278 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Early Frost. 



The remedy for this is to have the crop under cover before 

 the frost comes. 



Pole Sweat. 



Pole sweat is caused by a spell of damp, warm weather during 

 curing time, when the atmosphere is so damp that evaporation 

 cannot take place. It may be controlled by the use of char- 

 coal fires built in the shed, either in holes dug in the dirt floor 

 or in small furnaces made for the purpose. 



These are a few of the troubles that keep the tobacco grower 

 guessing the whole season long. Other problems will only be 

 settled as time brings the answer. One question that is causing 

 much discussion is the supply of humus. Without manure 

 there is a danger of the soil being without vegetable humus, and 

 as a result it packs down too hard and does not retain moisture 

 as it should. Some growers are using a cover crop, sown as 

 soon as the tobacco crop is harvested and plowed under early 

 in the spring. This plan is being tried out more and more, the 

 claim being made that not only does the cover crop supply a 

 certain amount of humus, but that it also keeps the soil from 

 washing and blowing during the late fall and winter months. 

 Barley, vetch and rye are the crops usually sown. 



Just a few last words on the subject of "handling." The 

 idea of tobacco growing is to make money. In order to get the 

 best price for his goods the grower must raise good tobacco. 

 He must handle it right after he has raised it. Many a crop 

 is spoiled in harvesting. The leaves should be kept free from 

 holes, sunburn, bruises, etc., all of which can be avoided by 

 proper handling. The grower is mistaken when he thinks he 

 can save money by using boy or cheap help, as a slovenly, 

 careless man may easily spoil more tobacco in a day than he 

 is worth. The dealer will many times buy tobacco before it is 

 harvested if he knows that the grower is a good handler and 

 that he will put up his crop right. Another grower gets the 

 name of being a "hog handler," as it is called. Dealers say 

 that he handles his tobacco just as he does his cornstalks; thus, 

 as in other things, it is true of tobacco raising that "whatever 

 is worth doing at all is worth doing well." 



