first bed to the second, and the first one
covered with shutters and^mats or hay. Remember that
they are very susceptible to frost, and want careful
watching. In case you pursue the latter course, the first
bed may be made about the 20th of March, ten days ear-
lier than first suggested.

Another way, somewhat practiced, is to dig up a piece
of ground in a sheltered situation, free from frost, and
burn thereon a quantity of straw. After raking tho-
roug'hly, sow the seed at the rate of one ounce to the
square rod, beating the ground smooth, and cover with
brush until the seed germinates. A pen should be built
around this, so that it may be covered in cold nights
with boards and hay. The pen to be banked up at the

sides, and here lot me remark, that all the hot-bed frames
should be carefully banked up also, and the frames
should be so arran<j,-ed that they will pitch toward the
south so as to shed off the water and lie towards the
sun. By following these rules, the very best plants may
be obtained, and the success of the crop depends as well
on good plants as thorough cultivation. I successfully
ripened the last season, the small leafed Cuba variety
and Connecticut seed leaf, not only the leaf but the seed;
and I have at this time about six quarts of each kind.
Care should be taken in procuring seed, as it soon de-
teriorates from climatic influences and unskillful culture.
Many persons who cultivate but little, prefer to buy their
plants. If so, the ground should be properly prepared
beforehand, so that they may be set as soon as received,
in which case, no matter how dry the land, they may be
preserved by watering, as heretofore directed."

V.-TKANSPLANTING.

Tbo plant as it should be set. The plant as set.

Designing this manual to be mainly a compilation or
gathering of the best practical authorities on tobacco
culture, we here introduce directions, which we consider
instructive and reliable :

From the Bej^ort of Son. Geo. Geddes, of New York.

" Mark the land one way for rows, three feet four
inches. Make hills by hauling up a few hoes full of dirt
and press it well with the hoe. In taking the plants
from the bed take care to keep the roots wet. ITnless
the ground is quite damp, put a pint of water on each
hill half an hour before setting. Make a hole, put in the
root, and press the dirt close to it, all the way to the
lower end. If any plant does not live, take care to set
another. Tnless the earth is wet, or at least moist,
water the plants as soon after setting as may be neces-
sary. In about one week, cultivate and hoe."

From an Essay of Peter Minor, Esq., of Virginia.
"■ It is most common to wait for rain, or season as we
call it, to perform this operation, in which case the hills
must be previously cut off" about four inches above their
base ; but in early planting it is quite safe to proceed
without a season, provided it is done in the evening,
and the hills cut off at the same time. It is universally
admitted that a moderate season is better than a very
wet one ; and that is considered the best, in which the
earth does not entirely lose its friability, but at the same
time will bear to be compressed closely about the roots
of the plant without danger of becoming hard or baked.
Under the most favorable circumstances, however, some
plants will fail or perish, and therefore the ground must
be gone over after every rain until the last of June to
replant the missing hills."

From the American Fanner's Encyclopcedia.
" The plants will be generally ready for removal about
the last of May or first of June. They are to be drawn
out after a rain and transplanted in good ground pre-
viously well prepared for their reception."

From the American Farm Book.
" This should be done in damp weather, and the plants
set singly, at a distance of two and a half to three feet
each way. The after-culture is like that of corn, and

consists in frequently stirrin^i^ the ground with the plow
or cultivator and hoc, and keeping down weeds. The
places of such plants as fail or are blighted, should be
at once filled up, and all worms destroyed."

From Bcatfifs Southern Agriculture.
" The field should be laid off into ridges, by a single
horse plow (to prevent the ridges from being trodden
by the off horse), from three to three and a half feet from
centre to centre, according to the kind of tobacco which
is intended to be planted. The ground should be crossed
at the same distance, by a shovel plow, or one with a
double mould board. The ground will now be in a con-
dition, requiring nothing more to be done to prepare for
the planting, but to cut off the centre of the square or
ridge with a broad hoe. This last operation should be
performed when the plants are of sufficient size for set-
ting, and should be made only so many at a time as
there will be plants to fill the first season that happens.
Plants can only be set after a rain, and much care should
be taken in this operation, for if plants are well set they
wjU grow quickly, but if badly set they will be kept
back some time, and many hills will require to be re-
planted. This will cause much additional labor and ren-
der the crop irregular as to the time of ripening."

From B. H. Fheljjs^ statement in the Patent Office Re-
port, we take the following :

''A moist time is preferred for setting out the plants
(about the 15th of June in his locality, near Hartford,
Conn., or when the leaves of the plants are about the
size of a silver dollar), when they are placed in rows
about 3 by 3 J feet apart.

From the Prairie Farmer of January 10, 1863.
'' Mark out in ridges, three feet f^t, four inches apart,
which may be done with a winged shovel plow. Then
cross at right angles at the distance of thirty inches,
and the land will have been divided into hills three feet,
four inches one way, by thirty inches the other. The
hills may now be dressed up with a hoe, if necessary,

and patted down, so that they shall be somewhat round-
ing, and about twenty inches broad near the base. The
ground may be left until a proper day comes for plant-
ing— cloudy weather, with indications of rain is the best ;
if not, as soon after the rain as the ground is in suitable
working order.

As good a plan as any, if the weather is dry, is to
make a hole in each hill, and pour therein about a pint
of water, and set the plant as soon as it has soaked
away, drawing the dryer earth about it, which may be
done very quickly by having one hand to water, while
another sets the plants. If the hills have become weedy
between the fitting and the planting- of the land, they
should be scraped before planting, by making quick,
shallow cuts with a hoe, just beneath the surface. In
extensive cultivation, a division of labor of this kind
w^U save a large expense, in the crop.

If the weather continues dry and hot, they should be
slightly watered about nine o'clock in the morning, and
again about three P. M., if they show a disposition to
wilt. Eeset immediately if the plants are destroyed by
worms. Considerable care is sometimes necessary in
order to get a good stand. Setting the plants is per-
formed, by thrusting the left hand deep into the soil, and
placing the plant properly with the right, and pressing
the dirt pretty firmly about it."

VI -CULTIVATION MD PROTECTION FROM TESTS.

In a week or ten days after setting, cultivate and hoe.
Repeat the operation as often as once in ten days, and
keep the ground loose and clean till the crop is too large
to be worked among. During the early part of this time
keep a sharp look out for the cut-worm ; he must he killed.
As soon as the tobacco worms show themselves, they
must be killed " double quick," or your labor will have
been lost, for they eat tobacco faster than a pot-house
politician. The pruning and topping must be attended
to, and the suckering is necessary, in order to throw the

strength of the pLant into the leaves. Here again we
quote from practical men, as to when, and how these
operations are to be performed.
Hon. George Geddes says :

" When the blossoms appear, break off the stalk, leav-
ing about fifteen leaves, taking off about seven leaves.

After topping, break off the all the suckers. In about
another week, go over again, breaking off suckers and
killing worms. In another week repeat the operation."

Mr. J. Pcriam in the Prairie Farmer for January IT,
1863, says :

" After the first of July look out for worms upon the
leaf, and from this time until harvested, great care will
be necessary, in keeping them down, and removing the
suckers as fast as they appear. When the plant has
begun to form buds, it should be topped as represented
in the cut, at h, leaving from nine to fifteen leaves, ac-
cording to the strength of plant — the latter number is
not too many for strong healthy plants.

From this time until the crop is ready to cut, it will
be necessary to go over it as often as once a week, and
remove suckers, as they appear, keeping a sharp look
out all the time for worms, killing them as fast as they
appear, by throwing them on the ground and scraping
them with the foot. They are a large green worm such
as often appear on tomato plants, and are more destruc-
tive to the crop than anything else. If the directions
have been properly attended to, by the middle of xlugust
the crop will have entirely covered the ground ; here-
after the utmost care must be used not to break the
leaves in passing among the plants, and in consequence,
some people neglect the suckering and worming, to do
which would be fatal to the crop. The plant with
suckers growing is shown in the cut.

Turkeys are sometimes used for picking off the worms
by calling them to the field with corn, but think the better
way is to keep help enough in the field to get over the crop
about once a week, which will enable them to look for

worms constantly. "When the suckers have all made
their appearance, down to the ground, and been pulled
as fast as they have shown themselves, the crop should
be ready to harvest. This may be known by the leaves
assuming a mottled appearance, and by their cracking
when bent over, and also by their being of an uniform
size and appearance from top to bottom."

The plant in full blossom, as when left for seed.

From Mr. Minor , of Albemarle County , Va.:

'' When the plants attain a proper size, which observa-
tion and experience will readily point out, they are to be
primed and topped. The priming is merely stripping
off four or five leaves at the bottom, leaving about a

hand's breadth between the first leaf and the top of the
hill. Topping" is simply taking out the bud witli the
fing-er and thumb nails, leaving the necessary number of

A plant ready to top, place for topping indicated by b.

leaves, which in general is not more than eight, though
the first topping may be to nine or ten leaves to make
it ripen more uniformly, and bring the crop into the
house more together. For the same reason, the late

/"-

Plant after topping.

plants are not topped to so many, falling from eight by
degrees, as the season expires, down to six and five. A
little practice, and slight attention to the manner in
2*

which the leaves gvovr from the stalk, will soon enable
a person to perform this operation with great dexterity

Plant needing to be sucker ed.

and dispatch, without counting- the kaves. All that is
requisite after this until the plant is fit to cut, is to keep
it from being eaten by worms, and to pull of the suckers
that grow out at the junction of the leaves to the stalk.
These suckers put forth only twice at the leaves, but
after that indefinitely and continually from the root ; and
it is thought injudicious ever to let them get more than
a week old, for besides absorbing the nutriment neces-
sary to push forward, and increase the size and thick-
ness of the leaf, the breaking them off when of a large
size makes so great a wound as greatly to injure the
after-growth of the plant. In general, about three
months is requisite to perfect the growth of tobacco-
from planting to cutting."

