time, by the fingers. It is a tedious and troublesome operation; therefore, planters should be very careful not to use any manures on their beds, which have grass seeds or weeds in them. After the plants are up, they should receive a slight top-dressing of manure, once a week, sown broadcast by the hand. This manure should be composed of half a bushel of unleached ashes, or one bushel of burnt turf, one bushel of fresh virgin woods earth, one gallon of plaster, half a gallon of soot, one quart of salt dissolved in two gallons of liquid from barn-yard, and four pounds of pulverized sulphur, the whole well intermixed. Let a large quantity be got together early in the winter, and put away in barrels for use when wanted. This, and other such mixtures, have been found efficacious in arresting the ravages of the fly-both from the frequent dusting of the plants, and the increased vigor which it imparts to them, thereby enabling the plant the sooner to get alluvial bottom lands than all the other southern states. Texas is capable of producing more sugar than all the balance of the Union, including all the recent acquisitions along the Pacific coast. We have many millions of acres of land of inexhaustible fertility within the latitude adapted to the growth of cotton: while an extensive region in the upper part of our state has been proved to be an excellent wheat country, and well adapted to other small grains. For stock raising and wool growing, Texas is, probably, unequaled by any other country. While, therefore our state is as large as the four southern states above named, it is certainly capable of producing fully as much for exportation, as all those states together. Nor will it be many years, with the present rapid ingress of immigrants, before our exports will give employment to a very large amount of shipping." TOBACCO-PRIZE ESSAY ON THE CUL-out of that tender state in which the fly is most destructive to it. The fly is a small AND MANAGEMENT OF.-The pub- black insect, somewhat like the flea, and de-. lisher of the American Farmer having lights in cold, dry, harsh weather, but disapoffered a piece of silver plate of the value of $30, for the best essay on the above sub-pearing with the mild showers and hot suns of opening summer. If possible, the plants ject, the committee, consisting of Messrs. H. G. S. Key, J. S. Sellman, George W. Hughes, should stand in the bed from half au inch to John D. Bowling, and W. C. Calvert, of Ma- an inch apart, and if they are too thick, they must be raked when they have generally beryland, awarded the prize for the following come as large as a five or ten cent piece. essay: The rake proper for the purpose should be a small common rake with iron teeth, three inches long, curved at the points, teeth flat, and three-eighths of an inch wide, and set half an inch apart. TURE A rich loam is the soil for tobacco plants. The spot selected for a bed should be the south side of a gentle elevation, as well protected as possible by woods or shrubbery-a warm spot-mellow ground, perfectly pulverized. After a thorough burning of brush and tobacco stalks mixed, dig deep, and continue to dig, rake and chop, until every clod, root and stone be removed; then level, and pulverize nicely with the rake. Mix one gill of seed for every ten square yards, with a quart or half gallon of plaster, or sifted ashes to every half pint of seed, and sow it regularly, in the same manner that gardeners sow small seeds, only with a heavier hand. Roll with a hand-roller, or tramp it with the feet. If the bed be sown early, it ought to be covered with brush, free from leaves; but it is not necessary to cover them after the middle of March. Tobacco beds may be sown at any time during winter, if the ground be not too wet or frozen. The best time for sowing is from the 10th to the 20th of March, although it is safest to sow at intervals, when ever the land is in fine order for working. Never sow unless the land be in good order, for the work will be thrown away if the land be top moist, or be not perfectly prepared. The beds must be kept free from grass or weeds, until they are no longer needed, and the grass must be picked out, a sprig at a By W. W. W. Bowie, Esq., of Prince George's Co., Maryland. After-culture, etc.