490 FIELD CROPS 



is produced in the state of Kentucky. This state produces 

 more than one-tenth of the tobacco crop of the world, and 

 the average value of its annual crop is nearly $23,000,000. 

 In 1909 and 1910 the crop of this state was around four 

 hundred million pounds and was valued at close to $40,- 

 000,000, exceeding that figure in 1909. North Carolina and 

 Virginia rank next in production, though their combined 

 crop is less than that of Kentucky. These three states 

 produce about five-eighths of the tobacco crop of the entire 

 country. The usual yield to the acre in these states is from 

 700 to 900 pounds. In Wisconsin it is about 1250 pounds, 

 and in Connecticut, 1600 pounds. 



642. Soils and Fertilizers. None of our other field crops 

 are so affected in quality and value by soil conditions as is 

 tobacco. The soil should be easily tilled and fertile, con- 

 taining a large quantity of humus. The different types of 

 tobacco require soils of widely varying character or, what is 

 perhaps nearer the truth, the different types of soil produce 

 widely different types of tobacco. Clay soils produce heavy 

 tobacco of the shipping or export type, while the finest leaf 

 or cigar tobacco is grown on the lighter sandy soils. 



The best wrapper tobacco produced in this country is 

 grown on the loose sandy soils of the Connecticut River 

 Valley, similar soils in Pennsylvania, and in the sandy loams 

 of southern Georgia and northern Florida. These southern 

 loam soils are underlaid with red clay. Most of the filler 

 tobacco is grown on the more fertile, heavier loam soils in 

 Ohio, Pennsylvania, and other states, while the dark, rich 

 loam of southern Wisconsin produces a large part of the 

 binder leaf. The bright tobacco of Virginia and North 

 Carolina is grown on a loose sand from 12 to 20 inches deep, 

 underlaid with clay. If the clay is nearer the surface, a 

 heavier type of export tobacco is produced. White Burley 