From tJie Farmei^s UncycIopcBdia, on Priming, Topping,
SucJcering, and Worming :

" As the tobacco plant grows and develops, a blos-
som-bud puts out from the top, which is termed buttoning.
This top must be pulled off along with such of the upper
leaves as are too small to be of any value. The plants
are thus left usually about two or three feet high. The
plants also shoot out suckers from every leaf, which

must be broken off, care being taken not to break the
leaf from the main stem. This causes the leaves to
spread.

The most regular topping is performed by measure.
The topper carries in liis hand a measure six inches long,
by occasionally applying which, he can regulate the
priming with great accuracy ; and as the remaining
leaves are numbered, this governs the operation, and
gains the object of even topping. The topper should
always carry this measure in his hand, as it serves to
prevent excuses for negligence and uneven topping.
Prime six inches, and top to eight leaves. We have
found by experience, that this is the best average height.
We sometimes, but seldom, vary from this general rule.
If the land is poorer than common, or if, from the back-
wardness of the plant, and the advanced state of the
season, we apprehend frost, we do not prime as high
(say four inches) . If we have an uncommonly rich spot,
and there is danger that the top leaves will come to the
ground, we should rise in the same proportion. The
crop should be wormed and suckered, at least once a
week."

From the Southern Agriculture, by Judge Beatty :

" When the crop is planted, its cultivation must be
carefully attended to. The first thing to be done is to
see that the cut-worms do not destroy the young plants.
These must be sought after and destroyed. The plants
must be kept free from weeds. In this' operation both
the plow and hoe should be used until the plants be-
come too large to use the former without breaking the
leaves. During the last plowing, tobacco should be
plowed only during the heat of the day, when the leaves
will have wilted^ and will not easily break.

Tobacco is very subject to be injured by the horn-
worm. This insect is very destructive, and, if not de-
stroyed, will ruin the crop. The utmost care is, therefore,
required, from an early period of its growth, to save the
tobacco crop. From the time the horn-worm makes its
appearance, the crop should be gone over once a week

till it is cut. Topping and priming are next to be at-
tended to. The latter consists in breaking" oif the leaves
next to the ground, which, to the number of four or five,
are of no value. The number of leaves to which tobacco
should be topped varies, according to the kind of tobac-
co raised and the season of topping. The first topping
will always admit of a greater number of leaves being
left ; and, in proportion as the season advances, fewer
leaves should be left. The heavier kinds of tobacco are
generally topped early in the season, to twelve leaves,
then to ten, and still later to eight. The lighter kinds
of tobacco are topped to a greater number of leaves.
The above rule is only applicable to a rich soil. If the
soil is light, the topping should be regulated accordingly,
and fewer leaves left,"^

Suckering is a much more tedious operation. Every
plant requires to be twice suckered before it is ready
for cutting. The first suckers are of quick growth, and
should be removed before they become larger, otherwise
they will not only injure the growth of the plants, but
will sometimes break off the leaves in removing them.

Tobacco is usually planted from the middle of May to
the last of June. And the cutting season commonly
commences about the middle of August. A little prac-
tice will enable the planter to distinguish, very readily,
the ripe from the gn-een plants. At the first cutting the
former must be selected and cut, leaving the others to
become riper. When tobacco is ripe the leaves become
spotted, with a greenish yellow color, and the leaves are
so thick and ridged that, by folding and pressing gently
between the thumb and finger, they will break or crack.
But a little experience will enable the planter to deter-
mine which plants are ripe by sight alone."

Tobacco is liable to injury, like many other plants, by
the cut-worm. The horn-worm, spoken of by Judge

^ Light tobacco, for segar wrappers, such as Roundleaf, Burleigh,
aivl Summerville, should be i^lauted three by two feet, and topped
to sixteen or eighteen leaves.

Beatty, we suppose to be the same usually called the
tobacco-worm in the North and East, a large green, and
very offensive object, and an enormous chewer of to-
bacco.

The cultivation and protection of this plant, according
to all the directions we have suggested and collected
from what we regard as good authority, and, spread be-
fore our readers, would seem to be somewhat laborious,
but more care-wearing and time-consuming. And yet
we have often heard farmers of much experience say,
that the cost of an acre of tobacco is no more than that
of two acres of corn. This may be true, where the
manuring is but moderate, the cultivation slight, the
protection from enemies but partial, and the crop but
small and not remarkably nice. But those who succeed
in selling from an acre from 2,000 to 2,500 lbs., of so fine,
a quality as to bring them 8 or 10 cents more per lb.
than average prices, we suspect find it necessary to
expend much more than they would on two acres of corn,
and certainly they can afford it, in view of the greater
income from one such acre than from two of corn.

Hardly is the cut-worm out of the "way, and some-
times the tobacco grower, soon after transplanting, has
to hunt up, pursue, and slaughter two or three hundred
of these per acre, day after day, before the horn-icormf
green-worm, or tobacco-worm, as variously called, makes
his appearance. Scarcely ten days in succession, from
first to last, can the field be left to take care of itself.
Three months of constant care and frequent toil attend
the growth, and about as many more the harvesting,
curing, and marketing.

"We know of no short way of dealing with the cut-

worm. It is possible that the piercing of the ground
with a crow bar, in two, three, or half a dozen places,
near the plant, might entrap some of them ; and though
laborious, this process might, in some extreme cases,
where these worms are very numerous, be worth resort-
ing to, inasmuch as it would, in some degree operate
as a preventive of mischief, while the cultivator sleeps,
or is absent for other reasons. If the depredator falls into
the hole, he will be pretty sure to be hindered awhile
from his mischief, and if the cultivator drops his bar into
same holes, at his next round, the hindrance would be-
come permanent. But we doubt whether there is any
way less laborious, than to crush them under the heel,
or more than half as sure. Some would say^ instead of
using the heel, use a stick of wood, say six feet long, an
inch and a half through at the lowep end, and enlarging
slightly upwards, on the ground that this, brought down
heavily upon the depredator, would not only put a stop
to his mischief, but, when withdrawn, would leave a trap
for his fellows. AVhere the cut-worms are very numer-
ous and destructive, we think the suggestion may be
worth heeding, as the killing of each worm would vir-
tually be the setting of a trap for more.

Plowing late in the fall, and then again early in the
spring, tends much to diminish these pests ; but it can-
not be relied upon to kill them all ; the survivors must
be met promptly and annihilated ; or a full crop of
tobacco, uniform in the time of ripening, and all of a
superior quality, cannot be expected.

Replanting in the spaces should be attended to
promptly, but it cannot wholly repair the mischief, as
the replanted hills will rarely show precisely the same
forwardness as the first planted.

For a description of the horn, green, or tobacco worm
as well as for other sound views on the general culture,
we here copy from the Country Gentleman, a letter from
John C. Roberts, of TarifTville, Conn.:

"Messrs. Editors — As my communication on the cul-
ture of tobacco, was so favorally received, I thought I
might venture to write again. We have had a very
large amount of wet, cold weather this spring. On the
12th (of June, 1859) we have a severe frost, which
killed corn, potatoes, beans, and other garden vegeta-
bles to a great extent, though it did no injury to the
tobacco. We are just setting out the tobacco plants,
5,500 or 6,000 to the acre, but the cut-worm keeps us
busy ; we have to go over the lot every day, early in
the morning ; and w^e find 200 or 300 worms to the
acre. Is there no remedy for the ravages of these
pests ? We have tried every thing we know of, but
have not found any thing to answer the purpose, but
the thumb and finger.

"When the tobacco is set previous to the 15th of
June, the cut-worm w^orks at it more than when set
later. Some of the best tobacco we had last year, was
set on July 5th. After the cut-worm leaves, the green-
worm appears. You will find the eggs from which they
are produced on the under side of the leaf ; they are a
pea-green color and the size of the head of a large pin.
The worm grows so rapidly that they are from three to
four inches long in a week, if not sooner destroyed.
They require close watching, for they will frequently de-
stroy a large plant in a single night. The insect which
lays the e^g is a large moth, about two inches in length;
when the wings are spread, they measure from tip to tip
from three to five inches. They fly mostly at night, and
hence are rarely caught ; they are a brownish color,
with a head very much like an owl.

" I have seen an elaborate description of the curing
process at the South by fire, &c., but we take no such
trouble here. When the plants are hung on poles, we
see that they are not too thick, as, if they are, they

pole-sweat, wliicli is the same as rot. All we have to
do from the time the tobacco is hung up, until it is
ready to strip, is to keep a current of air circulating
through it, till it is cured, which is about three months.
"When cured, we watch the first opportunity, when the
weather is damp and rainy, to open all air-holes to let
in the damp air ; for the leaves get so dry that they
break very badly without they are dampened.

" In shipping, all the first quality g'oes by itself, then
second quality, and lastly fillers, which consists of rub-
bish of all sorts. A smart man will earn from $1.50
to $2 a day in stripping. But enough of tobacco,
though if I can enlighten any one, by answering ques-
tions on the subject, I am willing to do so.

"JOHX C. EGBERTS,

" Tariffville, Conn."

ATI.-ILtfiVESTIXG AXD CURIXG.

As regards the time, two things are to be considered:
1st. At what stage is the crop most valuable, provided
it can be harvested at the moment ? and 2d. To what
extent should a consideration of time required to secure
the whole crop, and of the dangers which thicken around
it just before harvest, induce the tobacco-grower to
commence operations a little in advance of the stage,
which, in the abstract, seems best ? The question is not,
"When is the crop exactly in the best state, for cutting ?
for it cannot always be cut the very day one would pre-
fer ; but. When is it best, all things considered, to com-
mence cutting ?

