INTELLIGENCE OF TOBACCO GROWERS. 313 
the entire surface is as free from stones as a lawn. He 
usually, if his farm is small, plants the same field year after 
year, securing a much finer leaf and by yearly manuring 
keeping the ground fertile and in good condition. When 
the tobacco is stripped the utmost care is taken to assort the 
leaves and he frequently shades or assorts the colors, 
obtaining fancy prices for such “selections.” 
The Connecticut grower is well acquainted with the differ- 
ent soils, and is able to judge with considerable accuracy in 
regard to selecting the right fields for tobacco. The warmest 
land is chosen—mellow and free from stones or shaded by 
trees and prepared as if fora garden. All of the improved 
methods of obtaining early plants as well as transplanting, 
he adopts, and in spite of early freezing, is generally able to 
outwit Jack Frost, and secure the plants before this great foe 
of the weed ravages the fields. It may safely be said of the 
Connecticut planter that he secures more even crops than any 
other grower of the plant, and obtains the finest colored leaf 
for cigar wrappers. 
The growers are thoroughly informed as regards the prices, 
and although the buyers may steal suddenly upon them, are 
generally prepared to “set” a price upon their crops. Some 
refuse to sell on the poles, or even after it is stripped, pre- 
ferring to pack their tobacco until it.has passed through the 
sweat, when larger prices are obtained. Many growers not 
only pack their own crop, but buy up that of others, thus 
acting as both producer and buyer. During the growing of 
the crop, and particularly after it has been cured and stripped, 
the growers congregate together, and talk over the condition 
of the crop and the prices likely to be realized. Sometimes 
they form an association or club, agreeing to “hold” the 
tobacco for satisfactory prices, and frequently employing an 
agent to sell the crop. Many of the tobacco fields or farms 
in the Connecticut valley are very valuable, especially those 
near large cities and means of transportation; such lands 
often selling for one thousand dollars per acre. 
The finest tobacco lands in the Connecticut valley are 
