14 PROFITABLE FARMING. 



for plug and fine-cut chewing, nothing surpasses, the "old favorite." The reason 

 for this is. that thoroughly ripe tobacco mellows in the sun and under a low artih- 

 cial heat in curing, develops sugar m the leaves, which is fixed before vinous fer- 

 mentation takes place, and the vegetable oils are retained to improve the aroma 

 and taste. 



VAEIETIES SUITED TO TYPES. 



It is of prime consideration to select varieties adapted to the type sought to 

 be produced. Those which develop with a coarse thick fibre and hold the largest 

 percentage of gum and oil are the kinds which make the heaviest and wiaxiest 

 shipping. Mahoganies require a large well-shaped leaf, closer and more elastic 

 fibre, less gum but more oil. Brights must grow rapidly and ripen early, possess 

 silky fibre and less gum and oil than the aforementioned types. But variety, soil, 

 manuring and cultivation all affect more or less the staple through the cellular 

 tissues of the leaves, while the mode of curing determines the color and to some 

 extent the quality, which governs the price. 



- ' THE'BEIGHT YELLOW TYPE. 



Choose a gray gneiss soil, sandy or slaty, dry and overlaying a porous sub 

 soil — the very opposite to a close, soggy wet soil; for tobacco will not_ flourish 

 ■with wet feet, nor will the plants yellow as they ripen on a cold impervious clay 

 soil. Discard all lands unadapted to this important crop, and what is of more 

 . consequence still, experiment on a small scale in testing such as are most likely 

 to produce this type of the finest quality. It is useless to test a spouty, black 

 -gravelly soil, which should always be avoided, or one which is known to cause 

 " frenching," wallowing, or other abnormal worthless growth, or on which tobacco 

 is liable to fire, spot, or develop frog-eye, for it very rarely ever pays to plant such 

 soils in any type. An experienced planter will rarely err in selection, but some- 

 times nothing short of trial will definitely determine adaptation of soil or variety 

 for the several types. 



The most prolific cause of failure results from inexperience in not knowing 

 how to prepare for raising tobacco, in constructing suitable barns, and in the lack 

 of skill in curing. Next to these come improper selection of land and varieties 

 unsuited to soil or type aimed to be produced; the variety must be adapted to soil 

 and type, or full success is impossible. 



It is nevertheless true that during some seasons a pretty fair quality of 

 tobacco is produced on soils not adapted to tobacco, and by the use of varieties 

 unsuited for the type raised, but such are exceptional cases, for never can extra fine 

 crops result from such mismanagement. It will always pay planters to select 

 with reference to the adaptation of both soil to type and the right variety for both. 

 Improper and defective cultivation also operates against successful tobacco plant- 

 ing, but the latter is often the secondary consideration in comparison with other 

 mismanagement alluded to above. 



Possibly the most discouraging: of all the failures results from the want of 

 skill in curing, which comes mainly through practice. It will pay any unskilled 

 planter to have his fine yellow tobacco cured by an expert; for it is a pity to Bpoil 

 a barn of tobacco by curing it up green or black, when it might Bo easily have 

 been cured of the desired color by one who understands the effects of heat iu 

 fixing the color, and how to so regulate the same as to procure the desired end. 



