26 



report for 1863, for which it was prepared, as its plain and excellent directiona 

 will aid every grower of tobacco.] 



ESSAY ON THE CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF TOBACCO. 

 BY L. J. BRADFORD, OF AUGUSTA, KENTUCKY. 



The success of a growing crop of tobacco depends much upon earl j planting, 

 and the selection of such situations for plant beds as will insure a j^roper expo- 

 sure to the sun is all-important. 



Situation, soil, and preparation of plant beds, and the manner and time of 



sowing. 



The eastern or southern slopes of hills, near their base, afford the best loca" 

 tions; the beds so situated being free from sobbing, and the warmth of the sun 

 greater than upon a flat surface. Regard should also be had to the charaeter 

 of the soil. It should be sufficiently close to render it retentive of moisture, 

 and yet contain sand enough to give it quickness; made earths and puflPy soils 

 are unfit, being both too arid and liable to heave. 



Beds prepared in the early part of the season require more burning than 

 those at a later period. There is but little danger of burning too hard, how- 

 ever, at any time, as the plants generally succeed best upon the beds most 

 thoroughly burned. After the beds are thus burnt and cooled off, they are dug 

 up with a common sprouting hoe to a depth sufficient to aiford the plant a loose 

 soil in Avhich to extend its roots. Care should be taken to leave the surface 

 soil as much on top, in the preparation of the bed, as possible, as the young 

 plants will take a quicker and better growth. After the bed is well pulverized 

 by hoeing and raking, the seeds mixed Avith dry ashes are to be sowed evenly 

 as possible over the surface, at the rate of a common table-spoonful to every 

 80 square yards, (cubic measure,) the bed lightly raked over or trod evenly 

 with the feet and well covered with brush, on which there should be no leaves, 

 and protected from the intrusion of stock. Seed may be sown from 1st of 

 January to tlu' 10th of April. 



Management of plant beds. 



So soon as the young plants attain the size of a dollar the brush may be re- 

 moved ; if the weather is dry the brush may be suffered to remain to advantage, 

 and when removed taken olf in the evening; with seasonable weather the plants 

 will soon be hirge enough for transplanting. 



The preparation, jiloughing, and laying off the land, for the crop. 



The land designed for the crop should be fertile — if not naturally so, should 

 be made so by manuring. Any common manure will answer a valuable pur- 

 pose, tobacco being a plant that delights in a rich soil. The land should be 

 deeply and thoroughly ploughed, whenever practicable, in the fall or winter. 

 In this there is twofold advantage: 1st. It destroys many insects that injure 

 or destroy the young plants. 2d. It renders the land more friable and more 

 easily cultivated. As the season approaches for planting out the crop, (which 

 is here from May to July,) the land should be ploughed again and kept clear. 

 It is then to be laid off with a plough three and a half feet each way, and a 

 small hill made in or on the check, as may be preferred, for the reception of the 

 pLint. The hill sliould be raised a little above the common level of the surface, 

 the size of the hill being a matter of fancy with the planter, and not regarded 

 as a matter of consequence in general. 