Mr. Geddes' view of this question is, that, when the
topping is done, which is to be as soon as the blossoms
appear, then break off all the suckers, and persecute to

the death all worms that show themselves ; at the end
of a week, repeat the operation, at the end of another
week, repeat it again ; and he adds : "By. this time the
crop is ready to begin the harvest." We conclude that
tlie plant has not, in his opinion, then arrived at its very
Lest state ; but that, in consideration of its perils and
of the time required to secure the crop, he would then
" begin," lest more should be lost than gained by delay.
Mr. Minor, late a distinguished .farmer of Albemarle
County, Va., remarks on the same point as follows :

"We have now arrived at the most difficult and critical
stages of the whole process; every operation, from this
time until the plant is cured, requiring great attention
and care, as well as skill and nicety of judgment in the
execution. And hence a great contrariety of practice
in some of the minutifB prevails, according to the supe-
rior skill and ability of different planters.

" It is difficult to convey an idea of ripe tobacco by
description. It can only be learned by observation and
experience. In general, its maturity is indicated by
the top leaves of the plant turning down and often
touching the ground, becoming curdled with yellow
spots interspersed on their surface, looking glossy and
shining, with an entire loss of fur, a manifest increase
of thickness in the substance of the leaves, which, when
pinched in a fold between the finger and thumb, will
crack or split with ease. But the most experienced
planters acknowledge that they are more apt to err in
cutting their tobacco too soon, than in deferring it too
long. As a proof of this, take two plants growing side
by side, of equal size and appearance in every respect,
and both apparently ripe ; cut one and weigh it both
green and when cured; let the other stand a week longer,
and when weighed like the first, the difference in favor
of the latter will be astonishing.

" If it be asked, why we do not avail ourselves of
he advantage to be derived from thus deferring the

operation; it may be answered, as I have before ob-
served, that tobacco, while standing", is liable to be in-
jured and destroyed by more, accidents than any other
plant, such as hail-storms, heavy rains, high winds, the
depredations of worms, the growth of suckers from the
root, which abstract greatly from the weight and thick-
ness of the leaves if suffered to grow, and which it is
not always convenient to pull off. Besides this, the
season of cutting tobacco is a very busy one to the
planter, and too much work would accumulate on his
hands by deferring it to the last moment.

" For these reasons it is considered most prudent to
cull out the plants as soon as they will make good to-
bacco, in which case the loss in the aggregate amount
of crop is balanced by avoiding the risk of accidents,
and being able to bestow more care and attention to
what remains."

The following, from the same pen, gives a lucid de-
scription of the Virginia mode of cutting and curing to-
bacco:

" The cutters go over the ground by rows, each tak-
ing two at a time, and the plants they cut are laid in
the intermediate row between them. This facilitates
the picking up, as the cutting of four rows is thereby
placed in one. The stalk of the plant is first split to
within about six inches of the ground, and after be-
ing cut off just below the bottom leaf, is inverted and
laid upon the ground, to fall and become pliant for hand-
ling. The splitting of the stalk is important, both for
the convenience of hanging it on sticks, and accelerat-
ing the cure of the plant. To those unused to the cul-
ture and management of tobacco, it will be almost in-
credible to learn how soon it will sun-burn, as we call
it, after being cut and turned over on the ground. This
is effected by the hot rays of the sun piercing and pene-
trating the tender parts of the leaves, and is manifested,
by the parts affected turning white, and soon becom-
ing dry and crisp, and, when cured, of a dark green

color, without possessing any of the strength or quali-
ties of tobacco.

" In very dry, hot weather, sun-burning" often takes
place before a large plant falls sufficiently to be handled
without breaking off the leaves; and for this reason the
cutting in such weather should always be made early in
the morning, and not proceed after ten o'clock. Some-
times it is done in the evening, when there is no pros-
pect of rain, by which the packing up may be accom-
plished earlier the next morning, and with less risk of
burning. As soon as the plants fall sufficiently to handle
without breaking off the leaves, they are hanchfuUed, as
we call it ; that is, they are picked up, and three, or
four, or five plants are laid together, with their tails
from the sun, and the stalks inclined and somewhat
elevated against the sides of some of the hills.

" The pickers-up, after going through this ground, re-
turn and turn over each handful, that both sides of the
plants may receive the benefit of the sun, and not be
burnt; and this operation is again repeated, if by this
time the tobacco is not pliant enough to be put in shocks.
This is putting an indefinite number of handfuls togeth-
er, the stalks in an erect position, forming a sort of cir-
cle of any diameter, from two to six feet or more, at
convenient distances in the field ; and these shocks
should be immediately and effectually covered with
green bushes, or something else, previously in place,
for the purpose of excluding the rays of the sun.

" The next operation (after the heat of the sun has
declined) is to remove the tobacco to the house or scaf-
fold, and hanging the plants on sticks four and a half
feet long, and about one inch square. The common pine
affords the best timber for this purpose, which will rive
straight and with ease. From ten to twelve plants, ac-
cording to size, may be hung on each stick, the width
of two fingers to be left between each plant. The scaf-
folds are raised four or five feet from the ground, and
the poles to receive the sticks are placed four feet apart,
and are made to range east and west, so that the sticks
will be north and south, to give both sides an equal
benefit from the sun.

" The tobacco is commonly removed from the field to
the house or scaffold upon the shoulders of the laborers,
carefully put on and taken off to avoid bruising; but if
the distance is great, carts are used, greater care being
necessary to avoid bruising. This is considered so im-
portant, that some judicious planters make temporary
scaffolds in the field, preferring the risk of injury from
a smart rain to that of bruising, by moving it far in a
green state.

" There are two modes of curing tobacco : one in the
house, altogether by fire ; the other by the sun on scaf-
folds. The first is esteemed the best and most effectual,
but it is attended with great risk. Our houses are gen-
erally four-sided pens, twenty feet square, built of round
poles, and about twelve feet pitch. The joists are placed
four feet apart, the rafters immediately over them hav-
ing beams corresponding with the joists, three feet per-
pendicular from each other, so as to afford ranges or
tiers for the tobacco up to the crown; and the same
tiers are fixed below the joists and at the same distance,
by extending poles across the house, between the logs
of the pen. The house is covered tightly with pine
boards; and, if it is intended to cure by fire, the open-
ings between the logs should be closed to prevent the
escape of heat. Such a sized house will cure from two
to three thousand weight, according to the quality of
the tobacco.

*'If it be decided to cure by fire, the tobacco is car-
ried immediately from the field to the house, hung on
sticks as before described, and these sticks crowded as
close together on the tiers as they can possibly be, so
as to exclude all air from the tobacco. It remains in
this situation until the leaves of the plants become yel-
low, or of the color of hickory leaves just before they
fall. This will generally happen in four or five days,
when the sticks must be spread and placed at their pro-
per distances apart in the house. About six or seven
inches is the proper distance, or any other that will pre-
vent the plants on different sticks touching each other.
A moderate heat, which is gradually increased to a very

strong- one, is tlicn applied, by making- different rang-es
of fires throughout the house, and that wood is preferred
and sought for which will make the geatest heat with
the least blaze and smoke. The fires must be continu-
ally kept up until the curing is effected (say from four
to six days), when not only the leaves, but the whole
stalk becomes dry, and changes from a green or yellow
to a light brown color.

" If it is not to be cured by fire, the tobacco is brought
to the scaffold and hung, and the sticks are crowded in
the same way on the scafibld, until the same yellow
color is imparted to the leaves ; and some planters are
so particular as to cover their scaffolds with green
bushes during this crowded state, to prevent sun-burning-.
When the proper time arrives, which is indicated by the
yellow color of the leaves, the sticks are thinned and
placed at such a distance as to admit the influence of
the sun and air; and if the weather is warm and fair, in
five or six days the curing will be so far effected as to
justify the removal of the tobacco into the house, when
it must be properly and finally arranged, and the cure
will be gradually accomplished by time and season.

" But if damp, hot weather surpervenes, it will be
necessary, both in this and in the case of tobacco already
cured by fire, to make moderate fires under each when-
ever it comes in very high order. In such weather and
in such order, tobacco is liable to contract a mould about
the stems, which can only be prevented by keeping it
dry by fires. This mould injures both the quality and
appearance greatly, and cannot be easily rubbed off.
Great attention is therefore necessary to prevent it by
these occasional firings, until regular cool weather sets
in, after which there is no danger. From the vicissi
tudes of our climate for some years past, and other
causes, it happens commonly that some portion of onr
tobacco is not mature, and is left until we are compelled
to cut it by the approach of frost. Such plants, even
if fully ripe, seldom cure of a good color or quality, for
want of proper seasons.

" And here we may venture a general remark, which

is, that tobacco cut early and fully ripe, will cure well
and be of good quality under the most unfavorable cir-
cumstances, while that which comes late into the house
is difficult to cure and of inferior grade. After the hous-
ing of tobacco is all accomplished, and the cool weather
begins, the house should be closed with green bushes,
or fence-rails set up on end close around on the outside
of the house, to exclude damp air and beating rains,
which generate mould, &c."

We now quote from Judge Beatty, of Kentucky, on
Southern Agriculture. Our object is, to give the reader
a distinct account of the processes most approved in
that State, by the pen of a Kentuckian. Judge Beatty
says :

''Tobacco must be split while standing; and such
hands as can readily distinguish between the ripe and
green plants, should be employed in the splitting pro-
cess. The most convenient knife for splitting tobacco
is in form, somewhat like a broad chisel, except that the
blade should be very thin. It should be three and a
half inches wide, and of the same length, having at-
tached to it a thin spear or shank, to be inserted in a
handle about a foot long, having a cross-piece on the
top, to be held by the hand. After the spear is inserted
in the handle, the latter should be shaved flat on two
sides, to prevent the end of the handle next the spear
from striking against tho top of the tobacco-stalk as
the knife is run down. With this instrument a skillful
operator can split the standing plants with great rapid-
ity. They should not be split nearer to tke ground than
six inches.

