The BuLLETiii. 45 



with them. If the tobacco farmers will demand that only sulphate of potash 

 be used in all tobacco fertilizers, and are willing to pay the additional cost, 

 which should not be over 50 cents to $1 per ton, then I am satisfied the 

 majoritj' of the manufacturers would be only too glad to comply with the 

 demand. A better method still would be to have a law passed reciuiriug all 

 fertilizers, labeled for tobacco, to contain no potash from any other source 

 than the sulphate. This would not injure the manufacturer and would greatly 

 benefit the tobacco farmer, not only individually, but the tobacco industry as a 

 whole. The complaints that are continually coming in about the poor burning 

 qualities of the flue-cured tobacco, and particularly the new belt tobacco, 

 threatens to be a serious menace to the tobacco crop in the flue-cured district. 

 This, of course, is assuming that a large number of farmers will continue to 

 buy a ready-mixed fertilizer instead of buying high-grade materials and mix- 

 ing for themselves. 



Now, as I have tried to point out some of the difficulties that confront the 

 farmer when he tries to make a big yield of tobacco, such as manuring inju- 

 diciously, the use of nitrates, such as are obtained from legumes and other 

 sources from which the nitrogen is derived which are not suitable for tobacco, 

 I am going to offer a few suggestions based on results that we have obtained 

 and which would seem to be worth trying out. It is well to bear in mind that 

 the fundamental i-equirement in increasing the yield of any tobacco is the 

 large supply of humus with a liberal application of fertilizer. To obtain this 

 humus, it should come from the right liind of organic matter sufficiently rotted 

 to be of value in conserving the moisture in and improving the physical condi- 

 tion of the soil and rendering available some of the latent plant foods therein. 

 To bring about this condition a large amount of stable manure may be em- 

 ployed if used under some other crop or put out on the land long enough before 

 transplanting to allow the manure to become thoroughly rotted and incorporated 

 with the soil or by the use of legume crops plowed under and followed by some 

 clean cultivated crop, such as cotton or corn, preceding tobacco. However, it 

 must be remembered that stable manure is not a balanced fertilizer, and when 

 used in large amounts a liberal quantity of phosphate should be added. In 

 fact, every effort should be made to keep tobacco land in as nearly the same 

 condition physically as the virgin soil. 



One of the best and safest of all methods of increasing the humus supply 

 for the tobacco crop is the growing of grasses for hay. All tobacco farmers 

 know the benefit to be derived from allowing the land to grow up in weeds 

 or rest for tobacco. Substantially the same or even better results are obtained 

 by seeding the land to grass. Next, fall-sown wheat and particularly oats are 

 valuable, for they furnish a winter cover crop; they shade the land well and 

 the stubble adds a great deal of humus. 



Rye is also an excellent cover crop and contributes to the humus supply. 

 However, to obtain the best results with rye, it should be sown as early in the 

 fall as is practicable, and plowed under early enough in the spring to allow it 

 to become thoroughly rotted before the tobacco is transplanted. If not, a 

 poor stand may be obtained, and a late, irregular crop. 



The various crops mentioned can best be utilized for building up the humus 

 supply of the soil by following properly arranged systems of rotation. We 

 would suggest the following as a good four-year rotation : First year, tobacco 

 well fertilized, followed by crimson clover in the fall. Second year, corn after 

 turning under the crimson clover in the spring, the corn to be fertilized with 

 acid phosphate in drill, and nitrate of soda applied as top dressing, cowpeas 

 sown in corn at last cultivation, wheat or oats seeded in corn land in the fall. 

 Third year, wheat or oats to be given top dressing in the spring, the stubble to 

 be plowed thoroughly, 300 or 400 pounds of acid phosphate added and sown 

 to peas broadcast. The pea-vines to be plowed under in the fall, unless they 

 can be fed to good cattle and manure properly saved and put back on the 

 land, then seeded to grass. A mixture of 10 pounds each of timothy, red-top, 

 and sapling clover has given excellent results. Before seeding to grass, lime 

 should be added, also 300 pounds or 400 pounds of some good fertilizer. 

 Fourth year, the grass should be top dressed with 150 pounds to 200 pounds of 

 nitrate of soda in the spring and cut for hay, the sod plowed under in the fall 

 and seeded to rye. In the fifth year the land will come back in tobacco for the 

 second time. 



