130 TOBACCO PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES. 



SEED-BEDS. 



The management of seed-beds is mainly as described in chapter III. As soon as the land becomes dry enough in 

 the spring from the middle of February to the middle of April a spot is selected in the woods on the northeastern 

 slope of a hill and cleared. If no such slope can be had, any good moist (not wet) soil in or near the woods will do, 

 but virgin land is preferred. In this part of the state the land is burned with wood or brush. 



The extreme limit of transplanting is from the 15th of May to the 4th of July. Very little, however, is set out 

 so early as the first date given or so late as the last, and the bulk of the crop is planted between June 1 and June 15. 



PREPARATION OP SOIL AND PLANTING. 



The soil for tobacco is prepared by reversing the soil, either in the fall or early spring, with a turning-plow, 

 going to the depth of 6 or 8 inches. Just before the plants are large enough to transplant the soil is again 

 broken with a shovel-plow, usually so as not to reverse the soil, and by frequent harrowings afterward it is reduced 

 to a fine tilth. The distance between the rows is variable, some farmers laying them off 2 feet, others 3, others 

 3J, and many others 4 feet apart. The latter distance is preferred when tobacco of good body is desired, but 

 when a cutting leaf only is to be produced the shorter distances are adopted. When the field has been marked 

 off, hills are made in the furrow, sometimes 2 feet apart, but generally 30 inches. The plants are usually set out 

 after a shower, but in dry seasons, when they are liable to become overgrown in the seed beds, they are set in hills 

 artificially watered. This is generally done in the cool of the evening, and when done properly very few of the 

 plants perish. 



The amount of cultivation which the tobacco receives varies much with the weather. The land should always 

 be stirred after every rain as soon as it is in proper condition to work, either with a shovel, turning-plow, or with a 

 cultivator, and the dirt should be drawn up to the tobacco with hoes at least twice, so as to make a broad, flat hill. 

 Two or three plowings and as many hoeings are always sufficient to bring it to the period of topping. 



TOPPING TOBACCO. 



This is done when the blossom buds appear, which, on new land, is in about forty days, and upon old land from 

 forty to fifty days, after transplanting. The number of leaves left to the plant is determined by the fertility of the 

 soil, the time at -which it is topped, and the character of the tobacco which the planter desires to produce. If the 

 season is early, and the laud very fertile, to make the best cutting tobacco from sixteen to eighteen leaves should be 

 left to the plant, but if the season is advanced it becomes necessary to top low, in order that the tobacco may ripen 

 before killing frosts. If the planter, however, wishes to make tobacco of good body, best suited for fillers, no more 

 than ten or twelve leaves should be left to the stalk, however early the plant may come in top, and this number 

 must be decreased as the season advances. 



No " priming" is done, and when cut and cured the lower leaves, often half burned by the parching heat of the 

 ground, are put in the trash grade 



SUCKERING, CUTTING, AND CURING OF TOBACCO. 



After the process of cultivation has been finished and the field topped the suckers are carefully removed from 

 the plants as they appear and the horn-worms are diligently sought and killed. This is kept up until the tobacco 

 is ready to be harvested, which varies from four to seven weeks after topping, the time being governed by the 

 season, kind of soil, number of leaves left on each plant, and the character of tobacco desired. A large proportion 

 is cut within six weeks from the time it is topped, but on new land it will ripen sooner. Sandy soils will mature 

 the plant a week or two earlier than clayey soils. 



The cutting is done with a knife, the blade of which is placed at right angles to the upper two leaves, and a 

 split is made down through the middle of the stalk to within 4 inches of the ground. The knife is then withdrawn 

 and inserted under the lower leaves and the stalk severed. When cut, it is straddled over a stick stuck in the 

 ground, conveniently placed for the person cutting. From five to seven plants are put upon each stick, the number 

 being regulated by the size of the plants. When the plants have wilted sufficiently to handle without breaking 

 they are taken to the barns and arranged on the tier poles, so as to permit the free circulation of air. A great 

 many planters scaffold in the field, and when the weather is open and bright it facilitates the curing process 

 greatly and economizes barn room, for after remaining on a scaffold for four or five days a third more may be 

 hung with safety in the same space. Scaffolds are made with round poles and forks, the latter being driven in the 

 ground and the poles placed on them 4 feet apart, and upon these the sticks are hung 5 or 6 inches apart 



The time of day preferred for cutting is the afternoon, as at this time there is no risk of sun-burning ; and by 

 the following morning the tobacco will be wilted sufficiently to be handled with safety. 



724 