"The cutter may follow immediately after the splits
ter, or at any convenient time afterwards. A common
hemp-hook is the best instrument for cutting tobacco.
The cutting-season is a critical time for the tobacco-
crop. It is subject to a variety of casualties; and with-
out particular care, is liable to sustain great and irre-
parable injury. It is subject ta be bruised in handling,

to be sun-hiirned, and to be greatly injured by healing if
siifTcred to lie too long- in large heaps. Each of these
will most materially injure the crop, and they must all
be guarded against with utmost vigilance. The first is
the most difficult to be guarded against, when tobacco
is cut in very warm weather.

" After it is cut, it must lie long enough to fall or ivilt,
so as to become sufficiently pliant to handle without
breaking or bruising the leaves. The hotter the weather
the more difficult it is to accomplish this object without
exposing the plants to the deteriorating effects of being
sun-burned. It is surprising how quickly this takes
place, when tobacco is exposed to the meridian rays of
the sun, in the month of August, or early in September.
The parts of the leaves which are sun-burned turn white
and soon become dry and crisp; and when cured, as-
sume a green color. The parts thus affected are com-
pletely ruined, having lost all the qualities of good
tobacco. To guard against this casualty, when tobacco
is cut early in the season, the operation should be per-
formed in the morning, or so late in the evening, that
the sun will not have power enough to injure it. Cut-
ting, both in the morning and evening, may be practiced
as convenience may dictate, and may be managed as
follows : The planter may commence cutting in the
morning, taking care to cut onl}^ so much as he can se-
cure before the sun has acquired sufficient power to
injure it.

" When the cutting is completed and the plants have
fallen sufficiently, he should commence piling it in heaps
with the butts towards the sun, taking care to handle
the plants gently, holding them by the butts, and avoid-
ing any pressure upon the leaves. By handling them
thus, and laying them as lightly as possible in heaps,
this process may be performed before the tobacco has
completely fallen. The heaping should alway commence
with the plants first cut, so that they may, as nearly as
practicable, be exposed to the sun's rays an equal por-
tion of time, or in equal degree, and should so progress
till the whole is heaped. The stems of the tobacco are

52 .

tlie last parts that icilt. Being large and ridged, these
require more sun to make them fall, and hence the ne-
cessity of placing the butts towards the sun when
heaping tobacco. Being thus placed, the stems continue
to be affected by the sun, while the plants are lying in
heaps.

" The heaping of tobacco in some degree protects it
from being sun-hurned, but the uncovered leaves are, of
course, unprotected. Hence the necessity of hauling
the tobacco to the place of hanging it as soon as possi-
ble, after it has fallen sufficiently to admit of this being
done without bruising or breaking' off the leaves. Sleds
are the most convenient vehicles for transporting tobac-
co to the scaffold or house where it is to be hung, if near
at hand. These should have smooth plank on the bot-
tom, to prevent the leaves of the tobacco from being
torn or bruised. There should be no standards in the
sleds, and the tobacco should be laid on in two courses,
the tails lapped and butts out on each side. When un-
loaded, the butts should all lie towards the sun, unless
the hanging is performed in the shade of a house or
trees. These precautions are all for the purpose of pre-
venting the tobacco from being sun-burned. If the cut-
ting take place late in the season, or when the weather
is cool, they will not be necessary.

" Planters who are largely' engaged in the culture of
tobacco, will be under the necessity of raising it at a
considerable distance from the place of housing it. In
that case sleds will not be convenient for transporting
it, and it would be a much better plan to have a wagon
coupled so as to hold a very long body, and sufficiently
high to hang the tobacco, after being put on sticks,
across the body. The sticks should be filled with the
appropriate number of plants, in the field where it
grew, and put at once into the wagon, pressing them as
close together as possible without bruising the leaves.
This will protect the plants from becoming sun-burned,
and when the wagon arrives at the place of housing it,
the tobacco may, at once, be transferred to the place
where it is to be cured. It would be most convenient

to have two wagons, so that one may be filled in the
field, while the other is hauling and discharging its load,
and returning. So, also, if there be hands enough, the
smaller ones may be heaping the tobacco, while others
are engaged in putting it on sticks, and conveying it to
the place of housing it. If the tobacco-house be so
constructed as to admit the wagons to pass through
the centre, additional facilities will be furnished for
transferring the tobacco to the place where it is to be
cured.

" Tobacco plants may be split, during the heat of the
day, without injury. It is only liable to be sun-burned
after it is cut. And hence the splitting process may
progress, while part of the hands are engaged in hang-
ing that which was cut in the morning. When the
afternoon has so far progressed that tobacco may safely
be cut without the risk of sun-burning (which is usually
about four o'clock in August, and somewhat earlier in
September), the cutting process should commence, and
be completed as soon as possible, so as to give time for
the plants to fall sufficiently to be handled the same
evening, or the next day, before the sun has attained
sufficient power to injure them. The first cutting of the
afternoon, in the early part of the season, can usually
be hauled and hung the same evening. That part of it
which has not fallen sufficiently to be handled without
bruising or breaking, should be suffered to lie in the
field, without heaping, till the next day.

" It is usual, when there is not time to hang all the
tobacco, during the same evening it is cut, to let a part
of it lie over till morning, to be hung while the dew is
drying off that in the field. This may be done to ad-
vantage if hauled on sleds, provided care be taken to
prevent it from heating during the night. If suffered
to lie in large heaps, it will be greatly injured in the
course of one night. To guard against this casualty,
it should be spread in long rows not more than three or
four plants deep, when the weather is very warm. In
cool weather the danger of heating is not so great. A
little experience will teach the tobacco-planter to guard
3

ag-ainst the casualty of which I hare been speaking. It
is very important that this should be done, as it is com-
pletely ruinous to so much of the tobacco as may be-
come heated to a high degree, as it will be if suffered to
lie in large heaps over night.

"There are two modes of treating tobacco when it is
cut, one is to hang it on scaffolds, exposed to the
weather; the other is to hang it at once in suitable
houses.

"The former method must, of necessity, be resorted
to where there is a scarcity of house room. By hang-
ing some time on a scaffold, the tobacco commences cur-
ing and can be stowed much closer in houses than it
can be, with safety, when first cut. But it is subject
to serious disadvantages. Those parts which are ex-
posed to the sun are liable to be sun-burned, and much
of it may, therefore, be injured on the scaffold. An-
other injury, and a most material one, is, that if suffered
to remain on the scaffold till the leaves begin to cure,
they are liable to be injured by the dews which fall every
night ; and still more by a rain, if one should happen
to fall. If the tobacco is housed, from the scaffold, be-
fore it begins to cure, not much is gained in point of
room, when stowed in the tobacco-house. If suffered
to hang on the scaffold till partly cured, it may be great-
ly injured by rains and dews.

" the safest way, therefore, is to put it in houses or
under sheds, as soon as it is cut. But here again care
must be taken to avoid another casualty, that of being
house-burned. It is stated in the Farmer's Guide, page
2G5, that, if it is intended ' to cure by fire, the tobacco
is carried immediately from the field to the house, hung
on sticks, as before described, and these sticks crowded
as close together on the tier as they can possibly be, so
as to exclude all air from the tobacco. It remains in
this situation until the leaves of the plants become yel-
low, or of the color of hickory leaves just before they
fall. This will generally happen in four or five days,
when the sticks must be spread and placed at the pro-
per distances in the house.' There never was a greater

error than that contained in tlie above extract. Tobac-
co thus housed, would be completely ruined long before
the five da^'s should have elapsed. If intended to be
cured without fire, the house sliould be as open as pos-
sible, for the free admission of air. The sticks on which
the tobacco is hung should be placed from eight to
twelve inches apart, according to the size of the tobac-
co, so that the air could circulate freely between the
ranges of sticks. It should be continued in this open
order until the tobacco is partially cured, \rhen it may
be rehung in much closer order, so as to make room for
the later cutting. If hung in open sheds, with tight
roofs, so much the better, so that the rain is prevented
from beating in on the tobacco, which may be done by
setting up fence rails or rough plank against the open
sides of the shed.

" If intended to be cured by fire, the house should be
rendered as tight as possible, in all parts, except the
roof, through which the smoke must escape. But in-
stead of being crowded together, as recommended in
the extract given above, it should have space enough to
prevent the plants on the different sticks from pressing
hard against each other, after the tobacco has complete-
ly fallen. Instead of suffering the tobacco to hang four
or five days before fire is put under it, the house should
be filled as soon as possible, and fire put under it imme-
diately, to prevent the danger of house-burning.

" For the first few days the fire should be moderate,
till the edges of the leaves turn of a yellow collor. The
fires should then be gradually raised and the house kept
sufficiently warm to cure the tobacco in a few days. In
making kite-foot tobacco, the rule is, I believe, that the
tobacco, stalk and all, must be cured in forty-eight hours
from the time the fires are raised, which, as I have al-
ready remarked, must be when the leaves begin to turn
yellow arcund their edges.

" After thus commencing to change color the entire
leaf very soon assumes a beautiful yellow hue, and the
object is to cure it before it turns to a nutmeg brown.
If the curing is not very speedy, it will, or a great part

of it, change to tlie latter color before the operation is
completed.

" The next thing to be done, after the tobacco is
housed and cured, is stripping. This must be delayed
till the stem, as well as the leaf, of the tobacco is thor-
oughly cured. Stripping can only be performed when
tobacco is in such high case as to render the stems per-
fectly pliable, or at least such a portion of them as will
supply a sufficient quantity of tying leaves, that is, leaves
to tie the tobacco in hands. To perform this operation
neatly, the stem of the leaf with which the hand is tied
should be soft and pliant. As seasons for stripping are
precarious, whenever tobacco, after being sufficiently
cured, comes into case, a quantity for future stripping
should be taken down, and packed in close bulk, with
the tails in the centre and the butts of the stalks out.
This bulk should be inclosed by the walls of the house
on two or three sides, and plank on the other, and should
be well stuffed all around between the inclosure and
butts, with straw, so as to exclude the air. Thus packed
away, tobacco will remain in case for a long time, but
care must be taken not to pack it down when in too
damp order, otherwise it will go through a heat, and be
greatly injured, unless it be stripped out in the course
of a few days.

