G4 TOBACCO PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES. 



necessary to bum over the land, so that clean aucl satisfactory work may be done with the plow. Although it may be 

 claimed that the ashes of the burned weeds or stubble return to the soil all the fertilizing constituents of real value, 

 experience has demonstrated that the mechanical effects of slow fermentation and decomposition in the soil make 

 the li brous material of straw, dry grass, and weeds of much greater uiaiiurial value than that of several times the 

 equivalent in ashes. 



Upon the heavier lands, aud especially upon those having a stiff clay subsoil, plows of steel or of chilled cast 

 iron, drawn by two or three aud sometimes by four horses, are used iu breaking. The deeper the plowing the 

 more satisfactory is this first preparation for tobacco, the depth being limited only by the capacity of the implement 

 and the strength of the team. Good farmers are careful that not too much of the clay subsoil shall be turned 

 uppermost, and that the deepening of the tillable surface shall be accomplished by gradually increasing the depth 

 of culture year after year. 



Upon thc> lighter lands, such as are found in the Lower Green Eiver district, and upon the sandy soils and light 

 alluvials throughout the state, the ground is not broken so deeply, usually from 3 to 4 inches only, and the work is 

 rarely done until spring. 



After the soil has been broken, it remains untouched until the season for planting approaches. The preparation 

 for planting is so timed that the plants, as soon as ready, may be set in freshly-worked soil. 



If manures are to be applied broadcast, as is usually the case with the coarse and imperfectly decomposed 

 accumulations of the stable aud farm-yard, they are hauled upon the land iu February, or later, when the soil is dry 

 enough to permit such work, and scattered as evenly as possible. The plow usually follows closely, turning under 

 the manure with as little delay as practicable. 



One rebreaking is generally thought sufficient, and if further preliminary work is necessary it is done with 

 the harrow. If still cloddy and not properly fined, the field is rolled and again harrowed, or the surface is dragged 

 with a heavy log, sometimes with two or more logs in a gang, and finally harrowed. 



The preparation of newly-cleared land differs only in the manner of breaking. After the timber has been 

 removed, brush, trash, and leaves are piled or raked into heaps aud burned, clearing the surface as nicely as 

 possible of all obstructions. The plow used for breaking is known as a ''jumping coulter". This implement consists 

 of a heavy iron or steel shovel, firmly bolted to a very strong frame or " stock ". In front of the shovel, and in line 

 with its center, is fixed into the beam a strong blade of steel, or iron laid with steel, sharp upon the front edge and 

 rounding backward at the lower end. The blade extends downward, so that the point stands just in front of the 

 shovel, and at an equal depth. The implement is built strongly throughout, so tjjat it may be used with a stout 

 team of mules or horses. Koots of considerable size are easily cut by the blade, and are torn up and thrown to the 

 surface by the shovel. If large roots are encountered, the backward curve of the blade allows it to slide over the 

 obstruction, and the plow is not impeded iu its work. After the ground is plowed aud cross-plowed in this manner 

 it is repeatedly harrowed, and the roots are gathered up and removed; it is then plowed with the jumping coulter, 

 harrowed, and the remaining roots picked off. The land is then ready for final preparation. 



Both the row and the cheek system of cultivation are practiced, but the latter plan is the one adopted in all 

 cases where the shape of the field or the lay of the land does not make it impracticable or unadvisable. The width 

 between the rows and the distances between the plants are varied to suit the character of the soil, the variety of 

 tobacco to be planted, and the type to be produced. Upon lands in fair condition 3J feet each way is the ordinary 

 distance. If it is intended to make a type of heavy weight, strong texture, and fat body, the distance between the 

 hills must be great enough to admit of long-continued tillage. Recently a standard of 4 feet each way has been 

 adopted by some good farmers with excellent results. A larger amount of food available for each plant, the free 

 access of sunlight and air, and greater ease and thoroughness in the later cultivations, with less bruising aud 

 breaking of the leaves iu the operations of topping, suckeriiig, and worming, are all secured by the wider setting. 

 It has been found that the total yield per acre is quite as large as when the plants are more crowded, and that the 

 product is of better grade, because of better development in size, strength, and quality of leaf. 



The field is marked each way, usually with a shovel or bull-tongue plow. An expert plowman can work from six 

 to eight acres one way in ten hours, setting his stakes as he goes. When but one man is marking off, the stake rows 

 are run at double width, and he " splits the middle " at each back furrow ; when two men are at work, the most expert 

 runs the stake rows at four widths, and "splits the big middle" by the return furrow, the helper splitting the 

 "little middles", after a little practice, very accurately. The field is then marked in the same way at right angles, 

 and is ready for hilling. 



Manure is applied in the hill to some extent, but this is tedious and expensive. A given quantity of manure 

 will go over a much larger area, and, if thoroughly decomposed and fine, will increase the yield in favorable seasons 

 two or three times as much as the same quantity applied broadcast. Evil results are apt to follow the use of coarse 

 and badly-rotted manure in the hill, especially if dry weather should occur before the plants are well rooted. A pint 

 of leached ashes or a moderate shovelful of rich and well-rotted stable manure dropped in the check is applied 

 with good effect. The hill is made with the hand-hoe, covering the manure to a depth of Cor 8 inches. 



It is essential that manures used in the hill shall be buried deep enough not to be dried by an ordinary season 

 of drought, lest the plant be too much stimulated at first and thereafter almost entirely deprived of nourishment. 

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