1918] 



FIELD CROPS. 



37 



leaf, 12 leaves; for Havana, 14 leaves. These treatments resulted in the aver- 

 age yields of stripped leaves indicated b^ow. 



Average yields of stripped leaves. 



Type of tobacco. 



Normal space. 



"^S" 



Topped 

 low. 



Close space. 



''K' 



Topped 

 low. 



Broadleaf 

 Havana, . 

 All 



Lbs. 

 1,885 

 1,125 

 1,504 



Us. 

 1,678 

 1,150 

 1,414 



Lbs. 

 1,693 



1,585 

 1,639 



Lbs. 

 1,713 

 1,301 

 1,507 



The time required for harvesting by priming five varieties In 1914 varied 

 from 8 days for Big Cuban, vpith a yield of 20 leaves per plant, to 17 days for 

 Ohio Eiybrid and Halladay, with yields of 23 leaves each. The cost of harvesting 

 and stripping Halladay Hybrid in 1914 v?as estimated at $23.85 for two rows 

 primed and $4.50 for two rows harvested on the stalk. Yields were obtained 

 amounting to 197 and 169.5 pounds, respectively, for the two rows harvested by 

 each method. 



Considerable data are presented on the quality, fire-holding capacity, and 

 composition of the ash of tobacco grown in York and Clinton Counties in 1913 

 and 1914 as affected by different fertilizer treatments in au effort to Improve the 

 burning capacity of the Connecticut Havana wrapper tobacco grown in these 

 localities. The results obtained in York County showed that where the potash- 

 chlorln ratio exceeded 6 the burn was fairly good, but where the ratio was 

 below 3 the bum was poor, and that the variability of chlorin much exceeded 

 that of potash. It is concluded that " the manurial practices of the local to- 

 bacco growers, the instant improvement of the crops when fertilizers of proper 

 composition are used, and the progressive decrease in chlorin content as the 

 better practice is continued on the same land, all show that, with an entirely 

 practicable change in fertilizer treatment of the lands intended for tobacco, the 

 tobacco growers can, at once, and without serious increase in expense, relieve 

 the crop from the chlorin injury." 



The results of the Clinton County experiments are held to indicate that the 

 direct treatment of tobacco with muriate-containing fertilizers should be 

 avoided. An excess of chlorin remaining from such treatment in these open, 

 sandy loam soils may be largely removed by a leafy crop and by exposure to 

 winter rains and snow before tobacco planting. The use of commercial fertilizers 

 containing potash as sulphate or carbonate gave tobacco of a better burning 

 quality than did stable manure. The imperfections in the bum are not alto- 

 gether removed by care against chlorin injury alone, but related investigations 

 upon the influence of the structure and organic composition of the leaf may 

 throw additional light upon the subject. 



Harvesting tobacco by priming or picking the leaves as compared with 

 cutting the stalks, E. G. Moss (North Carolina Sta. Bui. 2S8 {1911), pp. 5-11, 

 figs. 2). — This reports experiments conducted in cooperation with the U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture during 1913-1916, inclusive, at the tobacco station, 

 near Oxford, Granville County, to determine the best harvesting method for the 

 production of bright smoking tobacco. 



Each year of the experiment showed materially increased yields from prim- 

 ing the leaves as they matured over cutting the stalks, the increase averaging 

 36 per cent for the four-year period. The average increased yield in favor of 

 27450°— 18 4 



