CULTURE AND CURING IN NEW ENGLAND. 253 



The Haviimi tobacco, though requiring the same amount of expenditure per acre for manure, rent of land, etc., 

 would probably require IGj per cent, more labor to cultivate, in consequence of the increased number of plants to 

 the acre. Connecticut Seed Leaf, set in rows 3J feet apart and the plants 2 feet asunder, will give nearly 5,000 

 plants (4,978 accurately) to the acre. Havana is set in rows 3 feet apart, and the plants at the distance of 2 feet 

 in the rows, which gives 7,260 plants to the acre, or 2,282 plants in excess of an acre planted in Seed Leaf. It 

 involves as much labor to set, worm, sucker, cut, and spear a small plant as a large one, and the estimate of 1G 

 per cent, of labor additional does not appear too great. On this basis the cost of growing Havana tobacco will be 



as follows : 



DR. 



Labor for one acre $70 00 



Other expenses, as above 92 00 



Total cost 162 00 



CB. 

 By l,:5iO pounds of tobacco, divided as follows: 



810 pounds, at 40 cents (extreme price) .- $324 00 



450 pounds, at 12 cents (extreme price) 54 00 



90 pounds, at 7 cents (extreme price) 6 30 



Total. value 384 30 



Deduct cost 162 00 



Profit 222 30 



Cost per pound, 12 cents. 



Averaging the cost of production per hundred pounds of the two varieties, and it will be $9 80; but in both the 

 estimates of yield the best tobacco soils only are considered. Taking the average yield of the whole valley at 1,328 

 pounds and the average price at 1C cents, the money value for each acre cultivated would be $212 48, from which 

 deduct the average cost of production, and it would leave an average profit of $82 34 per acre. 



It has not been satisfactorily settled which variety is the most profitable to plant on good soils. The Connecticut 

 Seed Leaf always grows well, and the Havana always meets with ready sale, often at prices greatly beyond expectation ; 

 but the raising of Connecticut Seed Leaf appears to be accompanied with less uncertainty, the yield per acre and 

 the prices received for the product being more uniform. The average number of acres allowed to a hand is from 

 2 to 3. 



Good tobacco lands in the Housatonic valley are worth from $50 to $200 per acre, according to the distance 

 from railroads, and sometimes, when convenient to transportation, they will rent for $50 per acre for a single 

 year, the landlord agreeing, however, to furnish the manure for the tobacco crop. Labor commands from $18 to $20 

 and board per month. From $1 to $1 25 and board is paid for men by the day in summer. Dealers pay for best 

 packers $2 per day, and give 1 cent per pound for assorting tobacco and tying it into hands ready for the packer. 



In Hampden county, Massachusetts, the prices of the best tobacco farms are put at $150, $200, and $250 per 

 acre, according to location and improvements on the farm. These lands rent for $50 per acre, or one-half the 

 crop, the landlord in the latter case furnishing everything except labor. Stable manure is worth from $5 to $8 per 

 cord. The wages of labor are from $15 to $18 and board per month. The following estimate of the cost of growing 

 a good crop of tobacco was made by Charles F. Fowter, of Westfield, Hampden county, Massachusetts: 



DR. 



Cost of making seed-bed $2 00 



Weeding and attention to seed-bed 2 00 



Rent of land (interest on price) 12 00 



Stable manure per acre 60 00 



Guano or superphosphates 15 00 



Cost of applying fertilizers 12 00 



Cost of breaking one acre twice 4 00 



Harrowing, lining out, ridging, and hilling 4 00 



Drawing and setting out plants 4 50 



Cultivating and hoeing 12 00 



Topping, worming, and suckering 12 00 



Harvesting 15 00 



Taking down, assorting, and stripping 25 00 



Bulking 2 00 



Use of barn, laths, wagon, etc 10 00 



Delivering crop to market 3 00 



194 50 



CB. 



2,000 pounds tobacco, at 14 cents $280 00 



Deduct cost 194 50 



Net profit 85 50 



~~847 