-The soil best adapted to the growth of tobacco is a light friable soil, or what is commonly called a sandy loam, not too flat, but rolling, undulating land, not liable to drown in excessive rains. New land is far better than old. Ashes are decidedly superior to any other fertilizer for tobacco. Theory and practice unite in sustaining this assertion. The land intended for tobacco should be well plowed in April, taking care to turn the turf completely under, and subsoiling any portions that may be very stiff, and likely to hold water near the surface, and let the land be well harrowed directly after the breaking it up; it should then be kept clean, light, and well pulverized by occasional working with cultivators and large harrows, so as not to disturb the turf beneath the surface. When the plants are of good size for transplanting, and the ground in good order for their reception, the land, or so "season," should much as can be planted in a be " scraped,” which is done by running parallel furrows with a small seeding plow (the Davis or Woods plow for instance), two and a half feet apart, and then crossing these again at right angles, preserving the same distance, which leaves the ground divided in checks or squares of two and a half or three feet each. TOBACCO-CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF. The hoes are then put to work, and the hill 46 gion"-and the "suckers" are to be pulled off, and the “ground leaves" are to be saved. The "suckers" ought to be pulled off when they get three or four inches long; they spring out abundantly from each leaf, where it joins the stalk. those leaves at the bottom of the plant, which become dry on the stalk, and ought to "Ground leaves" are be gathered early in the morning, when they will not crumble. working. Any grass growing near the roots of the plants should be pulled out by hand. As soon as the tobacco has become too large to work without injuring the leaves by the swingle-tree, the hoes should pass through it, drawing a little earth to the plants when required, and level the furrows caused by the cultivator and shovel. Let this hoeing be well done, and the crop wants no more working. Care should be taken to leave the land as level as possible, for level culture is most generally best. When it blossoms, the best plants ought to be selected for seed; one hundred plants being enough to save for seed to sow a crop of forty thousand pounds. All the rest should be som; indeed, as soon as the blossom is fairly formed. It should be "topt"down to the leaves topt" before they blos that are six inches long, if early in the season, but if late, top still lower. If the season be favorable, in two weeks after a plant has been "topt," it will be fit for "cutting," yet Planting is done by seizing the plants dropt field. From this stage of the crop, until it is on the hill with the left hand, while with one in the house, it is a source of great solicitude it will not suffer by standing longer in the finger of the right hand a hole is made in the and vexation to the planter. He is fearful of centre of the hill, and the root of the plant storms, of frost, and worms, his worst enemy put in with the left, while the dirt is well-they come in crowds-" their name is leclosed about the roots, by pressing the forefinger and thumb of the right hand on each side of the plant, taking care to close the earth well about the bottom of the root. If sticks are used to plant with, they should be short, and the planter should be particular not to make the holes too deep. The plants should be very carefully planted, for if the roots are put in crooked, and bent up, the plant may live, but will never flourish, and perhaps, when too late to replant, it will die, and then all the labor will be of no avail. In killed as fast as they appear, or they will three or four days it may be weeded out; soon destroy the crop. Turkeys are of great The worms ought to be pulled off and that is, the hoes are passed near the plants, assistance in destroying these insects; they and the hard crust formed on the hills pulled eat them, and kill thousands which they do away, and the edges of the hill pulled down not eat, for it seems to be a cherished amusein the furrows; this is easily done, if per- ment of the turkey to kill worms on tobacco formed soon after planting; but if delayed, they grow passionately fond of it-they and the ground gets grassy, it will then be kill for the love of killing. There are every found a troublesome operation. After "weed-year two "gluts," as they are called by planting" out, put a tablespoonful, or a gill, if it ers; the first attacking the plants about the be preferred, of equal parts of plaster and time that they are one-third or half grown, ashes well mixed, upon each plaut. In a few the other comes on when the tobacco is days. say a week, or less time, run a small ready for cutting. The first can easily be plow through it, going twice in a row. This subdued with a good supply of turkeys, and is a delicate operation, and requires a steady if then they are effectually destroyed, the horse and a skilful plowman, for without second glut will be very easy to manage, for great care, the plants will be knocked up, or it is the opinion of many intelligent and exbe killed by the working. In a week after, perienced planters, that the greater portion the tobacco cultivator or shovel must be used. of the first glut reappear the same year as These implements are well made by R. Sin-horn-blowers, and breed myriads. When the clair, Jr., & Co., of Baltimore. Either imple- second army of worms make its ment is valuable at this stage of the crop. ance, the tobacco is generally so large that But once in a row is