Kwskrtttj^-i^iillNtti' ■_3§>': :>>':5>- jx>a->> ^j:B>m »o®>'" i»' 3 >>' >3^> ^^^;^ ^:^3> • >:^>-:r^aiJ tSTM ;>, j>:) •v>_ >:m,;' yy . o» > ■ ??5 > #if' M,m>-^: #5^ ?Y OF COiMGRESS. i!i«|ngi|i l^tr. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 3m >3 > "f :^ 5>^^. ^■.-:>- ^^^ _> ^ ^ w^^» 1? :a-:3^^C :^; *©>:>a >>>:^ 313 ^^ 5^ ^i» 5^ %^ 53.. ^ " ^P ■3.or» '>3:>& >5> :^j<^ J. ;»>>: 2'jf%. ■4!^-H^' jS*'/ *W-"V ^ [^ a'^-MP&\A)feST,PHiL TOBACCO. FROM THE SEED TO THE WAREHOUSE. A PRACTICAL HAND BOOK FOIl TIIK TOBACCO PLANTER, AVITH IIISTOl-UCAL AND MEDICINxVL FACTS FOR THE CONSUMER. By B. rush SENSENEY, M. D. CHAMBERSKURG, PA.: JOHN M. POMEROY, PUBLISHER. 1878. i Price, ONE DOLLAR, Sent Post-paid. Address Publisher. TOBACCO. FROM THE SEED TO THE WAREHOUSE. A PRACTICAL HAND BOOK FOR THE TOBACCO PLANTER, EMBRACING THE AUTHOR'S OWN PRACTICAL EXPB- R FENCE IN CULTIVATING AND CURING THE WEED, AND THE METHODS PRACTICED IN VIRGINIA, KENTUCKY, MARYLAND, PENN- SYLVANIA, CONNECTICUT, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NORTH CAROLINA, OHIO, THE ISLAND OF CUBA AND OTHER DISTRICTS WHERE THE PLANT IS GROWN. THE ci:lti\',\tio.\, mm m iiaxdlim of tobadco. "^ ' BY B. RUSH SENSEIVEY, M. D. CHAMBERSBURG, PA.: JOHN M. POMEROY, PUBLISHER. 1878. Entered according to act of Congress, in the year Istv, ky JOHN M. POMEROY, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. -o INTRODUCTION. I present this work to the public making no claim for it as a literary effort, but simply as embodying my own prac- tical experience in the cultivation of Tobacco, coupled with observations and useful facts obtained from successful growers of the plant. The cultivation of the weed in the United States, and notably in Pennsylvania, is attaining such immense propor- tions that a small hand book for cultivator's use, is a pres- ent necessity. This want I have endeavored to fill. Mj observations have, in the main, been confined to the States of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky and Con- necticut; but the information embodied in this work will be found adaptable to any State or Territory where the plant can be grown. I have presented facts and experiences as they were found among men who were most successful in winning wealth by means of the weed — by growing it, and curing it, and selling it. I leave all theorizing and hypothesis to others. I endeavor to show where, when and how mistakes are made and how to guard against them, and most partic- ularly have I endeavored to make it plain to the poor man, he who owns but a single acre or two of land, how he may with energy and industry, lift himself from poverty to com- fort, if not aifluence. Charnbersburg^ Pa, The Author. The late Dr. Chapman, a most brilliant and elegant writer, penned the following tribute to " the weed : " The history of this plant is interesting. The product of a little spot, the island of Tobago, it has engaged the attention of the sordid and enchanted the witty and wise. Everywhere its powers are felt and its fascinations acknowledged. The Arab cultivates it in his burning desert. The Laplander risks his life to procure it amidst his snows. No privation is too severe to the seaman or the soldier while he com- mands this luxury. Even polished man, with all the com- forts of elegant society, cannot dispense with his cigar." HISTOLOGY. Tobacco — ''Genus Nicotiana.' CHAPTER I. The derivation of the name Tobacco is in dispute. Some historians ascribe it to tlie Indian Tabacos, a pipe. This name was given by the natives of the Carribee Islands to the pipe in which they smoked the leaves of the plant. Others trace it to one of the Provinces or States of Mexico, Tabasco, whilst still others claim its derivation from Tobasco an Island in tlie gulf of Florida. It would appear that the most direct and indisputable testimony is that which claims for it derivation from "Ta- bacos," the name which the Spaniards heard the natives use when speaking of the pipe in which they made use of the fragrant plant. The genus name, Nicotiana, is said to have been derived from Jean Nicot, an ambassador from France to Portugal, who first in 1560 conveyed a ship load of the weed from Lisbon to France. Nicot, hence Nicot-iana. The knowledge of Tobacco and its uses was unknown to Europeans until after the discovery of America by Colum- bus. When that adventurer and his followers landed at an island which he named Hispaniola, in honor of the country which had encouraged his great enterprise, he found the natives smoking a plant, the perfume of which was fragrant and grateful, and they afterwards learned that from the 6 Tobacco Culture. earliest ages, it had been the custom of the natives to offer it in their sacrifices to the divinity, under the belief that its aroma was more grateful to him than any other incense. The priests also of these aborigines, before declaring their oracle?, were in the habit of intoxicating themselves by its means; and the medicine men employed it in divining the nature of maladies. Thus, then, the Spaniards acquired first a knowledge of its uses and virtues, and on their re- turn home introduced it into Spain and Portugal; and it was, while ambassador of France to the Court of Lisbon, that Jean Nicot, as before I have told, became acquainted with it and its use from a Flemish merchant, who had formed one of the expedition to America and carried a load from Spain to France. Jean Niaot presented it to the grand prior and to the queen, Catharine de Medici, whence it obtained the names then in voo^ue of " 1' herbe du e'rand prieur " and " 1' herbe de hx reine," which eventually were changed to "1' herbe Nicotiana" or