" If put down in proper order, it may be stripped
out at leisure, provided it is not packed in bulk before
the weather has become cool, say Xovember or Decem-
ber. When stripped and tied in hands it must be put in
bulk, lapping the tails in the middle, and leaving the
heads all on the outside of the bulk, so that they can
become thoroughly dry. If not in too high order when
put in bulk, as above directed, it may be suffered to re-
main till February, when it should be hung on sticks,
the hands as close as they can be conveniently placed
to each other, without pressing them together, and hung
in the tobacco-house, leaving the sticks so far apart as
to admit the air to circulate between them.

" In this situation the tobacco will become thoroug-hly
dry in a few days. It must be left hanging until a rain

shall ag-ain brin^ it in case. It will be observed that
the leaf, in contradistinction to the stejn, will first come in
case, whilst the stem will be found still dry and brittle.
This is precisely the order in which tobacco should be,
when it is to be finally bulked down for market or pris-
ing in hogsheads.

" It should now be put down in a very large bulk, which
may include the planter's entire crop. The number of
courses may be six, eight, or any larger number, and
the whole should be inclosed by the walls of the house
and plank, and closely surrounded and covered with
soft straw, so as perfectly to exclude the air. In this
condition it may be kept for any length of time, and will
be ready at all times for hauling to market in the hand
or prising. One precaution only will be necessary.
When the cover of the bulk, is taken off for the purpose
of taking out a part of the tobacco for prising or sale,
the entire course or courses, on the top, should be taken
ofi' smoothly, and the cover carefully replaced. This is
necessary to prevent the top of the bulk from becoming
too dry. When prising in the summer, some elder bushes
may be spread over the bulk, to keep the tobacco damp.
Tobacco prepared as herein directed, may be kept any
number of years in bulk, or may be transferred to hogs-
heads and kept for any length of time, not only without
injury, but will constantly improve by age.

" It should be remarked, that to make tobacco of a
very superior quality, great care should be taken when
the stripping process is going on, to separate all the
injured or defective leaves from the prime tobacco. To
this end every plant should pass through the hands of a
good judge of tobacco, who should cull out all the in-
jured and defective leaves, which should be kept and sold
separately."

The foregoing from the pens of two distinguished
farmers, one of Virginia, and the other of Kentucky,
exhibit fairly, we believe, the best practice of those
great tobacco-growing States. We now turn to the

northern and eastern views of the same subject. Tliat
the North has borrowed its practice, with regard to the
cutting- and curing of tobacco, measurably, from the
South, is highly probable. Has it improved upon the
South ? Or, are its innovations only so many adapta-
tions to a different climate, and a different system of
labor ? "We care not to decide which; and will only say,
that we suppose practice on the James or Ohio River,
and on the Northern Mohawk or Connecticut, may differ
for the best of reasons, and that in neither case need
the practice of one region operate as an impeachment
to that of the other.

It will be recollected that Mr. Geddes, in his able
report to the Xew York State Agricultural Society, puts
the time for commencing the harvest, " When the suck-
ers have all appeared down to the lower leaf, every
sucker' having been removed as it app'Cared,'' He says :

Tobacco-house without side-doors, end boarding, and end doors, to show the man-
ner of hanging the Tobacco.

** The stalks are cut at the root. In a warm day, cut
in the morning and evening. In the middle of a hot day

tlie leaves will burn before they are wilted. The best
w\ay is to cut in the afternoon and lay on the ground to
wilt. This wnltiiig forwards the process of curing, and
so toughens the plant as to make it practicable to hang
it without much loss in breaking leaves.

" After wilting draw to the house, which should be
twenty-four feet wide, fifteen feet high, so as to have
three tiers, one above the other. A building of this
width and height, thirt^^-five feet long, will store an acre,
or one ton of tobacco. The girts on the side of the build-
ing should be five feet apart; a row of posts through
the middle is necessary to put girts in, to hold the poles
that the plants are tied to. The best poles are made of
basswood sawed one and a half by four inches, and
twelve feet long.

" The plants are handed to a man who, standing on a
movable platform made by a light plank, receives them,
and beginning at the upper tier he winds a piece of pre-
pared twine around a stalk, fastening the first plant to
the pole; the second plant is placed on the other side of
the pole, and a single turn is made around the stalk ;
then again the third stalk is put on the same side of the
first, the twine passed around, and the next on the other
side, and so on to the end of the pole, w^here the twine

Tobacco stacked after stripping.

is made fast. About thirty or thirty-six arc hung on a
pole, one-half on each side. If this twine gives way it
is manifest that they will all be let loose. The poles

are put on the girts about fourteen inches apart. In
this way the whole building is filled. Skill is now de-
manded to regulate the ventilation until the crop is
cured, which is determined by examining the stem in
the leaf, which should be hard, up to the main stalk.
Then in damp weather the tobacco can be taken down
and laid in piles, with the tips together to keep it from
drying, and to secure this, cover over with boards.

" The next thing is the removal of the leaves from the
stalks, taking this time to separate the broken leaves
from the unbroken ones. They are then made into par-
cels of sixteen or eighteen, called 'hands,' and are fas-
tened by winding a leaf around them. Pile these hands
tips on tips, the square ends out. This preserves the
moisture. The pile should be kept covered with boards,
and the sides also covered, leaving the wound ends of
hands exposed to the air. If everything up to this point
has been skillfully done, in four or five days the tobacco
will be fit to pack in cases, and taken to market. The

Hanging Tobacco on the poles.

cases should be of pine, two feet six inches square, by
three feet eight inches, and of inch lumber. Place the
hands tips on tips, and the wound ends against the ends
of the box, press with a lever or screw until 400 pounds
is in, then fasten on the top. The tobacco now goes
through the sweating process, and will lose about ten
per cent, in weight before fit for use. This tobacco is

known in the market as ' seed-leaf/ and is principally
used for wrappers for cigars; the refuse is exported. A
crop handled in the manner, described, and with skill,
will sell in New York City, at from 12 to 15 cents a
pound; but from want of proper care and skill, the crop
of tins county does not bring an average price of over
eight cents,

COST OF CROP.

The plants are worth per acre $2 50

Manure, 10 cords, say 20 00

Fitting ground and marking 4 50

Planting and setting 6 00

Cultivating and first hoeing 2 00

do. do. second hoeing 1 50

Topping, and killing worms, say 1 00

Suckering, first and second times 2 00

do. third time 4 00

Harvesting and hanging (four men and team one

day), 6 00

Stripping one ton 10 00

Five packing-hoxes 5 00

Labor of packing 1 50

Twine for hanging 1 00

$66 00

"A ton at 13 J cents, is worth $210; deduct 10 per cent.
for shrinkage, and 1 J cents per pound for transportation
and commissions, in all $52, leaves $218 as a net pro-
ceeds. The cost being taken from this, $66, and we
have $152 for the use of lands and buildings.

" This is the best statement that can be fairly made
for this crop. If the price be put at the average our
growers get, viz., 8 cents per pound, we have for the
crop, 1,800 pounds, after shrinking, $144. Deduct $66
for cost, and $22.50 for commissions and transportation,
in all $88.50, which deducted from the amount received,
leaves $55.50 as the ordinary profit per acre.

Jonathan Periam, in the Prairie Farmer, for January
24, 1803, says :

*' The plants being cut and wilted, should be drawn
3*

to the house, for drying ; 2 by 4 scantling" of basswood
or pine, are suitable for hanging on, though smooth rails
are often used, but are not economical, according to the
plan herein described. The plants are handed to a man,
who, beginning at the top tier of the house, proceeds to
tie them as follows :

" Have a piece of twine upon a needle, similar to a
seine needle. After tying the first stalk to the pole, he
places another on the opposite side of the pole, and takes
a single turn around the stalk. The third stalk is then
placed upon the same side as the first, the twine passed
around the fourth on the other side, and so on, until the
pole is full, and the twine made fast. The twine should
be strong enough to support the strain, for if it breaks,
the whole string of tobacco will fall. The manner of
drying it may be seen in cut 9.

'' One plant should not touch another, as it would
cause them to mould. After the first pole is filled,
another may be operated upon, until the whole range is
full. Then commence with the second tier, and so on,
until the house is filled, or the crop secured. Care must
now be taken to regulate the ventilation until the crop is
cured, which is not completed until the stem in the leaf
has become hard, clear up to the main stalk, A tobacco
house may be twenty feet high, thirty-six feet wide, and
forty feet long. This will give three ranges, twelve
feet wide, and four tiers in height, and will hold from
two to two and a-half acres of heavy tobacco. It should
have doors in the ends and sides, extending to the eaves,
to insure thorough ventilation, but care should be taken
that strong winds do not blow the tobacco against each
other, especially when dry, as it is thereby broken and
injured. In order to insure thorough ventilation in a
building of this size, it should have a ventilator on the
top running the whole length of the building, similar
to those on breweries, which may be closed by means of
blinds. Where but little tobacco is raised, it may be
hung in the loft of the barn, and other out-buildings, and
in this way from one-half to one acre may be easly dis-
posed of. After the tobacco is thoroughly cured, a damp

day should be selected for taking it down. Lay it in
piles with the tops overlapping^ each other, and the butts
outwards, and cover with cloths, boards, or straw, to
keep it from drying', then remove the leaves from the
stocks by breaking them at the junction thereof, sepa-
rating them into three sorts, viz. : The best and most
perfect leaves for wrappers, the broken and smaller ones
for seconds, and the inferior and green for thirds, doing
each kind into hands of twenty to twenty-five leaves,
by putting the butts of the leaves together and winding
a leaf around, passing the end under a portion of the
hand, and again pressing them together. It should be
remembered that after the tobacco is cured on the poles
that it may hang indefinitely without injury, in fact, it in-
creases in quality with age, therefore no hurry need be
used in tying in and sweating (unless the grower wants
to realize on his crop) until the following spring."

