CULTURE AND CURING IN VIRGINIA. 



195 



CLIMATE. 



The climatic conditions most favorable to the growth and maturity of the Virginia tobaccos are in localities 

 where the mean temperature ranges between 52 and 60. 



The mean temperature of Lynchburg, situate about the center of the tobacco belt east of the Blue Ridge 

 mountains, is as follows (Hotcbkiss' Summary of Virginia, p. 53) : 



According to the Statistical Atlas of the United States, temperature chart, Plate VII, the isotherm, or mean 

 annual temperature line, of 60 runs through Eastville, on the eastern shore, and then southwest, by Hickford, to 

 Weldon, in North Carolina, and thence ou to Montgomery, Alabama. The region southeast of this line, in Virginia, 

 is in the cottou-prodticing zone. 



The isotherm of 56 enters Virginia near Alexandria and runs southwest between Middle and Piedmont, 

 passing through Lynchburg and a little west of Danville, thence through Greensboro', Xorth Carolina, ou to 

 Atlanta, Georgia. The country between this line of 56 and that of 60, before described, is the tobacco zone proper 

 of the state. 



The country west of the isotherm of 56, on to 52, includes all of Piedmont, the less elevated portions of the 

 valley, and much of Appalachia, that portion included between 56 and 54 producing tobacco of fine quality, 

 unsurpassed by that of similar type grown in any other portion of the United States. 



The tobacco zone proper of Virginia lies between the isothermal lines of 58 and 54, in a temperature where 

 the frosts of winter penetrate to the depth of several inches, breaking the cohesion of the soil, forciug its particles 

 asunder, and causing it to fall loose and mellow from the mold-board ; where spring opens and vegetation puts 

 forth early in the month of April ; where the summer's sun shines with a warmth sufficient to expand and ripen 

 without burning the tender leaves ; and where autumnal frosts are delayed until the crop is matured. 



The average rainfall is plentiful, and rarely excessive, throughout the tobacco zone. 



The following table shows the average precipitation of rain and melted snow over the main tobacco belt of 

 Virginia, the averages of 1869-'70 and 1870-'71 being calculated from tables in Hotchkiss' Summary of Virginia, 

 pages 57, 58 : 



The rain-chart in the United States Statistical Atlas, Plate V, shows that Virginia lies principally in the belt 

 where the annual amount of precipitation is from 32 to 44 inches. The moist spring hastens the growth of the plants 

 in the beds and facilitates their transplanting and promotes growth, a dry summer matures the leaves and mellows 

 the juices, and a dry autumn gives body, gum, and oil to the product, and permits the gathering of the crop in good 

 condition. 



The tobacco belt proper has a dry climate, with a medium temperature, except for a short term of excessively 

 hot weather. 



The Virginia tobacco requires from 90 to 100 days after transplanting to mature well. Plants grown in the 

 open air ought to be ready for transplanting on an average by the 20th of May east of the mountains, and by the 

 1st of June west of the mountains. If a propitious season follows, and the tobacco is properly cultivated, it will 

 rarely fail to ripen before frost in either locality. 



STORMS. 



All of Virginia, except Tidewater the country east of the tobacco belt lies in the zone of the lowest number 

 of storms ( United States Statistical Atlas, Plate VI). The rain and wind storms, which usually do most damage to 

 the tobacco crop, occur about the autumnal equinox, when the plant, from its size, is most easily damaged. The 

 tier of counties on the eastern edge of middle Virginia, and bordering on Tidewater, suffer most, as the const 



storms often extend inland. 



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