the Nicotian weed, which it retains to this day both poetically and in a botani- cal sense. The followers of Columbus noticed that the natives puffed smoke from their mouths and noses. The}' hurned the dried leaves of the plants in small clay pipes into which they placed one end of a long hollow reed the other end Of which was placed in the mouth, or as was often the case, the tube was forked at one end and then the forked ends were inserted into the nostrils, and thus was the smoke in- haled from the burning weed. On the discovery of other portions of America it was found that the plant was gener- ally used by the natives of both the Northern and Southern Continents and the islands of the sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. One writer speaks of its being used by the natives of Peru as a medicine, in the form of snuff. Tlie Aztecs of Mexico used pipes of a varnished wood, richly inlaid with gold and silver, and mingled with the intoxicating tobacco the liquid amber and various aromatic herbs. Tobacco Culture. 7 " Saghagun," in his " History of New Spain," speaks of tliem as using the leaves rolled into cigars, which they ignited and smoked in tabes of tortoise shell or silver. " Eoraan Pane," a friar who accompanied Columbus noticed that the natives used the dried leaves, pulverized into a .snuff, as a purgative medicine, snuffing it up through hollow canes. Samples of it were taken to England b}' Sir Francis Drake, and the use of it was there made fashionable by Sir Walter Raleigh, and others, who had acquired a taste for it in Virginia, where it held an important place in all In- dian ceremonies. Among the Indian tribes of that and other sections of the continent the usual mode of use was by hollow canes and pipes made of wood, and decorated with copper and green stones. In order to deprive it of its acridity, some were wont to pass the smoke tlirough bulbs, filled with water in whicli aromatic and medicinal herbs had been infused. Thus it would seem that the forms in which it is now used by the inhabitants of civilized countries were known and practiced by all tiie ancient American races. Its use may be still further traced back to more remote periods of time, by pipes found in ancient mounds and monuments of races of people who inhabited the continent before the Indian tribes. These pipes, some of them most beautifully carved and elaborately ornamented with gold and silver, are found in exhuming Aztec graves and sepulchres. Some historians, however, claim for Tobacco a greater an- tiquity than tliat ascrilted to it in the discovery of America. It has been contended by some writers of eminence, that the Tobacco plant and its employment as a narcotic, are in- digenous, also, to some parts of Europe and Asia, "Lei- bant" thinks it was known in Europe many years before the discovery of America, and asserts that many plants had been found in the Ardennes; but "Maquenus" claims its origin as American, and attempts to allay Leibant's theory 8 Tobacco Culture, by su2^gesting tlaat the seeds had been carried by winds from one continent to the other. "Pallas" says that among the Chinese and among the Mongol tribes, who had the most intercourse with them, the custom is so general with them of smoking, so frequent and has become so indispensable a luxury; the pipes, he says, affixed to their belts with a purse for tobacco, so indispensable an article of dress; the form of the pipes from which the Dutch seem to have taken the model of theirs, so original ; and then the preparation of the yellow leaves, which are merely rubbed to pieces, and then put into the pipe, so peculiar, that they could not possibly have derived this from America by way of Europe, especially as India, where the practice of smoking is not so general, intervenes between Persia and China. "Meyen" also states that, the consumption of Tobacco in the Chinese empire, is of immense extent, and the practice seems to be of great antiquitj-, for on very old sculptures I have noticed, the very same style of Tobacco pipes now in use. This writer, however, seems to have lost sight of the fact that the Chinese liave been opium smokers from a very remote pe- riod, and it may be that these pipes were used for that pur- })Ose, inasmuch as the pipes now in use by that most pecul- iar people, are ordinarily not unlike tliose used by them in smoking the Tobacco leaf, hence I take it that his argument possesses but little significance as against the trans- Atlan- tic theory. It is, however, very singular that, in a country BO impervious to foreign influence and customs as China, this habit should obtain to such an extent, for according to another writer "the practice is so uniform, that every female from the age of eight or nine, wears a small silken pocket to hold tobacco and a pipe." P>ut whether a native of the old world or of the new, the culture of Tobacco has spread and its consumption increased in every quarter of the globe, in a greater proportion than any other article of food or luxury. Among all nations — in every land and every clime, in all Tobacco Culture. 9 classes is it to be found, in the gilded palaces of tlie King, the feultan or Emperor, to tlie lowly peasants lint, from the most refined to the in()-;t degraded and ignorant, lulling to ease the pampered millionaire, and solacing the lieart of the hungry gamin, tlie poor street waif, it perfumes the par- lors of Fifth Avenue and Rotten Row, and tloats upon the breeze at the break of day or ''dewy eve,"' as the hiborer wends his way to work or to liis home; and in spite of le- gal enactments, of papal bulls, regal counterblasts, imperial edicts, religious cru.