By the same writer last quoted, we take the following
on the further preparation of the leaves for market, from
the Prairie Farmer^ for January 31, 1863. He says :

*' The leaves having been made into hands, as directed,
proceed to lay them in a frame, by placing them tips
on tips, with the round ends outward. The top should
he covered with boards or cloths to preserve the mois-
ture ; at the end of two days examine, and it heating
or showing inclination to mould, place into another
frame. If the sweating goes on well, it will be per-
fected in from four to six days. It is then ready to
pack in cases and take to market. Cases should be of
inch lumber, three feet and eight inches by two feet
six inches square. Four hundred pounds should be put
in a case, place them in, the butts against the box, and
the tips overlapping each other, press with a screw or
lever, and fasten down the top. With old tobacco
growers, no difficulty is experienced, but beginners
should watch each process carefully ; therefore, before
packing finally, one box should be packed and examined
after a lime, and if it does not mould, the whole should

be packed. When packed in cases, it should be just
moist enough to pack without danger of breaking.
"When moist it is like a thin kid glove ; when dry, like
tinder.

"After being packed in cases, it will go through another
sweating process, and lose from eight to twelve per
cent, in weight, and improve in quality by keeping.
Pack wrappers, which are the best leaves, in cases by
themselves, and so with seconds and thirds. Wrappers
are used for the outside covering of cigars ; tlie seconds
and thirds for binders and fillers.

" With a simple recapitulation of prominent points, I
will now leave the subject. I advise no one to go into
the cultivation of tobacco extensively, at first, unless
acquainted with the business. Still, almost any one
having suitable land, may cure one half, to one acre,
without permanent buildings. Tobacco wants a warm,
rich soil, protected from winds, good cultivation, and
careful watching.

" Plant seed, 1st of April ; transplant into field May
20th to June 10th ; middle of July to September 1st, top,
sucker, and hunt worms. Xo crop pays better for fre-
quent stirring of the soil. If but little is planted, the
hills may be made with a hoe. It is better to have the
ground fitted a little time before setting ; if so, scrape
off the hills with a hoe before setting. Reset as fast as
killed by worms. It is a good plan to plow in the fall
to kill out worms, as well for other crops as for tobacco.
The worms which feed upon the mature leaves are the
larvae of the Sjjhinx Carolina, color green, transversely
wrinkled, with oblique white lines on each side, and a
reddish caudal horn, exceedingly voracious, sometimes
ruining tomato as well as tobacco crops in a short time,
if not disturbed. These undergo their transformation
so deep under ground that the plow does not often reach
them. Top when the terminal bud appears — leave from
nine to fifteen leaves. The distance for planting in these
articles, is for very rich ground ; the poorer the soil,
the farther apart must the plants be. Every sucker left
takes just so much from the value of the crop.

"Do not let the crop j^et wet after cutting- ; do not
expose it to a hot sun. Both are equally injurious. It
is lit to cut when it assumes a mottled appearance, the
veins become sunken, the leaf breaks with a clear frac-
ture, and it is thicker in texture than before. After
cutting, handle always by the butts. The peculiar
color is given in a measure by sweating. It should be
some one of the shades of cinnamon. Skill in the art
can only be acquired by practice. Trust none but care-
ful men with the handling of tobacco. Do not let the
plants touch each other in the drying-house, and let the
roof be rain-proof, and be sure, above all things, to get
good seed of some reliable man, and do not grow it on a
rank, coarse soil. It will pay to take care of the crop
at thirty cents per pound."

It will be noticed that northern cultivators say nothing
of splitting down the stem, but instead of this split-
ting, in order better to hang the plant in the drying-
house, they generally, we believe, if not unanimously,
prefer the use of twine for suspending the plants to dry
With regard to the fire drying, so much spoken of by
southern cultivators, we believe it is seldom or never
resorted to by northern cultivators.

Mn.-DISEASES, ENEMES, CASUALTIES, EXHAUST-
ING TEXDExXCIES.

On these we give the results of long experience, by
the late Peter Minor, of Albemarle County, Va. Mr.
Minor concludes his treatise, in the following words :

" Tobacco is subject to some diseases, and liable to be
injured by more casualties and accidents than any other
crop. That growing upon new or fresh high land is

seldom injured by any other disease than the spot or
firing, which is the effect of very moist, succeeded by
very hot weather. For this we know of no remedy
or antidote. Tobacco growing upon old land, par-
ticularly upon low flats, besides being more subject
to spot, is liable to a disease we call the hollow stalk,
which is an entire decay and rottenness of the inside or
pith, terminating gradually in the deca^^, and final drop-
ping off of the leaves. This disease is sometimes pro-
duced by the wounds caused by pulling off overgrown
suckers, thereby admitting too great an absorption of
water into the stalk through the wound.

'' In land not completely drained, the plants are some-
times apt to take a diminutive growth, sending forth
numerous long, narrow leaves, very thickly set on the
stalk. This is called icalloon tobacco, and is good for
nothing. As there is no cure for these diseases when
they exist, we can only attend to their prevention.
This, will at once be pointed out by a knowledge of the
cause, which is too much wet, and indicates the neces-
sity of complete and thorough draining before the crop
is planted. It may not be amiss here to mention, that
tobacco is more injured than any other crop by plowing
or hoeing the ground when it is too wet, and to express
a general caution on that head.

" The accidents by which tobacco is often injured and
destroyed, are high winds, heavy beating rains, hail-
storms, and two kinds of worm, the ground or cut-worm,
and the large green horn-worm. High winds, besides
breaking off the leaves and thereby occasioning a great
loss, are apt to turn them over. " The plant, unlike most
others, possesses no power to restore the leaves to their
proper position, which must shortly and carefully be
done by hand, otherwise the part inverted will gradually
perish and moulder away. Those who have studied the
anatomy of plants can tell us the cause of this, as well
as why nature has denied to tobacco the faculty of re-
storing its leaves to their proper position.

"The ground-worm, the same which is sometimes so
fatal to corn, is ascertained to be the larvse of the com-

mon black bii2^ found in great numbers under wheat
shocks, &c. This worm is seldom or never found in new
land, but abounds in old or manured ground ; and in
some 3^ears I have seen them so numerous, as to have
from forty to fifty taken out of one hill in a morning.
The alternatives are either to abandon the crop, or to go
over the ground ever}^ morning, when they can be found
at or near the surface, and destroy them. The missing
hills to be regularly replanted.

" The horn-worm is produced from a large, clumsy, gray-
colored fly, commonly seen late in the evening sucking
the flowers of the Stramoniun or TJiorn-aj^ple, or com-
monly called here the Jamcstoicn iveed. The flies deposit
their eggs in the night on the tobacco, ^nd all other
narcotic plants indiscriminately, as Irish potatoes, toma-
toes, &c. In twenty-four or thirty-six hours the eggs
hatch a small worm, which immediately begins to feed
on the leaf, and grows rapidly. Great care should be
taken to destroy them while young. Turkeys and Guinea
fowls are great auxiliaries in this business, but the evil
might be greatly lessened if the flies where destroyed,
which can easily be done in the night by a person walk-
ing over the ground with a torch and a light paddle.
They will approach the light and can easily be killed.
In this way I have known a hundred killed in one field
in the course of an hour.

" Tobacco has been reproached as the cause of the gen-
eral exhausted condition of our lands, of the slow-paced
improvement in the Virginia system of agriculture ; in
short, as the bane of all good husbandry. The stigma
is, I am persuaded, in a great measure unmerited. It
is true, that, like Indiaji corn, from the frequent and high
degree of tillage it requires throughout the summer, it
exposes the ground to be washed by hard rains, and
evaporated by the hot sun ; but the plant in itself is less^
an exhauster than corn or wheat. A proof of this is to be
found in the superior growth and perfection to w^hich
any crop will arrive when grown after tobacco, than
after anything else, not excepting clover that has been
plowed in. Perhaps this may be accounted for from the

facts, 1st. That the roots and stubble of tobacco left on
the ground are more in quantity, and contain more of
the essential qualities of manure, than those of any other
plant ; 2d. The plant itself, while growing, feeds more
from the atrtiosphere than any other ; and 3d. It is not
suffered to go to seed, the process in all vegetation
which is supposed to make the greatest draft on the
fertility of the earth. Neither is the culture of tobacco
incompatible with a proper rotation of crops, and an im-
proved system of husbandry, for we find as extensive and
as successful efforts at improvement made in the tobacco
region, and by tobacco makers, as in any section of our
State.''

With regard to the exhaustion of land by tobacco, let
us look with an e^'e of common sense at the matter.
Suppose you clear a piece of woodland, and take off
1,200 lbs. of tobacco the first year ; 1,000 the second ;
800 the third ; 650 the fourth ; and 500 the fifth, all with-
out manuring. Has it not been a process of taking
something every year, and adding nothing ? Of course,
the land is exhausted. Who cannot see that it would
be, just as plainly as he could see the uncovered bottom
of a purse, out of which something had been taken daily,
and nothing returned, till it was entirely empty ?

But let us change the supposition a little. We will
suppose that, at the end of the first year, you had put on
as much manure as would have made that land produce
as much tobacco the second year as the first, say 50 lbs.
of Peruvian guano, 200 lbs. of superphosphate of lime,
and 10 loads of compost, half from the barn-yard manure,
and half from the muck swamp ; and suppose, further,
that you had continued such a course for the five years,
keeping the land up to its original productiveness,
1,200 lbs. a year to the last. Is it not clear that the

land is not exhausted ? If it produces as much of this
crop at the last as at the first, it would assuredly pro-
duce as much of some other crop, and perhaps more. It
stands as a certainty, then, that the land is as good as
ever, or a little better for general cultivation.

