CULTURE AND CURING IN OHIO. 



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PREPARATION OF THE SOIL. 



It is well understood by the best tobacco-growers that thorough preparatory work is essential to the growing 

 of a heavy crop of tobacco. The more the soil is pulverized by frequent plowiugs and harrowings the more rapid 

 will be the growth of the plants when transplanted. In old land a turning plow is used, which reverses the soil to 

 the depth of 6 or 8 inches. Frequently the plowing is done in the fall, aiid one or more plowings are given in the 

 spring, so as to keep the soil loose and free from grass. On new lands a u gopher-plow " is considered best for 

 breaking and preparing the soil, and frequent harrowings are necessary to pulverize the new soil sufficiently to 

 induce an even and rapid growth. Winter breaking is necessary on soils which have a large admixture of clay, 

 in order that the frosts may ameliorate their physical condition. Stable manure is applied broadcast on old laud 

 in the spring, and is either plowed or harrowed in at the last working before the soil is prepared for the plants. New 

 lauds are not manured, and the quantity of manure applied to old lands is governed by the supply made at home. 

 Commercial fertilizers, as a general rule, are not applied. After the preparation of the soil, it is lined out 3 feet apart, 

 and no hills are made to receive the plants, which are set on the sides of the furrows, 2 feet asunder. In this practice, 

 which must be called a slovenly one, the farmers of this district stand almost alone. If the plants are large enough, 

 they are set out after the first rain that falls after the land is prepared. The scarcity of plants often retards the 

 planting, and many crops have been curtailed by the failure of the planters to provide a sufficient number of seed-beds. 

 When plants are abundant, the best can be selected and the delicate ones rejected, and a crop set out with strong, 

 thrifty plants will come on rapidly, mature early, and have a much larger proportion of those colors which command 

 the highest prices. As soon as the young plants are well rooted and begin to grow the soil should be stirred often. 

 The tobacco plant is a great absorber of moisture, and, while an excess of humidity is fatal to its vitality, the 

 moisture brought to the roots by capillary attraction is exceedingly important to its healthy growth. On hard, 

 lumpy soils the plant shows its starving condition by turning yellow, and if a drought should then occur it will 

 bloom, after putting out six or eight leaves. When the land is kept loose find light and free from grass and 

 weeds the plants will not suffer greatly even in a drought, for the condition of the soil not only brings up moisture 

 by capillary attraction from below, but condenses moisture in its infinity of pores from the atmosphere. The 

 farmers having the greatest success in growing the crop work it oiten, and do not cease until the plants are large 

 enough to top. After this it is difficult to work it without breaking the leaves. 



TOPPING AND SUCKEUING TOBACCO. 



On new laud from six to seven weeks, and on old land from seven to eight weeks, are required for tobacco to 

 come into top. The time preferred for topping is when the bud appears, but before it blooms. As to the number 

 of leaves that should be left to the plant there is a great diversity of opinion. When the purpose is to make 

 heavy tobacco fewer leaves arc left, say from ten to fourteen ; but if a light leaf is wanted, from sixteen to twenty 

 are left to the stalk. The suckers are pulled off 

 generally in about a week after the plant is topped, 

 and about the same time, sometimes before, the first 

 gathering of leaves is made. The method of har- 

 vesting tobacco in eastern Ohio is practiced in but 

 few other places in the United States: around Gads 

 den, Florida, in some parts of North Carolina, and 

 among the Kite-Foot growers of Indiana. The har- 

 vest begins by pulling from the plant four or five 

 of the lower leaves after they are fully ripe. This 

 is done in the morning after the dew is off, and the 

 leaves are strung in the field and put upon scaffolds 

 or taken immediately to the curing-house and strung. The work of stringing is done by girls or women. A 

 needle with a strong thread, somewhat longer than the lath or stick upon which the tobacco is to be hung, is 

 employed. Two leaves are then pierced in the midrib, about an inch from the end, and slipped down on the thread 

 to the point where it is fastened to the lath. These two are hung on one side of the stick. Two more are then strung 

 in the same manner, and hung on the opposite side of the stick, and so on, two being placed alternately on each side 

 of the stick, until it is full. The other end of the thread is then fastened, and the stick is ready to be hung up. 



From seventy to one hundred leaves are strung on a stick, the number being regulated by their size. The usual 

 weight of a stick of tobacco after it is cured is li pounds, though with some of the heavier varieties it has been 

 known to weigh 4 pounds. These sticks are placed upon the tier poles of the barn 10 or 12 inches apart ; but if 

 tobacco has been scaffolded in the fields for two or three days a less distance is required, G to 8 inches being ample. 

 In about ten days after the first gathering five or six leaves more are plucked and strung in the same manner. 

 Usually about four gatherings are made, from a week to two weeks apart, before all the leaves are harvested, the 

 object being to give every leaf time to ripen well. The first plucking makes inferior lugs and trash, the leaves 

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