-ades and teminine protests, it still flour- ishes ; every day adding to its consumption, every day iind- ing new adherents and friends, and adding almost daily some new district to its production. It has its o[)ponents, but it numbers its friends by hun- dreds of millions. Is it a poison ? — then is the poison as sweet as honey. Does it act injuriously upon the system and shorten life? — out upon such logic, ci-y the multitude, ,and still putf on. Is it extravagant and wasteful, even to sinfulness? — "we will eat less bread," they cry, and still putt" on and on, and away goes the national debt, principal and interest, in tire and smoke. CHAPTER II. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND THERAPEUTIC ACTION. The great German Chemists Posselt and Reinmann have made the best and perhaps the most accurate chemical analysis of Tobacco known. I give it here in toto : Nicotine 0.060 Concrete Volatile Oil 0.010 Bitter Extractive 2.870 Gum with Malate of liaie 1.740 Chlorophyl 0.267 Aibumeu and Gluten .•.,... 1.308 2 10 Tobacco Culture. Malic Acid 0.510 Lignine and a trace of starch 4.969 Sails (sulphate, nitrate and ma'ate of potash, chloride of potassium, phosphate aud maiate of lime and malate of ammonia) 0.734 Silica , . . . . 0.08-! Water 88.2S0 Total 100.830 The active principle residing in the plant is ISTicotine or Nicotia and Nicotianine. The former was first separated from the plant in a pnre state hy Messrs. Henry and Bou- tron, that previously obtained by other chemists being an aqueus solution of the alkaline principle in connection with ammonia. The strongest Virginia and Kentucky tobaccos contain from ♦J to 7 per cent of it whilst some of the milder varieties used for cigars contain only about 2 per cent. Nicotianine is the concrete volatile oil of tobacco, or tobacco camphor, obtained by distillation of its leaves. Only about 11 grains can be obtained by distillation of six pounds of the leaves. It is of a fatty nature, having a smell like Tobacco smoke, and a bitter acrid taste. It is in- soluble in water and dilute acids, is volatilized by heat and alcohol, ether and solution of potash are its solvents. An empyreumatic oil may be obtained by distillation con- ducted at a temperature of 212° and this contains nicotia which is a most deadly poison. One drop of this poison placed upon the tongue of a dog will cause him to expire in convulsions in a very few minutes. It is this poison which often collects in old pipes and causes the sore mouth or sore tongue which is not uncommon among smokers. It is this active poisonous principle which when inhaled from a very old pipe, often causes faintness, giddiness and sometimes severe vertigo of smokers. It is simply tobacco poisoning and is due to nicotia or nicotine. This oil which cannot be distinguished from that of fox glove, has been detected in tobacco smoke together with nicotianine, nicotia, salts of ammonia and other volatile Tobacco Cii'turc. 11 products. The asli of tobacco leaves consists of about 1-6 to 1-5 of the entire weight and is chiefly- carbonates of lime and magnesia, chloride of potassium and sulphate of potash. The medicinal effects of toi)acco upon the system are very marked, whether taken internally or as an external application. If administered internally as a powder, in the shape of snuff, in small quantities, or taken as it is ordina- rily used, as chewing or smoking tobacco, it acts as a seda- tive narcotic, calming mental unrest and bodily excitement, and producing a state of languor or repose, most seductive and inviting to those accustomed to its use. Taken in larger quantities, or with those unaccustomed to its use, it acts as a poison, producing vertigo, or giddiness, nausea, vomiting and purging with great prostration. As the nausea continues with severe retching, the skin becomes cold and clammy, the muscles relaxed, the pulse feeble, and if the dose has been a large one, fainting, convulsions, and death may ensue. It has great power in causing relaxation of the muscular system, even it is thought to a greater degree than digitalis, and on this account is often taken advantage of in surgical treatment and operations. Dr. Fhysick used it in the case of a patient with a dislocated jaw. The man was unaccustomed to the use of tobacco, and Physick made liim smoke. He soon had his patient so deathly sick from its effects that the muscles of the affected part were entirely relaxed, and the dislocation was reduced with ease. It is also used in the form of infusions and cataplasms, to relieve various spasmodic conditions. The inhalation of tobacco smoke is much resorted to in asthma. It is also recom- mended in articular gout, rheumatism and neuralgia ; tooth- ache may often be relieved by smoking a cigar. In some varieties of cutaneous affections it has been re- sorted to with success. The application of an infusion of the leaves or the powder, as for instance a snufl' poultice, to surfaces deprived of their skin is not devoid of danger however, and great care should, be taken in its administrar- 12 Tobacco Culture. tion. It has been followed by fatal effects when so admin- istered, even by inhalation of the smoke, death has been produced. The great nausea produced by this drug has suggested its use as an emetic, but its administration is not justifiable except perhaps in extreme cases, such as sudden poisoning, or where no other emetics are at hand. A great diversity of opinion exists among medical men as to whether the use of tobacco is beneficial or hurtful to the system. Even since its introduction into general use it has been condemned most earnestly by man}' eminent