TOBACCO CULTURE. 



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PRIZE ESSAirS. 



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EXPIi AN ATION,— February 1st, 1863, the Editor of the American Agriculturist offered Thirty Dollars, in thrw 

 Mzes for the best practical essays on tlie culture of Tobacco, to be written by experienced growers, and to embrace full particu 

 lars, from selecting seed, and preparing the ground, to harvesting, curing, and marketing the crop — all to be written out so jilainly 

 as to be serviceable to the inexperienced cultivator, and to be in the shortest limits possible and yet give all needed information. 

 Quite unexpectedly, the response was so general that over eighty essays were sent in from different parts of the country. These 

 were handed over to a competent committee of three, who devoted most of their time for ten days to a careful examination o, 

 the essays. They were puzzled to decide upon the respective merits of several articles, as each writer embraced some items not 

 referred to by others. After mature deliberation, they decided that, according to the terras of the offer, the first article below was 

 entitled to the first prize ; the second in order to the second prize, while the next three were so nearly equal in merit that they 

 could not make a distinction, and they recommended to the Editor of the Agricultcrist to increase the amount offered, and 

 award an amount equal to the third prize to each of these three writers. This was cheerfully acceded to. As but one of the arti- 

 cles could be published in the Agriculturist, it was deemed best to select a considerable number of the best essays, and present thcni 

 in the form of a book or pamphlet. Tliis gives the reader the benefit of the experience of a large number of practical cultivators, 

 residing in various parts of the country. Nearly every one of the writers refers to some item not discussed by others. It is 

 believed that this little work contains the most complete information upon the subject of Tobacco Culture to be found in the 

 country. 



2fo. I -BY JUDSON POPENOE, OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, OHIO. 



I COMMEXCED the cultivation of tobacco about fifteen 

 years ago ; I tlierefore write from experience, and sliall 

 try to give that experience, in a short and plain way. 



Varieties. — I have cultivated various kinds of to- 

 bacco, but have come to the conclusion that what we 

 call the Ohio seed-leaf is the best and most profitable 

 kind for general cultivation. There are other kinds of 

 tobacco that sometimes are profitable, and do well, 

 but most of these do not cure out so well, nor color so 

 eYenly, nor are they so fine and salable as the seed- 

 leaf. The Havana tobacco is too small and has not 

 the fine flavor of the imported. The Connecticut seed- 

 leaf I believe to be identical with our Ohio seed-leaf; 

 the difference in the climate may make a slight varia- 

 tion in the quality, but we plant the Connecticut seed- 

 leaf here in Ohio, and I don't think they can be told 

 apart. The most of the tobacco raised in this dis- 

 trict is the seed-leaf, which is strong evidence that Lfe 

 is the best and most profitable kind to raise here. 



Seed. — At topping-time a few of the most thrifty 

 stalks should be lefl to grow without topping, for 

 seed. When the crop is cut, let the seed-stalks stand, 

 stripping off the leaves and suckers. As soon as the 

 seed-pods are black, the seed is matured ; then cut off 

 the seed-heads below the forks of the plant, and hang 

 them in a dry place, out of the reach of mice, to cure. 

 At leisure time, during the winter, strip the seed-pods 

 .^from off the stalk, rub them in the hands until the 

 seed is rubbed out, sift through a fine sifter, put in a 

 dry place, secure from vermin of all kinds, and it is 

 ready to sow. I have sowed seed six years old which 

 grew as well as new seed. I think it is a good plan to 

 raise seed enough at any time to soTv for ten years, as 

 it is thought to deteriorate by constant raising without 

 changing. If seed snaps or pops when it is thrown 

 oa a hot stove, it will grow. 



Pkeparing Seed-Beds. — There are two plans of pre- 

 paring beds for sowing seed ; the first, and best, is to 

 spade or plow a bed in rich, dry ground, with a south- 

 ern exposure; the south end of a barn is a good' 

 place, as the reflection helps to warm the ground. 

 Where you have tobacco-stalks, as you make a fur- 

 row with the plow or spade, fill one third full with 

 the stalks and turn the next furrow over them, and so 

 continue until the bed is broken up. The stalks hold 

 moisture, make the bed warm, and help to drain it 

 Take well-rotted hog manure and spread over the bed, 

 to the depth of about two inches, then harrow or 

 rake until the manure is thoroughly mixed with the 

 surflice of the bed, and all is well pulverized, and as 

 fine as garden mold. For a bed one rod wide and four 

 rods long take two common-sized table-spoonfuls (as 

 much as will lie on conveniently) of seed and mix it 

 with four quarts of ashes, or slacked lime, and sow 

 broadcast ; the ashes will enable the seed to be sowed 

 evenly ; then take a hand-roller and roll the bed even- 

 ly, or place a board on one end of the bed, walk on 

 it to press the ground to the seed, move it over, and 

 repeat this until the bed is aH pressed over. Another 

 plan is to burn a large brush-heap in a clearing, or on 

 any new ground, in the eveniiig ; in the morning dig 

 the ground up with the ashes on ; while warm, rake 

 the bed fine and sow the seed as above directed. Very 

 little weeding is required where the ground is burned, 

 as the fire destraya the/ weed and grass-seeds. 



If the weather is dry, the plants wfdl need watering 

 after they are sprouted, (which will be in about thre® 

 weeks ;) in fact, the surface of the bed should be kept 

 constantly moist ; the beds should be kept clear of 

 weeds ; do not let the weeds get a start of your plants 

 or they will soon choke thepi out. If the plants grow 

 well and evenly, the above-sked bed will plant four or 



