302 



MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



Plant-bed to the Prize" — by Peter MrNOR, of Albemarle County, Virginia. 

 On these notes we shall chiefly depend for all that we shall have need to say 

 farther of this plant, through all the stages of ils growth, until it passes from 

 the hands of the planter to be taxed in all countries. In that land of •' free 

 trade " where the great Agitator in its favor has been pr^ented with a million of 

 dollars, it pays onhj about 700 per cent, before it is allowed to reach the con- 

 sumer.* 



There is one thing which we do not see adverted to, that we apprehend needs 

 particular attention, and that is, the particular depth at which these and all other 

 seeds should be deposited — the smaller the shallower. The principle has been 

 laid down, that full air, a moderate degree of moisture, and a temperature suited 

 to the kind of seed, are all necessary to a perfect germination. We apprehend 

 that the seed of tobacco cannot well be put in too shallow, as it is termed, pro- 

 vided the light be excluded. It has been observed, says Professor Johnston, that 

 seeds cannot germinate if entirely excluded from the air. They will remain 

 some of them apparently for ages without exhibiting any signs of life, and yet, 

 when brought near the surface, will sj)eedily begin to sprout. Thus it is that 

 one may notice, all along the line of the JNew-York canals and railroads, myriads 

 of the Canada thistle and other weeds, not present at first in cultivated fields. 



Choice of Land for thk Pi.ant-bkds. 

 AND Mode of Puepahing it — A rich virgin 

 loam with a slight inixlnre of saiid is ascer- 

 tained to he. ihe best soil for raising tobacco 

 plants. Such spots ure indicated by the 

 growth of alder iind hazel bushes in bottoms 

 and on the margin of small streams, and if 

 the siliialion has iho conniiaiid of water for 

 irrigation il is nn that account to be preferred. 

 The spot being selected, the first operation is 

 to buiii il with a strong lire. For this pur- 

 pose the growth of every kind is cut off, (not 

 grubbed up) and the whole surface raked 

 very clean. The burning should be done be- 

 fore Christmas, or as soon after as the weather 

 •will permit ; and if done thus early it cannot 

 be well too heavy, even bringing the soil to 

 a hard cake. Tlie wcnderi'ul fertility im- 

 parted to soil by fire, has of late years been 

 clearly proved and developed by various ex- 

 periments in this and other countries, but 



judging from Jong- established practice, we 

 suppose it is a fact that has been long known 

 to tobacco planters, that this fertility is im- 

 parted by the fire, and no ways dependent 

 upon the ashes left by the process is clearly 

 pioved from the fact, that the same results 

 will ensue if the ashes are swept oti' entirely- 

 clean. Or take anotlier piece of ground of 

 etjnal quality, cover it with as much or moi'e 

 ashes, and prej)are it in every respect simi 

 lar, except burning, and plants cannot be 

 raised in it. Hence the necessity and pro- 

 [iriety of regidar and uniform burning, the 

 want of which is always manifested by a di- 

 minutive, yellow and sickly growth of plants 

 in those spots, not sufficiently acted ou by 

 the fire. 



After the gi-ouud becomes cool from burn- 

 ing, the whole surface siiould be swept with 

 a coarse twig broom to take out the coals- 

 In this operation some of the ashes will bo 



* Tobacco and Rice.— The Wnsliingion Union has ibe following . '• Tlie following extract from a letter 

 recently received in this city, from an intelligent Americnn now traveling in Europe, contains information 

 of importance to those of our countrymen "engnged in growing rice and tobacco— especially at a season 

 ■when these articles are in a state of preparation for shipment. We accordingly give it a conspicuous place 

 in our columns, with a view of benefiting the interests of all those concerned : " 



" ScHwEKiN, Germany, Oct. 20, 1847. 



****"! should acquaint you with the existing tare established by the German Customs L'nion 

 upon tobacco imported in hogsheads, and rice in tierces, as I ascertained it to be upon the frontier of the 

 Duchy of Brunswick, when journeying to this place a (evf days ago. 



" The tare on a hogshead of tobacco is 12 per cent. If the hogshead should weigh over 12 per cent, for the 

 quantity of tobacco ('ontained in it, the additional weight pays duty at the rate of 51 Prussian thalers perzoll 

 centner— equal to about $3 33 per 1(10 lbs. Hogsheads which contain 1,000 lbs. tobacco weigh in the ag- 

 erecate, I have been told — some more and pome nmch less — 200 lbs. ; consequently 80 lbs. of wood, or 

 togshead, pays tobacco duty, amounting to $2 G8 4'i.l00 cents. 



■ " This extra tax upon their staple produ- 1 the planters may avoid by making their hogsheads uniformly 

 of the same size— not to exceed in weight, if they are to hold 1,000 lbs. of tobacco, 120 lbs. This, if the 

 wood be good, would insure sufficient strength. 



'•The Zoll-Vercin imported during the year 1846, 29,000 hogsheads of tobacco and stems. If. therefore, 

 a duty of 20 per cent, instead of 12 was realized, for tare, our staple was taxed unnecessaiily $77,731 75. 



"Tiie t«re allowed on rice, in tierces, entering the States of the ZoU-Veiein, is 13 per cent.. It is to the 

 jntere.n of the producers of rice in the United States to he careful that there ^houId be no excess of tare 

 beyond this, inasmuch as ihev have a formidable competitor in Holland in the Geiinan markets. The 

 Java rice is all imported in bags, upon whic h a tare of 4 per cent, is allowed in the Zoll Vertin. This the 

 Dutch, with their habitual good economy, avoid exceeding." [Baltimore American. 



(622) 



