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'T-^i^^^l^f^^ ^'^?^'^^'!^^ 



1862. 



THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 



107 



•ffill add, that no article of productiou commands 

 a more prompt and certain return than a first 

 class quality of seed tobacco in every market. 



In the Stales above mentioned the crop has 

 proved very profitable where proper land has 

 been selected for its growth, and the requisite 

 skill and care exercised in its management. The 

 average yield per acre, under good husbandry, is 

 about 1,500 lbs , and on choice soil and rich, ex- 

 tra tillage, 2,000 to 2,500 lbs. 



The average price for a good, well managed 

 crop has been about $200 per ton ; on extra crop 

 as high a.= $220 and $300 per ton. 



After the proper fixtures are erected, the cost 

 of the crop, fitted for market, is froih $40 to $60 

 per acre, depending upon the price of labor, ma- 

 nure, etc. One consideration in regard to the 

 labor, however, is, that one half is required in 

 the winter season in preparing it for market, at 

 which time farmers have but little to do. 



These figure- show, in case of successful crop, 

 a very large return for the labor and outlay, and 

 will admit of a reasonable allowance for a poor 

 crop and still have a profit ; they are based upon 

 my own operations for several successive years 

 in the production of tobacco in the state of New 

 Yom. They show a moderate estimate of the 

 costs and receipts. 



The fact that tobacco of thrifty growth and 

 good quality can be raised in Illinois, Wisconsin, 

 Indiana and Michigan, has been demonstrated to 

 a certainty. Duri' g the seven years that I have 

 been a resident of Chicago, my attention has 

 been called by dealers to samples grown in all 

 the last mentioned States. These samples prove 

 that the proper soil for its successful growth is 

 not wanting ; but they also prove that the ben- 

 efit of this production is lost for the want of 

 knowledge in the curing and preparation of it 

 for market ; for its unmarketable condition ren- 

 ders it valuable only for the most common uses 

 to which the article is appropriated; and, in con- 

 sequence, the owner realizes only one half, and 

 sometimes not over one-fourth, of the price which 

 it would have brought had it been properly 

 treated from the time it was taken from the field. 



The samples which I have examined from Mich- 

 igan and Indiana, when considered independent 

 of the condition, did not exhibit as fine a quality 

 of leaf as those of Illinois. Specimens of Illinois 

 tobacco show as fine and elastic tecture and as 

 good a burning quality as any of Connecticut, 

 New York or Ohio ; and, under the s^me treat- 

 ment, I have no doubt, would bear as good char- 

 acter in the market after its merits become 

 known. Another feature encouraging to the 

 western farmer to try the experiment, is the fact 

 that the supply of the northwestern States is now 

 being manufactured to a great extent at Chicago, 

 and that the stock of leaf tobacco which furn- 

 ishes these manufactories is purchased east, and 

 eomes to the manufacturer charged with the pro^t 

 of the jobber and cost of traBiq>ortation, ov«r the 

 amount received by the producers, as stated 

 above. In this view of the case, it is a matter of 

 importance to the farmers of the west, and es- 

 pecially of the fertile regions of Illinois, in dis- 

 tricts distant from market, to make the experi- 



ment, and if successful, add this valuable pro- 

 duct to their rich harvests. 



To enable any one who are not acquainted 

 with the crop, and who may desire to make the 

 experiment, I will briefly describe the process by 

 which the crop is produced. The soil requisite 

 for a good growth and quality is a dry sandy 

 loam, in a warm location, protected as much as 

 possible from winds. Soil containing any mix- 

 ture of clay is objectionable. The field selected 

 should have been under cultivation for the last 

 year and highly fertilized by manures ; should 

 receive another dressing this spring, and plowed 

 deep as early as the conditien of the soil will ad- 

 mit. One object of using artificial means of fer- 

 tilizing is, that it improves the burning quality 

 as well as stimulates the growth of the product. 



The first business, however, to command the 

 the attention of the farmer who intends to make 

 the experiment this season, is the preparation 

 and seeding of a bed for the production of the 

 plants As soon as the land is in a condition to 

 work light, select a patch of rich, warm, light 

 land, in a position to be shielded from exposure 

 to the north and west winds, and prepare a bed 

 with a plentiful admixture of strong compost. 

 Hog or hen manure is preferable, for the reason 

 that it is much more active in hastening the 

 growth of the young plant and does not incum- 

 ber the soil by preventing the surface from being 

 rendered friable and equally pulverized for the 

 reception of the seed, which is small, and requires 

 a position so near the surface that it is hardly 

 covered from exposure. The manure or compost 

 should be, near the surface. When the bed is 

 prepared the seed should be thinly and evenly 

 distributed over it, and should be immediately 

 fastened by pressing the surface firmly with tiie 

 back of a shovel, and the bed then covered with 

 a layer of clean, straight straw, and kept in its 

 place with light poles, laid upon it at suitable 

 distances. This covering should be sufficienty 

 thick to prevent the seed from being distribited 

 by the wind, and to assist the land to retain 

 moisture on the surface and not prevent the 

 warming influence of the sun upon it. This pro- 

 cess ensures a uniform germination of the seed, 

 and in one-fourth of the time required by leav- 

 ing the surface exposed. This covering should 

 be left undisturbed until the plant appears and 

 then removed. The plant may be distinguished 

 on its first appearance by its small round leaves, 

 closely set to the stem, and unlike other plants. 

 As soon as it has attained sufficient size not to be 

 disturbed by weeding, the bed should be cleaned 

 of weeds and the plants thinned sufficiently to 

 grow separately without interference. This 

 should be done without pressing on the bed, as it 

 is required to be kept light. A plank supported 

 at each end, laid across the beds for the laborer 

 to recline upon while doing the work, will obvi- 

 ate that danger. The beds should be constantly 

 attended and kept clean until the leaves of the 

 plants are two inches in diameter, when they will 

 be fit for transplanting. The seeding may be 

 done as late as the middle of April, but it is de- 

 sirable that it should be done as early as the 

 first, A few days before the plant is ready to 

 set, the field intended for the crop should be 