But let us change the supposition again. Suppose
you had put on that land 25 loads of barn manure, com-
posted with swamp muck, 200 lbs. of Peruvian Guano,
and 300 lbs. of superphosphate, after taking off the first
crop of 1,200 lbs. and have got 1,600 lbs. for the second,
and suppose you had continued the same manuring to
the end of the five years, and had ended with crops of
from 2,000 to 2,500 lbs. It is clear as sunbeams, that
your land has been improving all the while, and that
now, if you follow the tobacco with wheat, your chance
will be good for 40 bushels an acre, and then as stout
clover as can grow, for three years at least, with no other
manure, ijthan that applied for the last tobacco crops.

The Connecticut valley farmers, who apply a hundred
dollars worth or more of manure to the acre, and then
take off 2,500 lbs. of tobacco, understand perfectly that
the land is not exhausted, but that more than half of the
manure even remains in the soil for the benefit of the
after-crops.

A five years' cropping with tobacco, according to the
supposition just made, may not be a commendable way
of farming. We do not so regard it. More changes
are desirable. But such a course, unwise though it is,
cannot exhaust land, if it is so cultivated and so manured
as to prevent a falling off in the crops. The truth, and
tue whole truth, on the question of exhausting lands,
and of keeping them good, or of making them better, is
0 ntained in the following three propositions. Using

the word cultivation to imply both the manuring of the
soil, and the working of it, we say :

1. Cultivation, with diminishing crops, exhausts the lana

always, and no other cultivation does.

2. Cultivation, icifh neither diminution nor increase of

crops, just keeps the land good and no more.

3. Cultivation, with increase of crops, improves the land

always — makes it worth more to the owner, worth
more to a purchaser, worth more to a lessee.
If we were going to lease a farm for ten years, if two,
equally good ten years ago, were offered ; and if the out-
going tenant from one had contrived to diminish his
crops one-third, while the out-going tenant from the
other had increased his in the same ratio, we would pay
double for the latter that we would for the former.

The same rules hold good with regard to the cultiva-
tion of tobacco, as to general farming. The views of
Mr. Minor, who was himself a practical and successful
farmer, are undoubtedly correct. The very general idea,
that tobacco is, of course and necessarily, an exhausting
crop, has grown out of unskillful management. Tobacco
may be made to exhaust land; and so may corn, wheat
or any other crop.

LX.-MANUEE REQUIRED.

Barn-yard manure*\vill answer all purposes of farming
No other would be necessary, if any prescription could
be found whereby the farmer could obtain it in sufficient

quantities. The droppings of well-fed animals are all he
needs, if so preserved as to retain all their original con-
stituents, with no loss and no change of their relative
proportions of soluble and insoluble matter; that is, if
both the liquid and the solid portions, combined with a
little dried clay, or charcoal dust, or dry swamp soil, be
preserved with no deterioration till applied to the soil
they afford all that plants require.

But as no one has yet been able to prescribe how they
can be obtained in sufficient quantity, and as not one
farmer in a thousand has yet learned to preserve them
in full value, it is well to inquire, what other fertilizers
are suited to tobacco ? Guano is good for this crop be-
yond question. Superphosphate of lime is good. In
soils pretty well supplied with barn manure, we think
that superphosphate plays a more important part in
making out the tobacco crop than guano. We would
apply both, say from 1 to 2 cwt. of guano, and from
2 to 3 cwt. of phosphate, depending somewhat upon how
much other manure is to be applied.

Our idea is, that barn manure, composted largely with
leaf-mold, hedge-scrapings, swamp-muck, or something of
the kind, should be used plentifully, and, then, to supply
deficiencies in quantity with some of the' more portable
manures, as Peruvian guano, superphosphate, castor-
bean pomace, butchers' scraps, etc., etc. With reference
to the tobacco, as well as to the wheat, which is now
pretty generally made to follow it, we would certainly
apply more or less of both guano and of superphosphate,
not mixed, but separate, because the guano requires to
be covered deeply and diffused throughout the soil, while
the superphosphate should be left on or very near the
surface, the tendency of guano being to rise into the

air, that of superphosphate to dissolve and flow down-
wards.

The pomace made by the manufacturers of castor-oil
from the castor-bean, is said to be excellent for tobacco.
The scraps made by the tallow and lard triers have been
sought of late years for the same purpose, the price
being, we understand, about one cent a pound, or $20 a
ton. If in any tolerable state of preservation, it might
be good economy to first throw them to the pigs ; let
them consume such portions as they would, and compost
the rest with the contents of the pen, the whole to be
applied to the tobacco crop. Something might be thus
gained, in the way of food for the pigs, and the manurial
value of the scraps somewhat enhanced. But the culti-
vator of tobacco may safely conclude that almost any
thing which has been found favorable to general cultiva-
tion, will hardly fail to be favorable to this crop, and so
may be guided very much by circumstances. The wastes
from cities, villages, and manufactories may all be made
to supply the wants of the farm ; and the grower of
tobacco will, naturally, look around him, and see whence
he can purchase, with the least expense for transporta-
tion.

Unleached wood-ashes, the spent ashes of soap-boilers,
the refuse of alkali works, the flocks from woolen facto-
ries, poudrette, night-soil, the horn and bone dust from
comb-makers, ground bones, almost any of the wastes
ofi'ered for agricultural purposes, may be profitably used
by cultivators near the places where they are produced
and sold cheaply as wastes. Gas lime would be good,
if spread on the ground the previous autumn and left
exposed till the time for spring plowing ; and green
sand marl would be profitable on most soils, so situated

that the transportation would be li^ht. The latter is
better adapted to sandy or slightly loamy soils ; but is
good for any soils not already abounding in potash.

As tobacco requires much alkali, the soil should be
supplied with this in the form of lime, potash, soda, and
ammonia. All those are contained in well-preserved
barn manure. Ammonia, as all know, abounds in Peru-
vian guano and in all barn manure not half spoiled by
mismanagement. Lime may be most cheaply supplied
from the gas-house, only it must not be applied in a fresh
or hot state immediately before planting tobacco or any
other crop. A small dressing of common salt, not more
at one time than five or six bushels to the acre, will sup-
ply all the soda required. That a soil for tobacco should
contain lime is important ; and the spent ashes from the
soap boilers are perhaps, the next cheapest way of sup-
plying it, after that before named — the waste lime from
the gas-house.

In virgin soils, and in all limestone regions, that have
not been long cultivated, it is safe to presume that
there is lime enough already in the soil. But, in all
other cases, the farmer cannot safely presume upon there
being lime enough in his soil for a large crop of tobacco
and then a large crop of wheat to follow, unless he has
put it there ; and will do well to apply it in some form,
as gas lime, leached ashes, or a pretty large dressing
of the superphosphate.

Since writing the above the following facts have
come to our knowledge : Some years ago, Joseph Har-
ris, Esq., editor of the Genesee Farmer, published an
essay on the phosphates, in which he stated, as proba-
ble (did not know by actual experiment, but thought)
that superphos^jhates of lime, if tried, would be found to

hasten the germination of the seed and the growth
of the young plant, and to effect an earlier maturity of
the tobacco crop. He believed, also, that superphos-
phates would improve the quality of the leaf. This
opinion of Mr. Harris has since been experimented upon
by Mr. Lindsay, of West Meriden, Conn., and others,
and the results have been such as to lead Mr. Harris, in
a recent number of the Genesee Farmer, to write more
confidently, as follows :

" We would use it in this way : First, after preparing
the bed for the seed, scatter over it broadcast from 2
to 3 lbs. of superphosphate per square rod ; rake it in
and sow the seed. It will not hurt the seed."

"The superphosphate will hasten the germination of
the seed and the growth of the young plants. It will
develop the fibrous roots of the plants, so that when
they are pulled up there will be more soil adhering to
them, and they can be transplanted with less uncertain-
ty. In transplanting we would apply the superphos-
phate at the rate of 300 lbs. per acre, in the hills. It
will not hurt the roots of the plant if put in the hole with
them, but it will be better perhaps to mix the superphos-
phate a little more with the soil, though the great value
of superphosphate consists in giving the plants an early
start, and for this reason should be near the roots dur-
ing the early growth of the plant."

From all we can learn of the experience of the most
successful tobacco growers, we feel little hesitation in
recommending superphosphate as among the best ma-
nures, if not the very best for this crop, both for the
seed bed and the field.

X-MCLTUII IX PAllVO.

The whole subject in few ivords.

BY n. BE.VRDSLEY, OF CONNECTICUT.

At our earnest solicitation, Mr. Beardslee, a successful tobacco
grower of many years' experience, has furnished us the following.
He was requested to either give us his experience in the way of a
narrative, or to embody the same in the form of plain, simple direc-
tions. It will be seen that he has done better than we asked — he has
combined the two modes of experiment and precept, and has made
his instructions so plain, as we particularly requested him to do,
that the beginner in tobacco culture need not err, even with no
other instructions before him.

THE GROWING OF TOBACCO.

I prepare the seed bed as follows — spade in a largo
quantity of manure and wood-ashes. Hog manure is the
best — about five or six inches deep, then rake into the
top of the bed fine bone manure. It is then ready to
sow.

The seed is prepared as follows: I mix one tablespoon-
ful of seed for each square rod, to be sown with fine,
rotten apple-tree wood, in a pan ; this can be sown even
when it is wet — to be placed in a warm room, near a
a hot stove. I keep it moist, adding water as it becomes
dry. In five or six days it is ready to sow. I now add
to this some plaster of Paris, in order to see that it is
sowed even.

Sow in a still day — rake the bed very light, not to ex-
ceed half an inch in depth, then roll with a garden roller
or a smooth log about two feet long, and the bed is
done. Beds to be three feet wide for the convenience

of watering and weeding-. I water as soon as sown,
and continue to water every day, if necessary, until I am
through with setting. The time of sowing is from the
first to the middle of April. Water applied from the
well should be drawn and exposed to the sun twenty-
four hours before used. Plants should be watered night
and morning, 7iever ivhile under a hot sun.

