90 TOBACCO PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES. 



In the Bay district nearly all the tobacco lands are manured with domestic or commercial fertilizers, or both.. 

 From 250 to 400 pounds of commercial manures are applied, usually in the drill, at a cost of from $6 50 to $10 per 

 acre. 



The use of fertilizers, generally ammoniated superphosphates, or special compounds manufactured and sold as 

 tobacco manures, increases the yield very materially, especially in favorable seasons ; but this increase of weight 

 is almost always attended by a depreciation of quality. Tobacco grown without the help of these fertilizers does 

 not mature quite so early, but is more pliable, keeps in order better, and has more body. Upon the dark loams of 

 Charles county commercial fertilizers have produced little or no effect ; but plaster, lime, and ashes have given 

 favorable results, increasing the yield, but without any appreciable improvement of quality. 



In the Bay, district fertilizers are considered indispensable, and are generally used only in connection with 

 farm -yard and stable manures. In Howard county good farmers do not attempt to raise any crop without manuring 

 and the use of fertilizers. In Prince George's, and in some portions of other counties of southern Maryland, the 

 effects of fertilizers are rarely seen after the first crop to which they are applied. If none are used upon succeeding 

 crops, there is an immediate falling off in the yield, which will continue unless the soil is manured or improved by 

 judicious rotation. In Calvert county an experiment was made upon a certain field by planting it for six years 

 successively in tobacco, and the yield for the sixth year was as good as that for the first, but there was a marked 

 depreciation in the quality. In southern Maryland are large areas of land, which have been planted in tobacco at 

 recurring intervals for more than a hundred and fifty years, still capable of producing a fair crop without fertilizers, 

 and this upon soils upon which manures have never been used an evidence of the remarkable natural fertility of 

 these particular soils. 



The yield of tobacco has decreased from 10 to 25 per cent, during the last ten years in Prince George's, Calvert, 

 and Charles counties. In Anne Arundel county some planters have succeeded in producing larger crops than 

 formerly, while the majority confess to a gradual lessening of yield. The general decrease in the counties above 

 named is attributed to the failure of clover for several years during the decade, and the rather stinted use of 

 home-made manures as one of the consequences of that failure. In Montgomery county the yield has increased 

 from 10 to 12 per cent. 



In Prince George's, Calvert, Anne Aruudel, Montgomery, and Howard counties wheat usually follows tobacco. 

 Clover alone, or clover and grass seeds, are sown upon the wheat lauds, to remain two or more years, when the land 

 is again put in tobacco. In Charles county a favorite method is to sow rye after tobacco ; then pease or buckwheat, 

 to be limed and turned down for wheat ; then clover, to stand two years ; then tobacco again. The best farmers 

 use plaster upon clover, and bone dust and kainit upon wheat in the rotation. Some sow cow pease, a bushel and 

 a half per acre, at the last plowing of the tobacco crop, the vines plowed under for wheat, 200 to 400 pounds of bone 

 dust or kainit, or a mixture of the two, turned under with the pea-vines, and the wheat top-dressed in February 

 with salt and plaster. Some lime heavily, using 100 bushels or more per acre, but this makes a coarse and rather 

 low-priced tobacco. In Howard county, where practicable, tobacco is grown two years on clearings ; then wheat, 

 followed by clover or grass. 



Tobacco-growers, in all parts of the state in which that crop is produced, agree in the opinion that with proper 

 rotation tobacco is not more exhaustive than corn or other crops usually grown upon their lands. In southern 

 Maryland tobacco has been grown continuously as long as on any other area of territory in the United States, and 

 fair crops are still grown upon these lands without fertilizers. 



The soils of southern Maryland abound in lime and magnesia, and the remaining elements are generally 

 found in requisite quantity in almost all soils. The subsoil contains much potash, and the soil, derived from a 

 conglomerate, was once rich in the acids. Another reason why these lands have maintained their fertility for so 

 long a period is that the soil has not been washed away by heavy rains, as is the case on rolling lands. 



PLANT-BEDS, ETC. 



Nine-tenths of the plant-beds in Maryland are prepared without burning. Fuel is scarce and costly, and a good 

 situation, thorough preparation, and heavy manuring are relied upon. Very few of the beds are covered. The 

 beds, both raw and burned, are generally sown as soon as prepared. In Prince George's county seed is sown 

 from January 1 to April 1, and in Howard county from February 15 to April 15. Hot-beds are used to a limited 

 extent, and are commended as a surer protection against the flea-beetle. 



In Prince George's transplanting begins about the 10th of May, and is continued till July 4; in Howard the 

 work begins about the 20th of May, and is usually completed by the 1st of July. 



PBEPARATION OF THE SOIL FOE TOBACCO CULTIVATION. 



Laud intended for tobacco is plowed deeply and as thoroughly as possible during the winter or in February, 

 cross-plowed in April and home manures applied, and- again cross-plowed, usually with shovels, dragged, rolled, 

 or harrowed until fine tilth is secured. If fertilizers are used broadcast, they are generally applied at the last 

 harrowing. 

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