18 PROFITABLE FARMING. 



Experiments by Nessler and Schloesing were conclusive as regards the 

 capacity of cigars once well lighted to hold fire, being in inverse ratio to the 

 chlorides employed in growing the tobacco of which the cigars were made. The 

 variations runningfrom "absolute incombustibility" of tobacco grown, with chloride 

 of calcium, to one which held fire for three minutes grown with sulphate of potash. 

 Boussingault obtained practically similar results. 



Tha above objection applies mainly to cigar tobacco, but chlorides also act 

 injuriously on the texture and flavor of the leaf manufacturing types, and there- 

 fore planters should scrupulously avoid using fertilizers containing chlorides in 

 any form; for it stands to reason, aside from experience, that a manure which 

 "hinders beet sugar from crystalizing and tends to make potatoes waxy rather 

 than mealy," as chlorine does, can scarcely be expected to improve the texture 

 and flavor of the tobacco leaf. 



But the sulphate and nitrate of potash can be used most advantageously in 

 manuring for any type of tobacco, and particularly on soils deficient in potash. 

 A superabundance of potash tends to keep the tobacco plants green even while 

 ripening, and for the yellow type thus interferes with curing the desired colqr. 



It would serve a good purpose to require analyses made of all tobacco fertil- 

 izers to state the percentage of chlorine along with the other materials contained 

 therein for the guidance of planters., Analyses may indicate, but do not deter- 

 mine, the real value of a fertilizer. The estimated commercial value of any fer- 

 tilizer is based on the available percentages of phosphoric acid, nitrogen and 

 potash contained therein ; but analysis does not determine its true value, because 

 it fails to specify the forms and quality of these constituents. 



The experiment stations in the several States are engaged in a most com- 

 mendable work in testing fertilizers on various crops to find out in what forms, 

 proportions, and combinations fertilizing materials produce the best results. 



"The continued use of any one manipulated fertilizer is injurious and disap- 

 pointing." 



It has been plainly demonstrated that the same fertilizer used year after year 

 under the same crop, as is done in some portions of the tobacco belt, ultimately 

 fails to give satisfactory returns. The product not only grows less in yield, but 

 inferior in quality, while the land seemingly gets poorer every year. This is 

 because of the failure to furnish elements needed by both crop and soil, and of 

 which they have been deprived, while others have been accumulating to the extent 

 of such over-supply as to injuriously affect the crop. The soil thereby " thrown 

 out of balance" may need possibly only one or two elements furnished to produce 

 large crops of fine quality. A change of brands sometimes works wonders in one 

 season, while a continued use of the same afterward leads to disappointment as 

 before. Of the causes injuriously affecting the yield and quality of the tobacco 

 crops during the past decade, aside from the injudicious selection of soil and vari- 

 eties, none have been more potent than the wrong selection and inappropriate- 

 application of so-called tobacco fertilizers. 



Extensive areas of poor gray silicious soils in the yellow belt are rendered 

 capable of producing good crops of fine yellow tobacco, by the aid of commer- 

 cial fertilizers alone, when of composition suited thereto. 



Mode of Applying Fertilizers.— Planters differ, in the manner of applvin? 

 fertilizers, whether in the hill, ^riU or broadcast. That the same auantitv will ^% 



That the same quantity will ga 