The plants will generally appear about the first of
May. The beds are to be weeded by hand as the weeds
appear, and from the 10th to the 15th of June the plants
will be ready for transplanting, the leaves being about
three inches in length. One tablespoonful of seed will
produce plants enough for one acre of tobacco, if they
do well. I generally sow two or three times the quanti-
ty of land for plants that I expect to use, as the plants
sometimes fail. Take the plants from the bed by means
of some pointed instrument, leaving the -smaller plants
to grow as they are wanted.

The soil designed for a crop of tobacco should be
rich, mellow, and recently manured, and should be kept
free from weeds by frequent plowings, if necessary. I
make small ridges about three feet distant, and set the
plants about two and a half feet distant on the ridge,
removing some of the soil to the furrow in order to set
the plants about on a level, so that, the hoeing being
finished, the field will have about a level surface, and
the plants stand as they did in the bed. I make rowg
but one way ; plow and hoe twice ; plow with a horse
— generally turn the soil from the plant the first time
plowing, using a small plow.

In setting plants when the soil is rather dry, it is
frequently necessary to water. I dig small holes, put
into each hole about one pint of water, and in about

thirty minutes set the plants. If the weather should be
warm, I cover the plants with a handful of fresh mown
grass. This protects them sufficiently ag-ainst the rays
of the sun, retains the moisture about the plant, and at
the same time gives it the benefit of the dews and rains.
In about one week the grass can be removed. The
water can be drawn and placed in tubs about the field,
as is most convenient. The expense of watering is
about $5 per acre, the expense of covering an acre
about $1.50, and if the sun is bright and warm, it is
economy to cover, if the soil is sufficiently moist of it-
self. By this means you will save most of your plants.
The transplanting is finished about the 25th of June.

The next morning, after setting, I take a pan of
plants, go over the field, reset all plants destroyed by
the brown, or corn worm, as we call it, and continue to
do this for several days. You can find him near th6
plant, just under the surface. He is to be destroyed to
prevent further depredations. The plant is not injured
unless the centre is eaten. I also set, in different parts
of the field, substitutes between plants, to be removed
immediately after a rain, after it is too late to reset.
For these I dig the hole, and remove the substitute, with
the soil, to the place designed, while the soil is wet. By
this means every hill can be supplied.

From the 15th to the 20th of July the tobacco-worm
will make its appearance, and can be detected by small
holes in the leaf. He will be found on the under side,
and is to be destroyed while small. You will find him
an unwelcome visitor as long as your tobacco remains
in the field. I worm tobacco three times in each week,
at least. This requires some care. You can detect by
the fresh work, as the holes have an old appearance very
soon, by reason of the dews and rains.
4

I commence topping when the majority of the field is
ready to bloom, breaking off the main stalk with five or
six leaves, topping all plants, that they may ripen at the
same time, taking a less number of leaves from the
small plants.

In about 8 or 9 days, when the suckers are about 4 or
5 inches out, they are to be taken off, and in about 8 or
9 days sucker again, by which time, if a good growth,
the tobacco will probably be ready to harvest. I cut
the last of August or fore part of September. Tobacco
should be suckered, and wormed the last thing before
harv^esting, as otherwise the suckers will give trouble
while stripping, will grow on the poles, and injure the
tobacco, and the worm will also commit his depreda-
tions.

I use a small saw for cutting. Cut close to the ground
horizontally, with one stroke. Lay the plant carefully
down to wilt. If tobacco is large, it will require
turning ; if small, it may require turning, as it will
burn very soon under a hot sun, when wilted, and
then it is worthless. Cut in the morning, wilt, and
finish hauling before 11 o'clock, and then commence
hanging, or in the afternoon, and haul when it is
ready. Tobacco left in a pile over night would heat,
and be worthless in the morning. It should be handled
by the butt of the plant, not by taking hold round the
leaves, always taking the j^lant from the top of the pile,
to prevent injury.* Plants are to be hung on poles or
rails, the butt end up, with a strong twine passed round
sufficiently tight to cut well through the rind. This
secures the plant ; then put it round another, in the same
way, to the end of the pole, placing them on the opposite
side of the pole, the twine having pre\:iou6lij been made

fast to the pole; thus continue, leaving' each plant sepa-
rate, leaving about G inches space between the butts, or,
if the poles are small, give more space. The poles or
rails should be from 3 to 5 inches through. I hang
about 40 plants on a rail of 12 feet in length. If plants
are small, more may be hung. If tobacco is crowded on
the poles it will pole-sweat the leaf, thicken, and become
tender and worthless.

The plants are handed to the person that hangs, and
should be shaken to prevent the leaves from sticking to
each other.

When through hanging, the building should be opened
and allowed a free circulation of air for 2 or 3 weeks,
especially if the weather is warm. If cool, less time
will answer. To open, and allow a hot sun on the
tobacco, would burn it. Open on the other side of the
building. When tobacco is ready to strip, the stem of
the leaf will be thoroughly dried and hard to the main
stalk. This generally occurs about the first of Decem-
ber ; the building is then to be opened on some damp
day, and is to be dampened by the atmosphere. The
rain should not be allowed to drive on to the tobacco.
When sufficiently moist, it will be soft like a kid glove.

It is then carefully taken down by drawing a knife
on the pole, and taken to the stripping house, which
should be a tight building, and piled, the tips inside,
the butts out, and covered with old sail or carpeting, as
convenient. Tobacco should not be piled thicker than
12 or 15 inches at this time, if you have sufficient room,
as the main stalk is very green, and will injure the leaf
in a few days.

Tobacco should be stripped in 2 or 3 days at the
farthest. If it gets warm, it can be moved. This will

give it air. Later in the season, when the main stalk
has become partially cured and changed its color, I have
put tobacco in a cellar, and kept it 2 weeks without in-
jury, la^ang it loosely, without crossing the tips or cov-
ering.

The stripping and assorting is done at the same time,
making 3 grades. The best leaves are found on the
middle of the stalk; the lower leaves of the stalk, with
one or two of the smallest top leaves, are the poorest.
These are called fillers. Good leaves that are badly
torn, light-colored leaves, and sometimes leaves next fo
the filler from the top, are called binders or 2d grade,
and for wrappers none but the best leaves are selected.
It will then class — perfect, imperfect, and filler. When
making two qualities, as some do, the imperfect and filler
are put together.

In stripping and assorting tobacco, there will always
be some leaves that are not thoroughly cured, or what
we call fat ends ; that is, the stem of the leaf is soft, or
swollen, as we call it, near the main stalk ; they are
found at the top of the plant, and are to be stripped and
laid by for more curing. When cured, they are put into
hands, and placed with the fillers. If rather dry for
packing, they are to be moistened by the atmosphere.
Should any portion of such leaves remain unchanged,
they are to be rejected, as they will very essentially in-
jure the tobacco.

When stripped and assorted, it is put into hands and
bound at the butts, with a single leaf, containing from
30 to 40 leaves, and secured by passing it througli the
end. It is then placed in a stack, with the butts out
that they may be packed close, to keep the tobacco
moist, as when taken from the poles — the stack to be

covered. Care should be taken that the stack does not
sweat. If it gets warm, give it air. This will have a
tendenc}^ to arrest it.

I pack about 375 pounds in a case. The cases are 3J
feet long, 2^ feet wide, 2J feet deep. When nailed up,
put 1 J inch posts in each corner of the boxes, and nail
it strong. When packing in boxes or cases, which must
be thoroughly seasoned, lay the butts of the hands to the
ends of the box, straighten out the hands, pack very-
close, and fill the box to the top ; then place a follower
on the top of the tobacco, the size of the box, and press
it down by means of a press, made for the purpose, or
some other means {a tobacco press can be made for two or
three dollars). Having pressed this sufiSciently, remove
the follower, and fill up as before, and continue till the
case is full, when it can be nailed, and placed in the
barn or other outhouse to be kept dry. It is then ready
for the market.

In September or October it will have sweat sufficiently
for the manufacturer, if it is packed in good condition.
This will require some judgment and experience, as on
the sweating will depend in part the value of the to-
bacco. A good tobacco, imperfectly sweat, will mate-
rially lessen its value. If some hands should be too dry
at packing, they should be moistened on some damp
day ; if too moist, they should be allowed to dry. Some
hands will be wet, or greasy, as it is called; and they
should not be packed in this state.

It is very difficult to raise and cure a crop of tobacco
perfectly by receipt. A person about to engage in rais-
ing tobacco to any extent, would do well to hire some
person that is well acquainted with the raising of the
plant and the process of stripping and curing. I know

of no crop that a farmer raises that requires as much
practice as this. All growers of tobacco say they learn
something every year. Still, any person can raise it
with practice.

The quantity of tobacco raised per acre varies like
any other crop, from 1000 pounds to 1 ton per acre, and
some get more than 1 ton ; 1500 pounds is called an
average crop. This depends on land and cultivation.
Some claim to have raised 2500 pounds per acre. This
I call an extraordinary crop.

The soil best adapted to the g-rovring of tobacco is
the upland, as it is called, suitable for wheat or corn,
to be manured from 20 to 30 loads per acre, spread over
the whole surface, and plowed in. A field that will pro-
duce from 40 to 60 bushels of shelled corn per acre, will
produce a good crop of tobacco.

Use any manure that you use for corn or other crops.

It is said that land rather moist or wet will not pro-
duce a fine quality of tobacco ; even should it produce
a large growth, the tobacco will be coarse and burn
black, with a disagreeable flavor, and of but little
value. Tobacco derives its qualities from the soil and
climate.

One acre of tobacco, set 3 feet by 2 J distant, will
contain 6,050 plants. This will fill a building 36 by 24
feet, with 12 feet posts, with the attic.

Tobacco should not be hung nearer the ground than
18 inches. The space between the rows of poles should
be about 4 feet, in order to give a free circulation of air,
and the poles should be about 12 inches from each other,
according to the size of tobacco, of which the person
hanging must use his own judgment.

H. BEAKDSLEE.

Trumbull, Ct., February 24, 1863.

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Full text of "Saxton's hand-book on tobacco culture, being a complete manual or practical guide"

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