men for its supposed generally injurious qualities. Its use, nevertheless, has been constantly increasing throughout the whole Vv'orld, in every land and climate, hot, cold, or tem- perate, and millions feed upon it daily, suffering extremely if deprived of it for a time. Its distribution so generally among men of all classes and nationalities would seem to imply that the plant exercises some important influence upon the human system. It do6s not appear to afl'ect the duration of human life except when used to great excess. CHAPTER III. A TOBACCO CHAT — TO THE POOR MAN. Before entering upon the subject proper of this treatise — the cultivation and curnig of Tobacco — I will say a few words to those wdio for the first time contemplate engaging in the cultivation of this plant. In the first place do you own a piece of land, say one, two or three acres, more or less? If you do not, can you lease a tract of that number of acres at, say $15 or $20 per acre, such land as will here- after be shown containing the necessary elements for suc- cessfully growing the weed ? Are you a married man and have you several half-grown children, all of which are nee- Tobacco Culture. 18 essary adjuncts to the work. Have you a horse, ])lough and cultivator, b^" cultivator I mean a single or double shovel plow. I am addressing myself now to the poor man, the cropper or tenant of very moderate means. Do you keep a cow ? With one or two horses and a cow, quite a large amount of good fertilizer can be produced from season to season. The soil required for cultivating tobacco is of no small importance as regards its selection, as I shall show more in detail in another chapter. If you own a nice dry and warm tract of sandy, loamy soil, rather rolling, not too flat and not so hill}' as to wash by excessive rains, either old land or that which has been recently cleared and worked for a season or two, you maj^ niake your first attempt at raising a crop of tol)acco. If you do not own such a piece of land it will pa}' you to rent a piece, and pay from $15 to $30, or in case of its being exceptionally fine land $50 per acre tor it as lessee. You will encounter ditticulties and will often meet with obstacles calculated to discourage, but a good crop will pay for all ot these and soon dissipate your troubles. You will meet with rains when there lias been too much ofit, liot sun when you want rain or cloudy weather on your young and ten- der plants. When you set out your plants it may be just at the beginning of a week or two of dry hot weather. Then like cabbage plants 3'ou will have to water, water, water^ and in spite of all, see numbers of your plants pine away and die. Yon will have to replant and re})lant again. You will find cut worms ravaging the young plants, and in the season for them the tobacco worm will come down on you like the frogs and locusts in the land of Egypt. You must fight them. Raise turkeys, turn them into your patch, they will aid you well and nobly. Here too, the half-grown children will be found to \)Q. of great service, with their willing feet, pliant backs and nimble fingers they skip along, bend down, examine, pick, kill and pass on to the next, and few of the destruct- ive and ugly creatures escape their acute optics. The 14 Tobacco Culture. mother is attending to liome duties, the children are with you in the patch (hiilj. They look after the worms, you after the cultivating, hoeing, w^eeding, topping and suckering the plants. All this I will tell you fully in another chapter. Then as the time draws on you will soon begin to cut and house your crop. To do this you must have prepared for j'ourself a Tobacco knife, four or five hundred plastering lath and a few roofing lath. At each end of your field or patch make a email platform for piling on the green plants which you in- tend impaling on the lath. Have a long rail or two fastened to posts, about five feet from the ground, and just near enough to a fence so as to allow of your hanging up each lath when filled with plants. You will have to utilize all the spare room in the attic of your house, in your stable or the eaves of your barn, or under the roof of your wagon shed. All tliis prepare before hand, so that you have store room to hang your laths of To- bacco where it can cure. A II these seemingly trivial matters I mention here to the poor man, the beginner, so that when he has raised a crop he may not lose it by finding no place to house it. Look out for frost, your crop may be late and you be taking advantage of every possible day to give it laro-er growth. See to it that old '*Jack" does not catch you napping, for if he does, your whole crop may be ruined in a night. One energetic and industrious man, may handle successfully and well, two acres of tobacco. This, if of fine quality, may yield him from $250 to $400 per acre, if the weed be commanding a fair price in market. In the county of Lancaster, in the State of Pennsylvania, this is not by any means an uncommon yield, indeed I am informed that fio-ures much beyond these have been obtained from a single acre. Let the poor man try it. Tobacco Culture, 15 CHAPTEE IV. TOBACCO — ITS VARIETIES. It is of American Toiiacco I mean to treat, hence I shall touch hnt lightly upon other and foreign kinda. Localities christen the difierent hrands of tobaccos and cigars, the plant, de facto, remaining much the same in both appear- ance, and its constituents differing in one place, because of a finer leaf texture, in another because of its large size and fine color, in another because of its fine aroma, and consequent superiority for smoking purposes, and still another section claims