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TOBACCO PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES. 



Ten years ago there was very little effort made to cure tobacco of bright colors, the oiily sorts raised being 

 large, dark, heavy grades, for export, arid size and weight constituting the sole aim of the planter; but since a demand 

 has sprung np for a better quality a few farmers here and there are very successful with the tobacco grown on 

 uplands and second bottoms. The low prices which have prevailed have also caused many to abandon its cultivation 

 altogether. The idea is gradually being received that this whole region is well adapted to the production of a type 

 of tobacco suited to domestic consumption. 



The following statement shows the production, acreage, yield per acre, value in farmers' hands or primary 

 markets, value per pound, and value per acre of the tobacco crop of the Upper Cumberland River district for the 

 years 1876, 1877, 1878, and 1879, only the figures for 1879 being from the census returns: 



PREPARATION OF TOBACCO SOIL AND PLANTING. 



Old lands, whenever it is possible, are broken with a turn-plow in the fall, not close but deep, 8 to 10 inches 

 not being unusual, the object in not plowing closely being to leave the land in ridges during the winter, so as to 

 expose as large a surface as possible. In February, if the soil be too thin, the land is cross-plowed with care, in 

 order that too much clay may not be brought to the surface and the best soil be buried too deep beneath it. It is 

 thought to be the better plan at the second plowing to turn only a shallow furrow and follow with a subsoil plow; 

 but the latter implement is rarely used. If not subsoil, the furrow slices are cut very narrow, so that the plow 

 does not reverse them, but leaves them on edge or turned but half-way over. 



If it is the purpose of the farmer to plant tobacco upon a clover sod, it is very important to break it in mid- 

 summer or early in the fall, and again as early after New Year as the condition of the land will permit. This lias 

 the effect of destroying the cut-worms, which are always numerous upon clover lands. Dead grass, plowed under 

 in the late fall or midwinter without time to rot thoroughly before spring, is a serious disadvantage to the tobacco 

 crop. 



If the plowing is deferred until the advent of freezing weather, more fruitful results will follow if the grass is 

 burned off. It is not only better for the soil, but the larvae of the cut-worm, and of other insects injurious to 

 tobacco, are destroyed. About the 1st of May all the stable manure, leached ashes, scrapings from stock yards, 

 and manures from hog pens and other places are scattered over the land, and are plowed in immediately to the 

 depth of three or four inches. After the expiration of a week or two, when the manure has had sufficient time to 

 become incorporated with the soil, the laud is well harrowed and laid off into rows, generally 42 inches wide. Upon 

 this two furrows are thrown with a turning-plow drawn by one horse, and then crossed with furrows the same 

 distance apart. This leaves the ridges in broken hills, the tops of which are cut off with a hoe and patted, when 

 they are ready for the reception of the plants. 



If the farmer should wish to apply fertilizers to the hill, no ridges are made; but the land is laid off both ways, 

 and the manure is placed at the points where the furrows intersect one another. Upon the manure thus applied a 

 small hill is made with the hoe. 



While 3J feet apart each way is the usual distance of setting the plants, the distances are greatly varied in 

 different localities, in western Tennessee, where the tobacco grows very large, 3 feet by 4 being preferred, as the wider 

 distance will allow passing between the rows with less danger of breaking the leaves. On thin soils the rows are 

 often laid off 3 by 3 feet; others prefer 3 feet 3 inches by 3 feet 3 inches; and a few set out the plants 3J by 2i feet. 

 On the strong bottom lands of the upper Cumberland the rows are frequently laid off 3 by 4 feet. The practice of 

 manuring tobacco in the hill is heartily condemned by many good farmers, because in very dry weather the tobacco 

 is more subject to field-fire ; but in a wet season the results are often very satisfactory, the object of manuring in 

 the hill being to make a small quantity of manure go as far as possible. Commercial fertilizers, at the rate of about 200 

 pounds to the acre, are always applied in the hill. 



An excellent manure for tobacco is made by composting leached ashes with well-rotted stable manure. When 

 placed in a heap this mass soon decomposes, and is in excellent condition for putting in the hill. 



The method of preparing the soils, as given, is applicable only to those that are loose and mellow; and the land 

 should be plowed and replowed and frequently harrowed until it is brought to this condition, it being the generally 

 received opinion among farmers that a thorough preparation of the soil is equal in its effects upon the crop as all 

 its subsequent cultivation. 



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