often enough for either turkeys do but little good. The only method, cultivator or shovel to pass. The crop can then, to destroy them, is to begin in time, appear now be made with their use, by working the start when they are being hatched, and keep tobacco once a week or ten days, for four or up a strict watch upon them, going over the five weeks, going each time across the former whole field, plant by plant, and breaking the carry 64 TOBACCO-CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF. , eggs, killing such as may be seen, and by tances. cut down, and carried to the house, it is Tobacco sticks are small round sticks, or are split out like laths, and are about one inch square, or one and a half inches square, usually larger at one end than the other, and they should be eight or ten inches longer than the joists of the tobacco house are wide apart. If the tobacco is of good size, six or seven plants are enough on a four-foot stick. When first hung up, the sticks should be a foot or fifteen inches apart. As the tobacco cures they may be pushed up closer. After a house is filled, some planters put large fires under it, as soon as it has turned yellow, and by hot fires it is dried at once, and does not change color, unless to increase its brightness; but "firing," gives a smoke, smell, and taste, that is therefore not much liked by buyers. The cost of labor and loss of wood, and the risk of losing tobacco, and the house too, are great objections well urged against firing. The better plan is, to have sufficient houseroom, and hang it thin in houses not too large, which have windows and doors so as to admit light and dry air, and by closing them in bad weather, exclude the rain and dampness, which materially damage the tobacco, besides injuring the color of it. After becoming dry and well cured, the stem of the leaf being free from sap, the first mild damp spell of weather it will become soft and It is first pulled or taken off the sticks and pliant, and then be stripped off the stalk. and tied in bundles of about one-fifth or put in piles, then the leaves are stripped off sixth of a pound in each. The bundle is formed by wrapping a leaf around the upper part of the handful of leaves, for about four inches, and tucking the end in the middle Yellow," of the bundle, by way of confining it. There ought, if the quality of the crop will permit, to be four sorts of tobacco, " ," "Dull," and "Second." When "Bright," the tobacco is taken down, the "cullers "Splitting" tobacco is admired by many, take each plant and pull off the defective and are next to the big end of the stalk, and then who contend that it cures brighter, certainly trashy ground and worm-eaten leaves that quicker, and less likely to house-burn or injure from too thick hanging. This mode is pur. throw the plant to the next person, who sued easily, by simply splitting with a knife strips off all the bright leaves, (and if there made for the purpose, the plant from the top be any yellow leaves, he lays them on one to within a few inches of the bottom, before side until he has got enough to make a it is cut down for housing. Care should be bundle,) and throws the plant to the next, taken not to break the leaves while splitting who takes off all the rest, being the "dull ;” the stalk. The knife for splitting may be and the respective strippers, as they get fully described by saying it is a miniature enough leaves in hand, tie up the bundles spade. It can easily be made out of an old and throw them separate for convenience in scythe blade, inserted in a cleft white oak bulking. Stripping should never be done in handle, with its edges bevelled off to the drying, or harsh weather, unless the tobacco blade, so that it acts as a wedge to the de- is bulked up almost as fast as it is stripped. scending knife. After the tobacco is split,The best plan is not to take down more than answer. 46 the higher the better-laid down close, so that as little of the leaves or shoulders as possible shall be exposed on the outside of bulks. When completed, put sticks and logs of wood, &c., &c., on the top, so as to weigh it down. Here it will keep sweet, and in nice order for packing at any time, no matter what the weather may be; if it was conditioned properly, it will not change a particle while in the condition bulk. Mild, soft, pleasant weather is the best to pack tobacco in. The best tobacco prize is one vented by the Rev. Mr. Aisquith, and improved afterwards by Page, at the suggestions of practical planters. It is very cheap, expeditious in its working, and being easily taken down and put up, may with convenience be moved from house to house. As to the size of the hogsheads, the best size is the ultimatum of the law, forty inches in the head, and fifty-two in the length. Almost any wood will answer to saw into hogshead stuff; the best, of course, is that which is strong, but weighs light, such as gum or beach, or birch or poplar. No hogshead ought to weigh over one hundred