great superiority for its plant for chewing purposes. Perhaps the oldest and best known variety, from which has sprung most of our American varieties, is the Nico- TiANA Tabacum, Or Virginia tobacco, or Kentucky or Penn- sylvania tobacco, for it means one and the same thing, and was originally derived from one common seed. The beat tobacco for making cigars is grown in the western end of the Island of Cuba, and is known asthe " Vuelta Abajo," the plant most in vogue there beii^g the "Nicotium re- panda." That which is raised in a section of country lying eastward of the city of Havanna is called Vublta Arriba, and is rather of an inferior quality. The most noted or justly celebrated plantation, or Vega as it is termed, is situa- ted near the town of Santiago de Cuba and is called Yara. Thus we often hear of " Yara " cigars and " Yara " to])acco. Tlie Vuelta Abajo is divided into five classes : 1st. Calidad or Libra noted for its good color, flavor, elasticity, and per- fection of the leaves, rendering it exceedingly desirable for wrappers for cigars. No. 2. Ynjuriado principal or Firsts, which has less flavor and is usually of a lighter color; this also is suitable for wrappers. No. 3. Segundas or seconds, a shade poorer in every respect, but good for fillings and inferior 16 Tobacco Culture. wrappers. Ko. 4. Terceiras or thirds, wbicli are g-ener- ally employed for fillings. No. 5. Quartas or fourths, which are also employed for fillings. The choicest tobacco is that grown on tlie banks of rivers which are periodically overflowed. They are called " Lo Rio," " Kio Hondo" and " Pinar del Rio," and the tobacco is distinguished from all others by a tine sand, which is found in the creases of tlie leaves. The island of Trinidad also produces a very superior arti- cle of like kiiul. In Mexico a large quantity is raised, but entirely for home consumption, its export being forbidden. The tobacco us^d for manufacturing the manilla cheroots is the produce of the island of Luzon, and is considered nearly equal to tliat raised in Cuba. " KADOE." A very superior tobacco is raised in the province of Kadoe, in the island of Java, where it is grown in a natur- ally rich soil, alternately with rice, and without manure. LATAKIA. In western Asia that grown at Latakia in Syria, and at Shiraz in Persia, are most highly esteemed and are the famed Oriental brands. "DUTCH." In the province of Gelderland in Holland, they produce from 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 pounds per annum, the greater part of which is disposed of to the French government, the balance going to Cuba, and even coming to our own shores. It is considered a superior tobacco in some respects. " CUBAN CIGARS." Aa the best tobacco is grown in Cuba, so also the best cigars are made there. Tobacco Culture. 17 Many attempts have been made in transplanting the seed of the Spanish tobacco to various parts of the world, but these experiments have met with hut inditiereut success. I myself planted tlie seed for several seasons and produced a leaf, lari^er than that of the native plant, and of very tine flavor and general good quality. In quantity, of yield per acre, it would not [u-oduce one-half the aniount as that produced from Connecticut or Virginia seed, and in order to preserve the quality it is necessary to renew the seed from Cni)a every year, as after (nie or two seasons it loses its orioinal odor and tlavor. Although ciofars are of very ancient oriii:in in the West Indies, they were not generally known in Europe until the nineteenth century. In fact, of all tlie old works up to the year 1800, on gas- tronomy and the pleasures of the table, I know of none which mentions this now almost indispensable luxury and adjunct of a good dinner. Cigars are now regarded as one of the " rites of hospitality " in good society, and he is a barbarian who fails to avail himself of the delights attend- ing " la fragrant." In Cuba for many years the manufacture of cigars-was a monopoly, confined to a favored few. Now, however, it is not so. One firm, the house of " Caubanas," has for long years stood at the head of the trade and have attached their nanif'S to a brand of cigars " Cabanas " wdiich have attained a just and world wide celebrity. Any connoisseur of the weed will readily detect the flavor of a " Cabanas," and as a brand they are deservedly popular. Tliey command high prices, in some cases as much as two hundred dollars per thousand in gold in Havanna, while the same quality made by other manufacturers would command but one hundred and fifty dollars per thousand in gold. 3 18 Tobacco Culture. AMERICAN HAVANNAS. Great skill has been attained in the American factories in raannfacturinoj cigars, so much so that it is ver}- hard to determine between the genuine and the spurious article, ex- cepting by trial, and even then in some cases, the nicest and most cultivated taste fails to detect the difference. Many persons engaged m the business import tobacco of fine quality from Cuba, employ the Connecticut or Pennsyl- vania wrapper, and produce a cigar equal in appearance to the very finest made in Cuba. GERMAN CIGARS. In Bremen and Hamburg, immense numbers of cigars are made from very inferior tobacco and shipped to every point of the habitable globe at very low prices. The city of Bremen, which was among the first to adopt this new branch of industry, has now become one of the first markets of the world, for the sale of cigars, over ten thousand persons being employed there in their manufacture, and the exports exceeding 500,000,000, worth over $3,000,000, and most vile and execrable they are, exceeding even "M'Dowell's Sto- gies," or the "Wheeling Cheroot." The consumption of cigars extends all over the globe and is increasing yearly at a wonderful ratio. According to a calculation made by the American Consul at Havanna and embodied in his report made to our Secretary of State, it is computed that in the Island of Cuba alone 1,460,000,000, or 10 a day for each person are annually consumed by the in- habitants and residents. TOBACCO REVENUE OF FRANCE. In France the consumption of tobacco and cigars is one of the principal sources of revenue. As early as 1674, a monopoly of the trade was given to Jean Breton for six years, he paying to the government Tohacro Cidfure. 