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76 THE GENESEE FAEMEE. 



CULTURE OF TOBACCO. 



We are receiving many inquiries respecting the feasibility of raising tobacco in tlie 

 nortliorn and western States, and tbe best mode of culture adapted to this climate ; and 

 though we do not wish to see tobacco raised here as a common crop, feeling assured 

 that it can not be adopted, except on farms contiguous to cities where a large supply of 

 manure can easily be obtained, without ultimately materially injuring the soil ; yet we 

 will give the mode of treatment practiced by some who have successfully cultivated it 

 here for a few years past. A dry, sandy loain produces the best quality/ of tobacco ; and 

 it is quality and early maturity rather than quantity that should be the aim of the grower. 



The seed is first sown in beds, and the plants when about five inches high transplanted 

 out into the field prepared for them. In the southern States, the seed beds are slightly 

 charred or burnt previous to sowing, so as to destroy all the weeds. The beds should 

 be in as warm a situation as possible. If manured with barn-yard manure, care should 

 be taken to have it free from weeds, &c. ; and we should prefer to use Peruvian guano 

 or superphosphate of lime sown on the top of the bed or applied as a liquid manure. A 

 table-spoonful of seed will sow a bed ten yards long and ten yards wide. It should be 

 sown as early as the weather will permit. The plants make their appearance in about 

 twenty days, and in six weeks after sowing they are ready to transplant into the field. 



The soil should be pulverized to a good depth, and marked off in rows about thirty 

 inches each way, and then the first showery weather the plants should be transplanted ; 

 and if any of them die, their places should be immediately filled up. We would suggest, 

 for trial, the application of a tea-spoonful of superphosphate of lime placed below the 

 plant when transplanted. From the magical effect of this manure on turneps, forcing 

 them along during the first stages of their growth, and favoring early maturity, we think 

 it will be a valuable manure for tobacco ; the aim of the planter being not to raise a 

 large gross crop, but a small one perfectly elaborated^ containing a low percentage of ash. 

 For this we believe superphosphate of lime will be found eminently useful. 



The after treatment of tobacco is similar to that_ for the corn crop, the cultivator or 

 horse-plow being kept continually at work as long as a weed is to be seen. The weeds 

 close to the plant should be at first pulled by hand, and afterwards the hoe should be 

 freely used. It is recommended to turn turkeys or other poultry into the field, to destroy 

 insects and worms which sometimes utterly destroy the crop. 



When the plant begins to put forth seed heads, which it will indicate by having two 

 leaves of the same length, it should be topped either by hand or with a sharp knife. 

 Shortly after topping it will begin to send out suckers, which must be constantly 

 removed, as they take away much nutriment which is required by the leaves. 



The time of harvesting will depend on the culture, soil, and climate. In this A-icinity 

 it is ready about the middle of September. It should be allowed to get fully ripe — the 

 the riper the better, though there is great risk in letting it remain out too long, as any 

 early frost may completely spoil it, or heavy rains do it much injury. It may be cut 

 with a sharp knife, such as is used for cutting corn ; the head of the plant laid towards 

 the sun for a few hours, and then carried to the drying house. 



If the farmer does not grow more than an acre or so, he will probably find room in 

 the barn or some shed, in which to dry the tobacco. This he will best do by getting long 

 poles, and placing them about a foot apart across the building, and to these hanging the 

 tobacco plant by simply fastening the twine at one end of the pole and winding it around 

 the whole length, thus binding the plants to the poles by the butt ends. The plants 

 should not touch each other, and a free circulation of air must be allowed in the room. 



If a large quantity of tobacco is grown, and the farmer intends making a business of it, 

 it will be necessary to build a drying shed or room on purpose. The more airy this is 



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