CULTURE AND CURING IN MARYLAND. 89 



CARROLL. Undulating and hilly; geology primary; soils variable. Those oil the slopes and foothills of 

 Parr's ridge are best suited for tobacco. 



Although western Maryland produces a type that sells higher than that grown in the southern and eastern 

 portions of the state, very little tobacco is raised there, farmers preferring other crops. 



The soil varies in depth from 3 to 8 inches on the rolling lands in the upper or "bay" district, and from G to 

 12 inches or more in the southern alluvial district. The lands of the rolling or hilly sections are generally of easy 

 tillage, 'and are morn or less liable to wash. In southern Maryland the land lies well, except immediately on the 

 creeks and rivers, where it. is swampy. 



In Prince George's, Anne Amndel, and generally in the counties of the air-curing district, tobacco is planted 

 upon almost all classes of soils, farmers usually selecting the most fertile lands. In Prince George's county light 

 clay hillsides, made rich with manure after clover fallow, are preferred when new lauds are not to be had. The 

 product is much better upon new lands, but such soils are now exceedingly scarce. In Anne Arundel county a 

 clay loam, or a dark loam with clay subsoil, is preferred; in Montgomery a light-red soil is usually chosen. In 

 Howard a rich, dark, sandy, or clay loam is preferred where quantity is the object; but if quality is sought the 

 preference is given to gray, rolling lands, fertilized. Throughout the tobacco section all classes of arable lauds are 

 planted. 



The original forest growth of the best tobacco soils is now very scant, most of it having long since disappeared 

 to make room for crops, or for fuel, rails, lumber, etc. What remains is composed of oak, chestnut, locust, pine, etc. 



VARIETIES OP TOBACCO CULTIVATED. 



Varieties are often named from some peculiarity of growth, habit, or appearance of the plant, as Broad Leaf, 

 Narrow Leaf, Twist Bud, etc., or take their names from individuals who have made some marked success in 

 producing them, as Wilson, Turner, etc. 



Broad Leaf, grown in Prince George's, and perhaps in other counties, is tall, with the leaves broad, and not 

 very many on the stalk: is chaffy and rather light in weight; cures a pretty color, burns easily,and is liked by many 

 planters. 



Narrow Leaf, grown in Prince George's, Anne Arundel, and Montgomery counties, is not very tall; has many 

 leaves, thickly set on the stalk. The leaves are narrow, but heavy, cure a pretty red, are thick and fine, and 

 grow larger upon rich land. Some planters in Montgomery claim that a better article can be grown of this variety 

 than of any other; but it does not, however, bring as good a price as the lighter sorts. 



Baden, grown in Prince George's county, sometimes called "poor-land tobacco", cures a beautiful whitish-yellow, 

 but is liable to greenish spots or stripes on the leaves, which lessen its value. The leaves are short, light, and 

 chaffy, if the weather is favorable when it. is first cut and put into the barn, it cures a fine yellow and outsells 

 other sorts. 



White Burley, grown to some extent in several counties, is much liked by those who have tried it. It requires 

 st roiig laud, cures better than most other varieties, can be cut before maturity, and yet retain its color. 



I'ear Tree, more generally known as Boyer, grown in Montgomery county, where it is the principal variety 

 cultivated; Wilson aud Five-Sucker, grown in Anne Arundel; Thickset, grown in Calvert, are varieties locally 

 popular. A new variety, called White Kentucky, was introduced into Calvert county in 1869. This variety cures 

 well and is popular, the only objection to it being that it requires a very rich and highly-manured land to grow it 

 to proper size. In Howard county the Burley, the Connecticut Seed-Leaf, and the Maryland, the seeds of which 

 varieties were sent to that county by the United States Agricultural Department, have been grown to considerable 

 extent. The Maryland is thrifty, of quick growth, sometimes reaching a height of six feet; is not as fine and as 

 good as the Burley, but is more prolific. Connecticut Seed-Leaf is successfully grown in Howard for pipe-smoking 

 and cigars. 



Tobaccos grown upon lands rich in vegetable matter are generally of a poor quality, large, coarse, dark in color, 

 and light and trashy. When grosvu upou tJiiu lauds, dressed with stable manure broadcast aud fertilized in the 

 drills with a proper quantity of good superphosphate, they are of a better and more salable quality, and when raised 

 upon new lands they are of the first quality. On the sandy bottoms of the lower country Prince George's, Saint 

 Mary's, Charles, and Calvert couuties the tobacco is duller in color and heavier than that produced upon the 

 micaceous soils of Howard. Light dry soils and sandy loams produce light-red aud yellow tobaccos of the finest 

 quality and highest price, and heavy, dark loams yield darker grades and more weight, but of inferior quality and 

 of small value. 



TOBACCO FERTILIZERS. 



In southern Maryland commercial fertilizers are used on about one-fifth of the are i cultivated in tobacco. These 

 are kainit, phosphates, and various special manures, manufactured in Baltimore or sold there. Fertilizers are 

 applied in quantities varying from 100 to 400 pounds per acre, either broadcast or in the drill, at a cost of from $3 

 to 812 per acre. 



