128 TOBACCO PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES. 



The drift soils may be further subdivided into yellow clays and white clays. 



The yellow-clay soil is derived from the weathering of the drift, which is largely composed of limestone pebbles. 

 These soils contain occasional seams of sand and gravel. The surface, however, is made up of one or two feet of 

 whitish, line-grained clay, comparatively free from gravel, which is due in part to the decay of vegetable matter 

 and in part to the work of earth-worms and animals, which bring up the fine particles from beneath. 



The white-clay soil is identical in character with the last described, except as to its origin, and changes to a 

 yellowish hue under the surface. Analysis shows a considerable amount of potash and soda in its composition, as 

 well as phosphate and carbonate of lime and carbonate of magnesia. It also contains over 6 per cent, of the 

 sesquioxide of iron. 



The black soils of the swamps are for the most part composed of humus in a greater or less degree of decay, 

 and when sweetened by aeration are very durable and highly productive. 



The alluvial soils of the streams partake of the nature of the region whence their material has been derived, 

 sometimes being very sandy, sometimes gravelly, and at other times highly argillaceous and stiff', but generally 

 rery productive; but the soils on the smaller streams are not generally so sandy as those on the Ohio river. 



COMPARISON OF RECENT TOBACCO CROPS. 



In Clermont county the increase in the acreage of tobacco has been very rapid. It was 20 per cent, greater in 

 1879 than in the previous three years, and the yield also is reported to have been 10 per cent, greater. 



In Brown county the area planted in tobacco was 20 per cent, greater in 1879 than in 1878, 12 per cent, greater 

 than in 1877, and 20 per cent, greater than in 1876. The yield for the census year is reported as 5 per cent, less than 

 in 1878 and 8 per cent, less than in 1877, but 12 per cent, greater than in 1876. The crop of 1879 was greatly 

 inferior in quality to that grown for the two years preceding, because of damage in curing, the season being a very 

 unfavorable one. It was characterized by large stems and thin web or fiber, and lacked body, and was very much 

 like the crop of 1876, though not of such a thin, flimsy character. 



In Adams county the acreage was 20 per cent, greater in the census year than in the year previous, 25 per 

 cent, greater than in 1877, and 50 per cent, greater than in 1876. The yield also was 5 per cent, greater for 1879 

 than for either of the two previous years. 



Taking the whole district, it is safe to say that within four years the average of the crop has been increased 

 by 25 per cent. 



VARIETIES OF TOBACCO GROWN. 



The White Burley, the only variety grown to any extent, is of medium size, the leaves usually attaining a 

 length of about 24 inches, sometimes, however, on heavily-manured lots, reaching a length of 42 inches. It has 

 generally in growing cream -colored leaves, but these run into various shades of green ; so that a field shows a great 

 variety of colors, from a milky white to a deep sea-green. 



The Red Burley, which produces a greater number of pounds to a given area, is planted to some extent; but 

 the quality is not so fine, nor does it command such ready sale as the white variety. 



The White Burley is losing some of its distinctive features. At first the stalk and leaves were white, but each 

 successive year shows a larger proportion of green. The original White Burley, when cured, had a golden surface j 

 but this golden color is giving place to a yellowish -brown or red, and each successive crop shows a nearer approach 

 to the Red Burley. 



Nine-tenths of this product is taken for the home trade. It is used for making fine-cut, for plug fillers, for 

 smokers, and very recently it has been used in the place of mahogany wrappers for plug, and these are said not 

 to blacken under pressure, as many of the fine wrappers of the West do. 



When this variety of tobacco is planted on bottom lands with a large admixture of sand it cures up bright in 

 t:olor, but is not so heavy in body as when grown upon a clayey, calcareous soil ; but when planted upon a hillside 

 it has a good body, a fine stem, a more delicate fiber, and a better flavor. The soils of the maple swamps, when 

 ( leared and well drained, are said to grow a very superior quality of tobacco, noted for its beauty and for its fineness 

 of leaf. On strong limestone soils it grows heavy and cures a dark color, and this color can be improved by 

 planting more closely, but it will have less body. Newly-cleared land, with a good proportion of clay, makes the 

 most valuable leaf, but does not produce so many pounds to the acre. 



In 1869 all the tobacco grown in this district was graded as cutting leaf and dark shipping, the latter 

 constituting one-third of the crop. The grades for 1879 show a marked change, and are variable in different parts 

 of the district, the extremes being as follows : Dark shipping, to 10 per cent. ; fillers for plug, 5 to 33 per cent.; 

 smokers, 16 to 25 per cent.; and cutting, 20 to 6C per cent. The average of the crop would probably be: Dark 

 shipping, 3 per cent. ; fillers, 30 per cent.; smokers, 17 per cent; and cutting, 50 per cent. 



Since 1809 the dark shipping has been reduced to almost nothing, and whatever of this grade is now produced 



lus from accident, rather than from design. There were no tillers for plug in 1869. These constitute now 30 

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