19 700,000 francs. In 1720, tlie Indian Company paid for the priviles^e, 1,500,000 francs, and in 1771, the price was in- creased to 25,000,000 francs. In 1856, the revenue derived by the scovernment, which had then assumed the monopoly, Was 164,000,000 francs. Even on these enormous figures, since that time the increase has been so- great that, when France was called upon to pay her indemnity of 3, 000,000,000 francs to the Prussians, the bankers, Rothschild's ottered to advance the money, if France would yield them the revenue on the weed. France did not accept. The revenue to our own government from this source is something stupendous to contemplate, and will be referred to in another chapter. OTHER VARIETIES. There are many other varieties, mostly foreign grown, some of which I will barely mention. We have the Tobaccos of Turkey, of many kinds, taking their names from districts in which they are produced. Egyptian and Syrian Tobaccos, African and Indian To- baccos, all lightly colored and fragrant, much resembling that produced in Turkey. It is mostly utilized and con- sumed by the Orientals themselves in their pipes or Chi- bouques, is mild and much inferior for general purposes, to that grown in the United States. Comparatively little is exported from those countries. China and Japan raise quite large quantities which also is consumed by their own people. In the ditlerent Kingdoms and Principalities of Europe but little tobacco is &9««TrnTCit7 The trade is with all a government monopoly, hence the inhabitants in some sections are prohibited raising it, because of interference with government revenues. Mexico and the Central and South American republics, do not cultivate the weed largely, except perhaps Brazil, and what they raise finds consumers at home. 20 Tobacco Culture. The United States is par excellence the tobacco growing region for the world, and yet, with all its hundreds of mil- lions of pounds produced, and its millions of revenue, the area planted is most insignificant. The statistics for 1875, give but 559,049 acres of land, in all the States and Territories, planted in tobacco, or about forty townships, making about two ordinary sized counties, as the gross area of this country, supplying the world with the weed. How easy then it would seemingly be, with our great wealth of arable land, adapted to its cultivation, to over- stock the market, and render it, as a commodity, a non-pay- ing drug. This would seem so at first glance and yet, the cultiva- tion of the plant has ever been, and is yet, subject to so many vicissitudes that such a state of afi^liirs rarely happens and is not likely soon to ensue. In alluding to other viirieties of tobacco, I shall confine myself to that produced in the diff'erent States, f )r it is of these chiefly which I will treat — their culture and handling. Kentucky tobacco is known and celebrated like that of the old mother State, Virginia, wherever the w'eed is consumed. As a producer, Kentucky takes precedence of all, and in quality, for its particular uses, is surpassed by none. KENTUCKY— 1875— 130,000,000 POUNDS. Its varieties are almost as numerous, nominally, as its counties and townships, each claiming some superiority either by reason of excellence in cultivation, superior adapt- ability of soil to its growth, in chemical constituents, and climacteric influences, new, improved and superior modes of curing and handling, or the reputed high grades and commercial superiority of its raanutactured product. Thus in Christian, Trigg, Todd and Logan counties, a brand is grown and manufactured, known to the trade, as the "Clarksville" district, which is largely exported to Ger- Tobacco Culture. 21 «iianv, Austria and the north of Europe, also to Mexico and the coast of Africa. Anotlier variety is the "White Barley" and is largely grown in Bracken, Fleming, Pendleton, Grant, Shelby, Trimble, Kenton and other counties. Another is the " Little Frederick," chiefly grown in Clinton county. Others are the "Pryor" and "Long Green" varieties, grown m Hart, Muhlenburg and Adair counties, chiefly a chewing grade. A celebrated leaf is grown in Logan county, which is a favorite with, and largely purchased for wrappers by French and English manufacturers. VIRGINIA— 1875— 57,000,000 pounds. This State, as a tobacco producer, was, until 1^60 the foremost in amount produced. During the war Kentucky went to the front and has since retained preeminence over all in her gross yield. To-day Virginia stands second as producer. The qualities of Iku- tobacco are so various as to achipt it to all purposes, chewing, cigars, smoking brands and snuff, but, her tobaccos are now chiefly celebrated for smoking or pipe purposes, and the various popular chewing brands. In this respect the two States, Kentucky and Virginia nearly resemble each other, and have each attained world wide celebrity for the excellence of their brands. The "Long Green" the ''Blue Pryor" and "Big Pryor" are varieties pojmhir and grown in most of her counties: Also the "Gooch" "Whit'e Stem" "Yellow Pryor" "Big Oronoko" and "Little Oronoko" varieties. MISSOURI— 1875— 40,000,000 pounds. A very large area was planted in this State in 1875, and the yield placed her for the time, third in production. The varieties are much the same as those of Kentucky, and her leaf stands well for both chewing and smoking purposes. 