34 



the proper cultivation had to be found out by numerous 

 experiments. At first it was thought that but little ferti- 

 lizer of any kind should be used. The tobacco was set 

 out early, given a distance in the drill of about 24 inches, 

 and topped low ; that is, not more than twelve or fourteen 

 leaves were allowed to each stalk. The result was that 

 the plants produced large, coarse, undesirable leaves. 

 The next step was to give the tobacco less distance in the 

 drill ; 18 inches were tried. The result was better but 

 not satisfactory. From time to time changes were made 

 until now the plant* is given 14 inches, the fertilizer is 

 doubled, and the tobacco is topped higher, allowing at 

 least sixteen leaves to each stalk. The result is that the 

 leaves are of the desirable size and finer in quality and 

 appearance. 



"When the Sumatra seed was first introduced into 

 Florida, the land selected, the amount of fertilizers used, 

 and the methods of cultivation and harvesting employed, 

 were the same as those practised in growing the Cuban 

 variety. With this treatment, Sumatra proved to he an 

 absolute failure ; many abandoned the seed, while others 

 continued to experiment. It was soon found that the 

 soil had to be exceedingly rich, the growth quick ; that 

 low topping was ruinous, and that each stalk should have 

 from twenty-four to thirty leaves, according to the 

 strength of the soil. When the land was exceedingly 

 rich, it was found best not to top at all, but to allow the 

 plants to go to bloom. Then the leaves would be of desir- 

 able size, thin and smooth ; whereas if topped, the leaves 

 would curl and thicken. This tobacco is also crowded 

 i.ito the drill, the plants being given only from 1 : to 14 



•Tin l-'loriil;i-i;r.i\Mi Ciili.ni pl.oil is 1'iilv iihmiii Tin- .'loriil:i-i:riw\n 

 S111111I rn is ilc;iH witli in ill,. m-«c; p.n il; i iplt. 



