Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1874 — Tobacco and Its Culture. [ARTICLE]

Tobacco and Its Culture.

There are many varieties of the tobacco i>lant of both temperate and tropical growth. The plant attains a larger growth in a temperate clime but loses that fine flavor which belongs to all the tobacco of lie tropics. Some varieties are but adapted for cutting; others for snuff, and still others for cigars. There are nearly rifty varieties of tobacco cultivated, some of which are of fine color, texture and flavor, while others are coarse, dark and strong. There are many kinds cultivated in this country, incluaing the following: Connecticut seed leaf. New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and \\ isconsin seed leaf, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Perique (La.), Florida, Missouri tobacco, and some other varieties. Some of these are very similar in kind. Virginia is a fine smoking tobacco, adapted for the pipe; Connecticut is jnstly celebrated as the finest eigar wrapping leaf known to commerce, while Ohio raises both cigar and cutting leaf. Bome few years since the growers of the plant in the Connecticut Valley entertained the belief that the valley was capable of producing a leaf tobacco exceeding in flavor the variety now cultivated and retain that fine texture that gives it its value. Many leading varieties were tried, including brinoco, Latoka, and most of the varieties grown in Cuba. By repeated trials they succeeded in raising a variety known as Spanish tobacco, which promised to be the coming tobacco plant in New England. The plant is of strong growth, attaining about the same height as seed leaf—perhaps attaining a little more altitude —has a small, hard stalk, with leaves about two feet in length and corresponding breadth. The plant comes forward rapidly and ripens much more rapidly than seed leaf, thereby insuring against all danger from autumnal frosts. The Latoka and Persian tobacco was first brought to this country by the well-known traveler Bayard Taylor, some years since, and was tested by many tobacco-growers in all sections of the country, but on account of its sir.e—being one of the smallest varieties—could not be cultivated with much profit, tt Is well adapted for the pipe, and is of a peculiar flavor, while the color (about like light Virginian) fits it for all lovers of mild tobacco. Another variety tested in New England has been known a> Podunk tobacco. This is doubtless another variety of seed leaf, the result of b’ inging seed from various countries. 1 acre are quite a number of varieties of <eed leaf cultivated in New England, Mi idle and Western States. There are our leading varieties in Ohio, and another has recently been discovered in a niost singular manner. A few years sin b a number of plants growing near >ome hushes attracted the attention of the grower on account of the peculiar color of the leaf. The leaves were careiully picked and the plants allowed to fro to .seed. The next season plant-beds were made and several acres planted; the result was the same, the leaf exhibiting the same color while growing and curing dawn to a very light shade, which gives it the name “White tobacco,” or as it is known now, “ Congress premium tobacco.” As a cut tobacco it

bids fair to rival other tobaccos used for this purpose. In California the plant is bring cultivated to a considerable .extent, anti; the hew method of curing. discovered Mr. Culp will doubtless makeits .cultivation a success, and add '; still another great product to the number now cultivated in that wondrous clime. Hut while new varieties of the plant are being tried, new methods of culture are being tried, which have much to do with the growth and quality of the plant . In the New England States especially have tobacco-grower* been more -particularly interested. in new.—varieties, and test qd more than any part, of the country. In Virginia not so much attention has been paid' ,to new varieties (although there are mi/ny grades and qualiilos) oh account of their tobacco being adapted for the pipe rather than for a cigar w rapper. While the tobacco plant readily adapts itself to aoil and climate, it often loses those essential qualities which render it valuable and a source of profit to the cultivator of the weed. Some kinds of tobacco may be grown in almost any climate and still retain, in a measure, their essential qualities, such as texture, color, size and weight. Others, however, change altogether on being intraduced to new’ sections of country. When the London and Plymouth Companies landed in Virginia they found tobacco (uppowoc) a very small plant, with leaves not much larger than those of the walnut tree, and growing about two feet in height. The English colony took a deep interest from the first in the plant and at once commenced its cultivation. The care and attention bestowed on the plant soon changed the whole character of it, both in size, color and general quality. It has been so in New England; now the plant is of much better color and texture than when first cultivated, and, as new varieties are being tested, w ill undoubtedly produce varieties of the plant excelling those now being cultivated. New varieties as they are introduced into the country cause new r and improved methods of culture to be tried in Order to perfect the leaf. European and American tobacco are decidedly different, particularly in strength, the former not possessing the strong qualities possessed by the American plant. On being cultivated, however, in America it in a short time becomes as powerful in flavor as if always grown here. In order to test new varieties of the plant properly they should be tried upon various soils and with the aid of various fertilizers. In this way the grower can easily determine just what soil and cultivation are required for the plant. If the leaf is to be light select light soil; if, on the contrary, a dark leaf is desired the plants should be “set” upon a dark loam. In this manner the grower can readily obtain the color, texture and body of leaf required. Not only will stlch experi ments be valuable but the results will be gratifying and interesting.— E. R. Billings, in American Grocer.