PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 293 



March 31, 1863. 

 Mr, Edward Doughty, of Newark, N. J., in the chair. 



Tobacco Culture. 



Prof. Mapes again distributed some seed of tobacco, raised by Mr. 

 Mulford, of Orange, New Jersey, also some of the cured tobacco, a very 

 superior article. Mr. Mulford has been very successful in raising tobacco. 

 My superintendent, Mr. Quinn, made an experiment on my farm during 

 the past year, which I will read for the information of the Club: 



RAISING OF TOBACCO BY MR. P. T. QUINN. 



The present high prices paid for tobacco will be suflBcient inducement 

 for the intelligent farmer to investigate the subject, and in case he finds 

 that more money can be made by growing tobacco than corn or wheat, of 

 course this crop may become one of the staples. 



For the benefit of those who contemplate growing tobacco, I intend to 

 give an account of an experiment on a limited scale made last year. My 

 object was first to learn the yield per acre, and next, if the quality of the 

 leaf, when grown on a clay soil in New Jersey, would equal that produced 

 in the Connecticut Valley. 



The seed was sown in the beginning of April in an open border, and 

 except keeping the bed free from weeds and an occasional watering — no 

 other care was taken. 



The land intended for the tobacco was a clay loam, in good condition, 

 being what would be called a " rich soil," well prepared by cultivating, 

 &c., &c. 



In the middle of June the plants were taken from the same bed (one- 

 hundred) and planted on hills, eighteen inches in diameter, and about two 

 inches above the surface. The young plants were three feet apart each 

 way, from center to center. 



The young plants started to grow immediately, and kept on during the 

 season. The horse hoe was run between the rows three times, and the}'- 

 received an equal number of hand hoeings. This comprised the entire 

 cultivation ; it was quite evident that tobacco needs no more cultivation 

 than corn. 



From the one hundred plants, fifty were allowed to mature the seed; 

 this, of course, lessened the salable leaf; still the amount was large 

 enough to satisfy me that, at present prices, tobacco is a very profitable 

 crop. 



In the latter part of October, the stalks were cut off near the surface, 

 and carted to a building ; then two stalks were fastened together and 

 thrown over wires for the purpose of drying. 



When the leaves became crisp, they were taken from the stalks, and 

 dampened by covering them with a moist cloth. When they were pliable, 

 each leaf was opened out carefully and placed on top of each other ; when 

 sufficiently large, say half a pound in a bundle, it was folded so that both 

 ends of the leaves came together. 



The produce from the one hundred plants was thirty pounds of salable 

 leaf, besides four pounds of what cigar makers call " fillers." The yield 



