TOBACCO STATEMENT. 



239 



TOBACCO STATEMENT. 



HAMPDEN. 



My three-fourths of an acre of tobacco grew on turf-land that 

 yielded about one ton of hay per acre. On the first of June 

 last, nine cords of stable manure were ploughed under, about 

 eight inches deep. Some eight weeks later, and just before 

 setting, four and a half cords more of stable manure were put on, 

 and harrowed in. 



I then furrowed out the rows, 3J| feet apart, and dropped 

 phosphate in the hills two feet apart. The plants were set about 

 the middle of June, and cut and hung the first of September. 

 The cost of the crop is pretty nearly as follows : — 



Man and team, 3^ days hauling manure, ploughing 



and harrowing, at $4 per day, . 

 Raising plants, setting, tending and harvesting 27 



days, at $2.50 per day, .... 

 13| cords of manure, at $8 per cord, 

 300 pounds Coe's superphosphate, . 

 Stripping and hauling to market, . 



Total expenses, ..... 



Sold 10,000 plants, at $1.50 per thousand, $15 00 

 The crop sold December 11th, for 35 and 10, and 

 weighed as estimated by counting the hands 

 wrappers 1,300 pounds, fillers 300 pounds, whicl 

 would make the receipts, .... 



vTtiin, ....... 



$14 00 



$218 50 



485 00 



$281 50 



Burning brush on the tobacco bed after it is ready for sowing, 

 I find, saves considerable weeding. A great fire might injure 

 the manure, but a light one kills the seeds of the weeds. I 

 usually seed down my tobacco land as soon as possible after 

 cutting, and cut the next season about two tons of hay for a fir&t 

 crop, and one ton of rowen later. 



George W. Converse. 



