142 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



together than the larger kinds, a larger number of plants 

 to the acre is required, which makes some labor in setting, 

 but we think the after culture is less expensive than the 

 larger kinds. 



We would recommend the use of seed of about seven 

 years' growth from importations, and when the planter has 

 obtained seed of the most desirable qualities, he should save 

 enough for his use for several years, thereby saving the de- 

 terioration in the quality of his tobacco. Seed eight or ten 

 years old is just as good for use, excepting that it may take 

 a little lonoer time to germinate as it grows older. 



Considerable might be said as to the character of the soil 

 requisite for growing a leaf of the most desirable qualities, 

 for the soil, the manure, and the manner of curing, have 

 much to do with the texture and color. Fashion governs 

 the color desired for cigar wrappers. But a few years since, 

 fashion demanded a light cinnamon color, but at present she 

 requires a very dark leaf, an almost black wrapper. It is 

 also of great importance that the veins of the leaf be not 

 prominent, either in size or color; tobacco having large, 

 light-colored veins is considered as unfit for making nice 

 cigars. These qualities may seem unimportant to the unob- 

 serving grower, but it makes a difference of several cents a 

 pound in the value of the crop. The soil, the season, and 

 the fertilizers used, have more or less influence in producing 

 the qualities, and just what, and how, should be the grow- 

 ers' study to know. Another requisite of essential impor- 

 tance is, that a cigar burn well ; the ashes must be of a clear 

 white color, and sufiiciently adhesive to hold their form on 

 the end of the cigar when burning, and not drop oiF upon 

 the smoker's clothes, much to his chagrin. A dark soil, one 

 inclined to heaviness, or clayey, favors a dark leaf; the man- 

 ner of curing, also, if after the danger of pole sweat is past 

 the barn be shut up so that the crop cure in the dark, also 

 favors a dark leaf. The so called cpmmercial fertilizers, 

 especially Peruvian guano, will affect the color in a like 

 manner, but at the expense of the burning qualities. I be- 

 lieve it is conceded that tobacco grown with the use of barn- 

 yard manure, principally, will generally burn well. To this 

 may, perhaps, be excepted land which has become exhausted 

 of lime. 