pounds, and staves drawn out of red oak, or other oaks, which make the best hogsheads, but are too costly, ought not to weigh over ninety pounds. you can conveniently tie up in a few hours; but if the planter chooses he may take down a large quantity and put it in bulk, stalks and all, cover it with tobacco sticks, and it will keep many days, so that, no matter how the weather be, he can strip out of the bulk. However, this is a very bad, wasteful way. Tobacco should not be too moist, or "high," as it is termed, when put in the stalk bulks, or it will get warm, the leaves stick to the stalk, get a bad smell, and change color; besides, if left too long, it will rot. To "bulk" tobacco requires judgment and neat-known as "Page's Prize," but was first inness. Two logs should be laid parallel to each other about thirty inches apart, and the space between them filled with sticks, for the purpose of keeping the tobacco from the dampness of the ground. The bundles are then taken, one at a time, spread out and smoothed down, which is most conveniently done by putting it against the breast and stroking the leaves downward smooth and straight with the right hand. It is then passed, two bundles at a time, to the man bulking. He takes them, lays them down, and presses them with his hands; they are laid, two at a time, in a straight line the broad part of the bundles slightly projecting over the next two, and two rows of bundles are put in a bulk, both rows carried on together, the heads being on the outside and the tails just lapping one over the other in regular succession. The bulk, when carried up to a convenient height, should have a few sticks laid on the top to keep it in place. It must often be examined, and if getting warm, it ought to be immediately changed and laid down in another bulk, of less height, and not pressed as it is laid down; this is windrowing" being loose and open, it admits the air between the rows of bundles, hence the term. The next process in this troublesome but beautiful crop, is to "condition" it for "packing." The bright yellow and second tobacco will condition best most generally in such bulks as I have just described, but it is best to hang up the dull as soon almost as stripped. If the bright or seconds do not dry thoroughly in the bulks, that should also be hung up in the house to become well dried. To properly hang up tobacco to condition, small-sized sticks should be procured, and each one nicely smoothed with the drawing-knife, and kept for that purpose. After it has once been perfectly dry either hanging up or in bulks so dry that the heads are easily knocked off, and the shoulders of the bundles crack upon pressure like pipe-stems-it should be taken down, or, if in bulks, removed the first soft-giving spell of weather, as soon as it is soft and yielding enough, as it will become, to handle without crumbling or breaking, and it must be put in four, six, or eight row bulks of any convenient length and height, called 66 The same Having now got our tobacco in good order, our prize and hogsheads ready, the first mild day that we can spare, we proceed to packing. tobacco in condition bulk, all the bundles that Let me here observe, that while putting the were soft, or had an ill smell, ought to have been laid aside to be made sweet and dry, by a few hours' exposure to the sun. precaution must be observed while packing. In putting the tobacco in the hogshead for one bundle at a time, in a circle, beginning in packing, a man gets inside, shoes off, and lays the middle, and each circle is extended until the outer circle touches the staves of the hogshead; a single row of bundles is then laid all round the edge, on the heads of the last circle, then across the hogsheads, in parallel rows, the middle being always raised a little higher than the outer edge. This is called a course, and these courses are continued until the hogshead is filled. The man who is packing, presses with his knees, each bundle, in each course, as he lays it, and often stands upon his feet, and tramps heavily, but cautiously, all around and across, so as to get in as much as possible. One receiving hogshead, and two false hogsheads, five feet long, making fourteen feet four inches of tobacco, will weigh from nine hundred to one thousand pounds, if well hand-packed, and in fine order. This concludes the almost ceaseless round of labor that is necessary to prepare for market this important staple of our country. It will be seen that I have endeav ored to be as explicit and plain as possible, and have studied the greatest simplicity of style, supposing that to be the most suitable to the subject under consideration. their merchants through the banks; and by that means the buyers are constantly kept advised of the necessities of the planters as Planters in Maryland should grow less to- individuals as well as a community, and they bacco, and thereby improve its condition and reduce the price of the article according to quality. By that means