TOBACCO AND ITS CULTURE. 155 



thing was performed in the same manner as above, except- 

 ing the laborer received one-half or two-fifths of the crop, 

 as the bargain may have been. 



An instance has recently come to my knowledge where, 

 during the past season, an individual paid seventy dollars an 

 acre for the cultivation of the crop, delivered in the bundle. 

 In this case, if the owner were obliged to assort it, it would 

 cost hira twenty-five or thirty dollars more to assort and 

 case it, which Avould amount to about one hundred dollars an 

 acre, which is about an average cost of cultivation. 

 In the case of Mr. Porter, the 1,800 lbs. of tobacco cost . $0,109 per lb. 

 In the case of Mr. Hubbard, the 1,500 lbs. of tobacco cost .099 " 



In both cases nothing was credited for value of manure 

 unexpended, which is often in like instances estimated at 

 one-third of its value. 



Whether the land of Mr. Porter was left in a more fertile 

 condition than that of Mr. Hubbard, the writer does not 

 undertake to say. 



Any one who engaged in the cultivation of tobacco need 

 not expect to make a fortune by any magic hand ; such a lot 

 does not fall to the tiller of the soil. 



Although there are instances which the writer could name, 

 where individuals have become wealthy by the cultivation 

 of tobacco, yet the wealth was obtained by untiring indus- 

 try and frugality, which is necessary to prosperity in any 

 business. If the farmer is able to receive fair compensation 

 for his labor, and a proper income for his investment in 

 land, manure, implements and team, together with a fair 

 addition for risk or hazard, he may be content. There are 

 seasons when the culture of the crop is very remunerating ; 

 but the work is a hiborious as well as a hazardous one. The 

 crop is liable to a great many drawbacks. Dry weather may 

 make the transplanting of the plants expensive, the cut- 

 worm and the green worm may necessitate extreme diligence 

 and patience, a hail storm may in a few minutes destroy the 

 whole work of the season, or after the crop is housed it may 

 be materially injured by pole sweat. But there are draw- 

 backs in any business ; such has fallen to the lot of man, 

 and will till the end of time. 



Fifty years ago, if one passed through the beautiful \ 