22 Tobacco Culture. The mode of cultivation and curing is much the 3arae aj^ that practiced in Kentucky, which will be noted fully in the appropriate chapters, Tennessee— 187S, . , . 35,000,000 pounds. Maryland— 1875, . . . 22,000,000 pounds. Pennsylvania— 1875. . , - 16,000.000 pounds. North Carolina— 1875, . . 14,750,000 pounds, Ohio— 1875, .... 13,500,000 pounds. Indiana— 1875, . . . 12,750,000 pounds. Connecticut— 1875, - . . 9,900,000 pounds. Massaehuselts— 1875 . . - 8,500,000 pounds. Illinois— 1?:)75, .... 8,000,000 pounds. In these, the foremost producing States, T have given the yield of tobacco according to the last census, that of 1875. In some of them there has since been a very large increase both in acreage and yield : for instance the State of Penn- sylvania is set down for 1876 at about 3o,OoO,000 pounds, 80,000,000 pounds of which was raised in Lancaster county, In the several States last enumerated, the varieties of tobacco are numerous and noted either as to excellence for chewing purposes, us wrappers, smoking, line cut or cigars. To the most important of them I will hereafter refer in detail. I shall do this particularly with reference to that grown in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and Kentucky, because they are to day the leading produ- cers, and their several prochicts command most attention and liighest prices from buyers, both in this country and abroad. CHAPTER V. CLIMATE AND SOIL. All climates and soils are not adapted to the cultivation of tobacco. It cannot be grown in the short and frosty summers of the far north, nor are the blazing rays of a tropi- Tobacco Culture. 23 cal snn conducive to its successful culture. A medium be- tween the two seems to meet all the requisites in producing an article of standard excellence. In the United States the section of country lying between forty-three degrees of latitude north and thirty-two degrees south. Within this area it is largely and mainly grown, with the Atlantic Ocean as a boundary on the east, and twenty de- grees of west longitude as its extreme western limit. Very little is cultivated outside of the limits mentioned, neither the extreme northern, southern or western States seemingly being favorable for its successful cultivation. In this con- nection I except the island of Cuba, which lies between twenty-three degrees north, and twenty-one degrees of south latitude. Both climate and soil have a wonderful intiuence in pro- ducing either a coarse, heavy, and low grade article, or one of tine and high standard of excellence in the market. Thus for example that grown on the soil of Cuba, with its added climacteric influences, which are well known to produce no small share of the good qualities which are possessed by tobacco grown in that country. Therefore when I say that all climates are not adapted to its successful culture, I mean largely, as a crop and an arti- cle of commerce. The weed is grown to some extent throughout a wide range of latitude, and most excellent varieties are produced in the equatorial regions. As an article of traffic, however, bearing heavily upon the trade, and tobacco revenue of the different countries of the world, Cuba is perhaps the most noted hot climate in which it is produced. Scientific men assert that the high flavor and delicate aroma of the Cuban plant is produced by the influences of its climate, the sun's warm rays by day, warm moonlight nights, the frequent and heavy dews and air at all times heavily ladened with the perfumes of spices, flow- ers and tropical fruits. Tobacco is a great absorbent, and it is not at all improba- 24 Tobacco Culture. ble that, to a combination of these influences, we may ascribe much of the piquant and spicy aroma of the plant produced in the " Ever faithful Isle." SOIL. To be brief, the soil required should be deep, of a sandy or loamy natui-e, rich, mellow and w«rm. Virgin soil is better than old land. It should be of a rolling nature, and with an eastern or southern exposure if upon a hill. Lowlands, river bottom lands, will do well if not subjected to overflow. Land which produces heavy crops of clover, timothy and blue grass will, in general, if well conditioned, 3'ield fair returns in tobacco. I treat more fully and in detail upon this subject in the chapter on " preparation of the soil." In several districts or Parishes of Louisiana there is a combination of soil and climate which produces a most celebrated and high priced brand, I'crrique tobacco. The crop is small, the plant also small, and the leaf when cured very dark, and when manufactured into smoking tobacco it is black, strong and fragrant. This brand of tobacco, owing to the limited area of country, where the soil allows of its being grown successfully, commands the highest price of any grown in this country, the manufactured article commanding about four dollars per pound. It is not un- likely that there are other locations in the same state which will hereafter be found favorable to its production. CHAPTER VL SEED AND VARIETIES. A very important matter to be considered in the culture of tobacco is the selection of seed, both as regards quality and variety or kind. It must not be too old, but fresh, full Tobacco Culture. 