CULTURE AND CURING IN TENNESSEE. 177 



UPPER CUMBERLAND RIVER DISTRICT. 



This district comprises the northern part of Sumuer, the northern and eastern parts of Wilson, all of Smith, 

 Trousdalc, Macon, Clay, Jackson, and Putnam, and a small part of Overtoil county. 



In the western part of Sumuer county the tobacco is of a finer texture than that grown in the eastern part, 

 and closely approximates the Clarksville type. In portions uf Macon and Wilson counties the type produced is 

 of a much higher character than the general product of the district, and would, with the same care and attention, 

 closely approximate the best types of the Clarksville district, This finer quality of tobacco is grown on the hills 

 and uplands, where the soil is much of the same character as that of the uplands of Montgomery county, that grown 

 on bottom lands, and where the Cincinnati limestone crops out, being coarse in texture, more porous, and deficient 

 in gum. 



Sumner and Trousdale counties report, a decrease in acreage in 1879, as compared with 1878, of from 5 to 20 per 

 cent, in different localities, and from 30 to 50 per cent, as compared with 1876 and 1877. In all the other counties 

 of this district the decrease was about in the same proportion. The estimate for the whole district is that the 

 production of 1879 was 5 per cent, less than that of 1878, 33 per cent, less than in 1877, and 20 per cent, less than 

 in 1876. The quality of the crop of 1879, with the exception of some injury by mold after curing, was much 

 better than that of the two crops preceding, and equally as good as that of 1870. 



VARIETIES OF TOBACCO CULTIVATED. 



The varieties most cultivated are the Lovelady, the Shoestring, Big Hester, Little Hester, Yellow Pryor, White 

 Stem, and Zollicoffer. The Big Hester has a large, heavy leaf, stands wet or dry weather well, is not so subject to 

 disease as other varieties, and cures a fine bright color when properly managed. The White Stem is the same as that 

 known under that name in western Tennessee, but does not tally with the description of the White Stem of Virginia. 

 The Lovelady is a very popular variety, grows well, has a medium leaf, is easily handled, cures up a beautiful color, and 

 produces great weight to the acre, but is not desirable for export. The ZoUicoffer is large, but subject to spot, and 

 is preferred for the African market, being very long. The Hester and the Lovelady make good wrappers, as also 

 a fine shipping leaf. T-.vistbud and Orinoco are also grown in Jackson county. New land will make a light chaffy 

 article, very much like the Burley, often used for a cutting leaf. It is used principally for smokers. Old lands 

 produce heavy, dark tobacco, and beech lands are preferred for growing the finest grades. Where the soil is thin, the 

 Lovelady is the best variety to plant, as upon such soils it will attain a greater size and make a better quality than 

 any of the other varieties. In Trousdale county the southwestern slopes of the hills are preferred for growing fine 

 tobacco, while the northern slopes grow a coarse article, very much like that produced on the flat lands. 



With the exception of Sumner, Wilson, Trousdale, Smith, Putnam, and Overton counties, it may be said that 

 three-fourths of the tobacco in this district is raised on creek and river bottoms, on rich, loamy alluvial soils, the 

 plant in consequence growing very large, and the texture being rough and coarse. It is very spongy, and has the 

 capacity of absorbing and holding large quantities of water, the large stem, however, with the consequent heavy loss 

 in weight when it is taken out, depriving it in a large degree of its usefulness for the manufacture of strips. The tobacco 

 grown in Putnam and Overton counties is planted principally on uplands, which have a thin soil, grows small, 

 is generally of an inferior character, and is taken mostly for the Spanish market. Some fine tobacco is occasionally 

 grown on hickory land. A portion of the product of these counties is also grown on creek bottoms, the soil and the 

 product being of the same character as that heretofore described. Wilson county now produces the best tobacco 

 grown in the district. It is cured more thoroughly, the stem and fibers are not so large, and it is taken for purposes 

 for which the tobacco of the other counties cannot be used, as, for instance, an occasional crop suited for Germany 

 or Italy, and now and then a crop suited for plug work and for manufacturing wrappers. The crop of this district 

 generally is suited for export on the Eegie contracts of France and Spain, which countries pay the lowest prices for 

 tobacco, a small quantity being taken as fillers for the manufacture of plug tobacco, and not an inconsiderable 

 portion for the African market through Boston. 



As a general rule, the district is poorly provided with barns for the curing of the crop, most of it being air-cured 

 in log or rail pens, exposed to the beating rains. Some improvement in this respect has been made within a year 

 or two, yet the truth must be confessed that in no other portion of the United States is tobacco handled more 

 roughly, or less pains taken in its preparation for market. Since the establishment of sale warehouses in Nashville, 

 to which point a large proportion of the tobacco of this district finds its way, a free intercourse between planters 

 and buyers has resulted in a more earnest effort to improve, not only the quality of the tobacco grown, but the 

 methods of curing and handling. Already in some of the counties on the upper Cumberland in Kentucky the 

 White Burley has been introduced, and promises to make a good cutting leaf for domestic manufacture. The 

 Morrow tobacco, on good uplands, topped to ten or twelve leaves, frequently makes an excellent cutting leaf. O-i 

 good bottom lands most of the varieties named will yield an average of one thousand pounds to the acre. 



The tobacco grown in this district may be divided into the following grades : Dark shipping, 25 per cenr 

 fillers, 20 per cent.; bright wrappers and smokers, 15 per cent.; cutting, 5 per cent.; nondescript, 35 per 



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