40 TOBACCO PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES. 



classed as nondescript, find the readiest market in Spain. The amount of heavy German tobacco grown is 

 unappreciable. The product is generally poor, and it will absorb a great deal of water, which it parts with readily, 

 for which reason a large part is converted into strips for cutting purposes in England. 



A light-bodied tobacco, suitable Cor manufacturing plug in the United States, is grown to some extent on the 

 elevated lands iu Dubois, Spencer, Warrick, and Pike counties. A light-brown color is generally secured, but all 

 colors are made. 



To characterize properly the tobacco of this district is difficult; but it may be said generally that the great bulk 

 of it is very porous and spongy, lean and bony, with little or no gum ; colors not decided, but rather light, mottled, 

 and dingy; generally, but not always, badly handled and badly assorted. It is usually grown by renters and 

 tenant farmers in small patches, the average crop for each farmer being about 2,500 pounds. There is therefore 

 a lack of uniformity, as also a lack of conveniences for handling, and a want of skill among the cultivators. 

 It stands low in the markets of the world, and as an export tobacco only ranks next above that grown in Illinois. 

 The tobacco is sold loose to local dealers. 



The Indiana Seed-Leaf is grown in Wayne and portions of contiguous counties, in Shelby, and a little in Orange 

 and other counties. The quantity produced iu 187!) was 740,298 pounds. It is produced upon soils derived mainly 

 from the drift. The production some years runs up as high as 1,000,000 pounds, but this is unusual, and only occurs 

 when seed-leaf tobacco commands a high price. The crop is exceedingly irregular as to quantity. 



The Kite-Foot tobacco, grown in small quantities by Germans in Clarke and Owen counties, deserves mention on 

 account of the peculiar method of handling. It has a broad, short leaf, cures up a brownish color, with yellowish 

 spots, and resembles the spangled tobacco of the eastern Ohio district. It has small fiber and stretchy leaves, and 

 is cured with lire. In harvesting, the leaves are gathered from the stalks, as is done in eastern Ohio and in Florida. 

 It is used in this country for making very common cigars. 



SOIL AND CULTIVATION. 



The manner of cultivating and curing tobacco in southwestern Indiana is identical with that practiced in the 

 Lower Green River district of Kentucky, except that in Indiana the culture is not so uniformly well done, nor are 

 the houses for curing it so well built. The stalks are also speared to a larger extent. All is air-cured except about 

 10 per cent., and. as a' result, a large amount is very often injured by pole-sweat or mold. The crop of 1879 was very 

 greatly damaged, and the average price was largely reduced in consequence of this injury. 



The methods of planting, cultivating, curing, and managing the seed-leaf varieties may be seen by reference to 

 the article on the Miami seed-leaf district of Ohio, with which the seed-leaf district of Indiana properly belongs. 



The soil greatly influences the quality. . Tobacco grown on the hills is brighter colored than that raised on clay 

 bottom lands, and a good sandy loam is the best for its production, especially if lately cleared. Land that has 

 been heavily manured, or an old barn lot, produces a dark, heavy leaf, lit only for shipping. In some sections the 

 proportion of dark shipping tobacco has falleu oil' one-third, in others one-half, while bright wrapping and smoking 

 have doubled in quantity. Cutting-leaf has increased one-sixth, and seed-leaf, not heretofore grown in some 

 counties iu the southwestern part of the state, comprises 5 per cent, of the crop. In the selection of soil for tobacco 

 greater care is taken than formerly, aud more attention is paid to its cultivation and handling; it is also better 

 assorted, sized, and graded. 



Throughout the tobacco growing region of the state the soil preferred is a sandy loam on rolling lands and on 

 plateaus where the drainage is good. On lauds so situated, and where there is a considerable accumulation of 

 vegetable mold, the yield is best. Full 00 per cent, of the land now occupied in tobacco is of this character. On 

 newly-cleared laud the custom is to plant tobacco the first and second years, and to follow the third year with 

 wheat and grass. Full three-fourths of the wooded land is suited to the growth of tobacco, and soils which have 

 a primitive growth of white oak, dogwood, sugar maple, and hickory are preferred. Tobacco grown on such 

 lands freshly cleared is of finer quality, but is lighter than that grown on lands which have been cultivated for a 

 time. The freshly -cleared lauds are greatly preferred for White Burley. The rolling lands produce a better quality, 

 but a leaf of less weight thun the level and more moist lands. 



Very small quantities of fertilizers have as yet been used, probably on not more than 10 per cent, of the area 

 cultivated in tobacco. Barn-yard manure is the chief one used, though some few growers have tried superphosphates. 

 The custom is to use from five to six cords of stable manure to the acre, at a cost of from $5 to 80. When 

 superphosphates are used, the quantity applied is from 200 to 300 pounds per acre. Many farmers use less of 

 both kinds. The effect of these fertilizers is a greater yield, especially on the clay soils ; but where manures are used 

 the cured leaf is darker aud seldom of market value, except for shipping. 



By continual cropping in tobacco the soil deteriorates very rapidly unless manured; but the custom being to 

 follow it with wheat aud grass, there has been little, if any, average deterioration, and the annual yield per acre 

 has in some instances increased. The rotation generally adopted is to follow tobacco with rye or clover, clover 

 being considered the best, the system practiced being to cut off the first growth of clover of the second year, turn 

 under the second growth, and seed the land to grass. 

 634 