they would require the urgency of the wants of the planters. I less house-room, fewer hands, less land, and think it would be advisable, at least a safe receive more money for what was made. It experiment, for a sufficient number of the is no uncommon occurrence for planters to largest planters to establish an agency in fall short, say 15 or 20,000 pounds in a some European market, and charter a vessel large crop, yet receive more money for the annually to take out their crops. The agent residue than they got for the additional should be a practical planter, and be also an 20,000 lbs. the year before. The reason is, American citizen. His agency should cease that not being pressed for room, it cured at the farthest in five years, lest he become better, and they managed it better throughout contaminated, and commence speculation on its various stages, and consequently got a his own hook, as is too often the case with greatly increased price for it. That, too, is our commission merchants, who both buy for one reason why small crops invariably out- the consumer and sell for the producer, yet sell large crops, by several dollars per 100 maintain their integrity, although no doubt it lbs. ; the other reason is, that small crops is sometimes inconvenient to the conscienare rarely subject to drafts that must be met, tious, who perhaps find a stumbling-block in even if it be by forced sales. As a striking their religious pathway. instance of the uselessness of pursuing a I conclude with expressing the hope that practice of overcropping, which too many of this humble essay may be favorably received the largest planters are constantly following by the planters of Maryland; and should any to their great loss from year to year, and to of the suggestions it contains be found of the detriment of their neighbors by glutting value hereafter to any individual, the highest the market with trash, I will mention a cir- gratification will be experienced by the cumstance which made an impression on me author; and he will feel himself amply comthe past year. Two gentlemen had each pensated for his labor and trouble, by the devery fine crops of tobacco, so equal in appear-lightful reflection that he had contributed a ance that there might be said to have been no difference in the product per acre as it stood, just when fit to top; but one had 220,000 hills, a small force in proportion to his crop, and scarce of room, having to haul some of it two miles to a neighbor's house. The other had only 160,000, plenty of room convenient to the tobacco ground, and a large number of hands to manage it. The latter gentleman made several thousand pounds more than the first, and it will average a larger sum per 100 lbs., taking the crop through. The reason is obvious: for in this crop every leaf was saved, none lost by worms, nor by "house-burning," (that is, suffering, or even rotting from being hung too thick,) nor lost by distant transportation; nor by that unavoidable waste which is the sure accompaniment to hurry and overwork in the securing of any crop. To all these disadvantages and losses the other crop was subjected. One word more, by way of advice to the planters, will not, I hope, be considered out of place here. Never draw a draft upon the tobacco which you consign to your commission merchant. Fix a value upon it yourselves, and refuse to take less for it than you think it worth, unless you are necessitated to sell, and then sell before it be known that you are compelled to sell. The chief rule of the buyers of tobacco is, I believe, in fixing the price, not founded upon the European demand, but the demands of the planters upon small share to the advancement of the great planting interest, and thereby been of some use to his countrymen. TOBACCO-CUBA. NEAR VICKSBURG, MISS., Dec. 22, 1849. DEAR SIR,-I intended to send you a full account of our success in raising Cuba tobacco in this state, but absence from home, until too late for your report, prevented me. There is a considerable quantity raised here, but it is in small lots of half to one acre, and all made into regalia cigars, and sold in this state. They sell from $15 to $30 per M., the price depending principally on the care and attention given in the curing, &c. I have realized the latter price for mine the last two years; I pay five dollars per M. for making, and board the hand. A good hand will make from 200 to 250 per day, and boxes holding 100 cost 5 cents. each. 100 lbs. of tobacco will make about four thousand cigars. An acre will produce about 600 lbs. of this tobacco; it generally nets me in this way. about $1 per pound. The crop of this state, I am confident, is not one-half that of last year, owing to the worm being worse than ever was known; and most persons raising it being cotton planters, who were all badly in the grass, the tobacco patch was neglected. Owing to the causes above stated, it is impossible to form an estimate of the actual amount raised in the state, but I think the |