264 



patent now in use, by which, in one day from the time the flax is pulled ripe 

 from the field, it can be prepared, and in a fit condition for spinning upon 

 any of the flax, cotton, wool or silk machinery of the county. We have a direct 

 and vital interest in the cultivation of this product. 



Most respectfully, your obedient Servant, 



LEONARD J. FARWELL. 

 To Albert C. Ingham, Esq. 



Sec. of the Wis. State Agr. Society. 



CULTURE OF TOBACCO. 



MiLFORD, November 3d, 1851. 



Dear Sir — Your letter of October 18th was duly received, and would have 

 received earlier attention had it not been for my absence from home at that time. 

 You write that you are desirous of obtaining information respecting the culture 

 and growth of tobacco, and also of obtaining some seed for distribution. The 

 culture of tobacco is a business that requires so much attention to little things 

 which are all important to the success of the crop, and all important to the new 

 beginner, that 1 fear I cannot do the subject justice without being too lengthy, 

 but I will endeavor to condense my remarks as much as is consistent with giving 

 a proper idea to those just engaging in the business. 



Any good soil will produce tobacco. My mode is to manure clean good ground, 

 and plough in the fall; this exposes the worms, and destroys many of them; the 

 common cabbacce or cut-worm is the only worm that has troubled me ; I know 

 of no way to destroy them but by hand, hunt, and kill them, wherever to be 

 found among the plants. If this is neglected, a large portion of the plants are 

 liable to be destroyed; they do not, however, work much after the middle of 

 June. The seed should be sown by the middle of March, and will vegetate in 

 from forty to fifty days. I shall sow late this fall, and again in March, as it is 

 all important to get the plants early. Fall planting, I think, will be best in this 

 climate, but it will require much care to protect the plants against the frost in 

 April ; plant beds should be placed in a sheltered situation, protected from the 

 north and north-west winds, where they can have the sun during the greater 

 part of the day. Commence your beds by burning brush on the ground ; then 

 spade the earth, as for gardening, but no deeper than it has been cultivated be- 

 fore, unless it is very rich. Manure from the hen house is best ; hog manure, or 

 well rotted manure of any kind, will answer, but is more liable to give a crop of 

 weeds. Do not make the beds too wide, they are inconvenient to weed; and also 



