210 EXPERIMENT STATION KECORD. 



A frame barn was us<'(l for air curing; a log barn, modeled after the 

 common loy barn of North Carolina, and a sheathed frame barn were 

 used for flue curing. " The results of experiments in curing, so far, 

 have in a measure been unsatisfactory. . . . The frame barn produced 

 decidedly more of the thoroughly cured tobacco than the log barn," iu 

 both of which tlue curing was used. The temperature and degree of 

 humidity for the o barns during curing are tabulated. 



"These tables show that the humidity ui the frame barn was almost always higher 

 than that in the log barn, and on comparing these figures with the humidities 

 obtained in one other case on record we can with reasonable certainty attribute the 

 greater quantity of tobacco, well cured, in the frame barn to the humidity condi- 

 tions being more favorable in that barn for the yellowing and fermentation process." 



Fertilizer experiments conducted in a number of localities in the State 

 iu 1891 and 1892 are discussed, but in oidy one case were the crops ou 

 different plats harvested and cured separately. In this last experiment, 

 made in Montgomery ('ounty in 18!>2, phosphoric acid increased the 

 yield on every plat to which it was applied. 



The author draws the following deductions from the results of numer- 

 ous analyses of tobacco grown in different parts of the State and dif- 

 ferently fertilized : 



"The composition of the tobacco from the different sections varies considerably, 

 especially as to the ash content. 



"As a rule, other things being equal, the tobacco from the sections giving a high 

 ash content also ijossesses a good burning quality. 



"Chlorin, potash, magnesia, and lime vary considei'ably in the tobaccos from the 

 different sections and in the tobacco differently fertilized from the same section. 



"The other ash constituents remain fairly constant iu tobaccos differently fertil- 

 ized from the same section. 



"Potash, lime, and magnesia seem able to replace each other to a limited extent. 



"Burning qualities do not bear any close relation to the amount of woody matter 

 or crude fiber j^resent. 



"There is no constant rehition between the potash and chloriii content of tobacco 

 possessing good burning ((ualities nor between the sum of the potash, lime, and mag- 

 nesia, and the chlorin. 



"A high ])er cent of chlorin is always accompanied with a poor burning quality. 



"When the ash of tobacco possesses a high alkalinity it almost always possesses a 

 good burning (juality. 



"Muriate of potash should not be usedasa fertilizer, as italways produces tobacco 

 with a poor burning quality and a bad ash. 



"Sulphate of potash produced a better burning tol)acco than any other of the pot- 

 ash salts. 



"Lime and magnesia compounds, includiug the sulphate of potash and magnesia 

 (low grade sulphates), iu most cases produced tobacco of a poor bui'uiug quality. 



"Phosphoric acid did not prove harmful to the burning qualities. 



"The complete commercial fertilizer and the yard manure produceil tobaccos with 

 about the same burning qualities, and iu most cases they produced a better burning 

 tobacco than where no fertilizer was used." 



The effects of muriate of potash and of sulphate of jjotash on the 

 burning qualities of 18 varieties are recorded. 



