CULTURE AND CURING IN KENTUCKY. 75 



COMPARISON OF TOBACCO CROPS. 



The crop of 1877 was 21 per cent, less than that of 187G, but showed a marked improvement in quality; and 

 the product of 1878 was nearly equal in amount to that of 1877, with still further improvement. The crops of these 

 two years were the best that were ever raised in the district, that of the latter year ranking highest. Both 

 crops were well ripened, free from the effects of disease, and commanded very high prices. Stimulated by these 

 high prices, the product of 1879 was the largest in acreage and in yield of any crop ever grown iu the district; 

 the boundaries were extended, unusual attention was given to preparations for the crop, and the quality of the 

 product, up to the time of housing, was equal to that of any previous year. Unfortunately, however, the 

 crowded condition of the barns, consequent upon the large crop and the very warm weather which set in about 

 the 1st of October, caused at least 10 per cent, to be greatly damaged by house-burn. Superadded to this calamity, 

 the supervening mild weather, with much rain, produced a barn-uiold, which in its effects was almost as damaging 

 as house burn. With good, close barns much of this damage could have been avoided; but the hurry and rush of 

 many farmers to plant out a crop, taking the risk of curing it in temporary structures, resulted in very serious 

 injury to the tobacco. A great deal of it was cured in rail pens and open barns, with no means of protection against 

 the fogs and beating rains, and the result was that, notwithstanding the large crop planted and well harvested, there 

 was less good, sound tobacco on the market than in the previous year. Prices ruled very high for the first half of 

 the year, and only showed a decline when the fact was well established by the middle of June, 1880, that another 

 very large crop was planted. Bright lugs advanced during the commercial year in Cincinnati from 5 to 7 cents, 

 at the commencement of the season, to to 10 cents, and bright fillers from 11 to 15 cents to 14 to 20 cents. 



The White Burley, while growing, has a pale-green or greenish-white color, and the leaves grow closely on 

 the stalk; consequently a plant having the same number of leaves is not so tall as those of many other varieties. 

 It is very delicate when young, is more sensitive to the heat of the sun or continued wet than any other kind, and 

 is not a favorite variety with the less careful cultivators because of this tenderness of constitution, which causes 

 it to perish easily when transplanted. A stand is therefore difficult to obtain. Two weeks are generally required 

 for it to become established after transplanting, but when it begins to grow it outstrips the other varieties, aud is 

 ready for harvesting two weeks earlier thau any other variety planted at the same time. Originating from the 

 Red Burley by cross-fertilization, there is a very decided tendency to revert to the original type. The' first years 

 after it originated the White Burley, after curing, was silky, fine, aud light-bodied, with a yellow color on the 

 upper surface aud white beneath. It grows thicker and less delicate every year, and it is believed that the 

 retroversiou to its original type will in a few more years be complete. 



In the White Burley district there are two distinct classes of tobacco grown. In the counties of Owen, 

 Franklin, Henry, Oldham, Scott, and Trimble cutting tobacco, or what may be used for cutting purposes, is grown 

 almost exclusively. The counties of Boone, Ken ton, Gallatiu, Grant, Campbell, Pendleton, llarrisou, Bracken, 

 Robertson, Nicholas, Mason, Lewis, and parts of others make a heavier article, used for fillers mainly, but some 

 cutting leaf. The tobacco grown in the last-named counties has more gum than that grown in Owen and the 

 surrounding counties, which is light, thin, and chaffy. Unquestionably the soil has a powerful influence upon the 

 quality. All the returns concur in this. One from Owen county says : 



An opensoil will produce a quick growth, which is essential in making a porous product. Slow growth insures a hard, compact quality, 

 of dark color. Eastern or southeastern slopes produce the best qnality of tobacco. Ridge lands and lands eloping to the west induce a 

 slow growth, anil are therefore not so desirable. 



Another schedule, which applies to the whole district, says: 



On newly-cleared lands a lighter-colored tobacco is grown, which makes a fine cutting leaf. Old lands make fillers, sometimes 

 wrappers, mahogany in color, rich, and oily. Second year's land (that is, laud which has only been cultivated one year) makes a cherry- 

 red tobacco, suitable for fillers. 



A correspondent from Robertson county says : 



Strong, loamy soils do not produce so fine a quality of tobacco as white-oak and sugar-tree clay. 

 One from Carroll county says : 



On freshly-cleared lands tho tobacco will cure a better color, but light in body and better adapted for cutting purposes, making, 

 however, few pounds per acre. Old lands grow tobacco of better body, less color, more useful for plug fillers, and wit'i more pounds per 

 ere. 



Another schedule from Owen county says: 



On new lauds tobacco grows very thin, light, and bright; on second year's land it is heavier, with more body, and the quality more 

 sefnl. On olil sod land the tobacco is still heavier, is red in color, and is better adapted to tho use of the manufacturer o." plug and for 

 export. 



Precisely the same statement comes from Kenton county. Fleming county, which probably has a greater 

 variety of soils than any other county in the district, reports: 



Kich, sandy soils produce tho finest quality of tobacco ; black loam grows the heaviest and darkest in color ; white-oak lands the 

 lightest and highest-priced qualities, used both for wrappers and for making fine-cut. 



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