25 in the grain and well ripened, I have used seed two and three years ok] which yielded me as good results as that which was but one year old, but it had been fully matured before gathering, well kept and was clean, and bright. If seed be harvested imniaturely it will not germinate, and if it be kept from one season to another in a damp a(>artment it will absorb moisture, mould, and when planted prove worthless. Tobacco seed is exceedingly minute, so small indeed as to require a magnifying glass to examine a single grain. I have weighed seed at different times, and found it varied from 1000 to 12^0 to a grain avoirdupois weight, or at the rate of the enormous number of 7,680,000 to 9,800,480 seed in one pound. Seed weighs more or less heavily according to its density, and densit}^ and consequent heav^y weight depends upon its being fully ripened and thoroughly cleaned. Much care and close inspection is required by the pur- chaser, particularly the new beginner, in selecting seed. An inexperienced person may easily be imposed upon. Ver}' much worthless seed isbouglit and sold. Very many })lanters meet with most vexatious failures on this account. I have often heard them say, " my seed did not come up," or " I have no plants, my seed failed." Sometimes the seed polls are caught while j'ct in the green state by a heavy frost and thus injured or utterly spoiled. Another has a lot of seed which has been kept where it was subjected to heat and moisture, and then again to another operation per- haps, freezing. It will surely prove inert. Purchase your seed from a reliable dealer, or from one who has long been engaged in planting, he will furnish you seed you may rely upon as being " up to the mark." VARIETIES. In the matter of variety much depends upon locality. One kind will thrive and give good results in a given local- 4 26 Tobacco Culture. ity, which if cultivated in aaother soil and different climate might prove either a failure or but indifferently successful. In the States of Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, seed raised in either of these States, will soon adapt itself as a plant in each of the others, it will soon become acclimated and though changed some- what material 1}', will, ere long, make of itself a native. Thus, for instance in Pennsylvania, a large, heavy and in many instances a coarse plant is grown. Introduce Ilavanna seed, and for the first year or two you will [)roduee a small, delicate and highly flavored leaf, with marked Cuban quali- ties, which however, under the influences of Pennsylvania climate and soil, will soon deteriorate and become "Penn- sylvania Tobacco." Connecticut seed is favorably intro- duced from that State, and grown in each of the others, and vice versa, seed taken from plants grown in Virginia or Kentucky, and cultivated in Connecticut or any of the States aforementioned, will soon acclimate and partake of all the qualities of those districts. If, however, it is desirable to raise in one given locality a variety grown in another, be- cause of some peculiar and markedly good quality, then seed from that locality should be secured every year, so as not to allow of degeneration. If a favorite Virginia varie- ty be desirable in Connecticut or New York or Ohio, secure seed yearly from the "Old Dominion." If Pennsylvania wishes to grow Connecticut tobacco, send yearly lo that State for a supply of seed. In some localities Cuban tobacco has been and is grown with very fair success, for although the plant is small, and the j'ield not nearly so large, acre for acre, as that which is "to the manner born," yet the quality is so fine and the manufactured brands of cigars so excel- lent, that the price obtained for such leaf is correspondingly higher than the native, and fully remunerates the cultivator. This, however, can only be done by a 3^early supply of seed being obtained from the Island of Cuba, otherwise, the plant will lose its Cuban characteristics. Tobacco Culfnre. 27 In some Southern localities, notal)!}- in the State of Geor- gia, Cuban tohai'co ak)nc is cultivated, and with very large pecuniary results!. The average yield is much below that obtained in the Middle States, per acre, from native va- rieties, being culy about six hundred pounds, but tliey readily receive from $G0 to $80 per one hundred pounds for the product. In general excellence it is considered as fall- ing not fur below that produced in the Island of Cuba. In this State I have experimented to some extent in the cultivation of that foreign variety, and in quality it has been a success. We, in this State, will however labor under this disadvantage for some time, and until tlie productio)i of the same will have become more general, to wit:, buyers will not discriminate in favor of the added " Cul)an " qualities to a sufficient extent as wiil re[tay us for the lack in quantity produced, by raising this smali plant, from yearly im{)()rtage of seed. This, in time, may be overcome, if any locality will persevere long enough to make known tlie excellence of its foreign production. There is a field open for any one, wlio possesses a good salubrious locality, with deep, rich and loamy lowlands, not Kubject to overflow, and who has energy, perseverance and capital sufficient to sustain himself, to make a success of this leaf hy l)ringing it into notice to the trade and the public as "Pennsylvania Ilavanna." I do not mean to say that an article can be produced in this or any other State equal, in tliose fragrant and grateful qualities, which characterize Cuban tobacco, but I do say that I have produced here a tobacco from Ilavanna seed, which, in its aroma, when smoked was easil\^ recognized as a foreign variety, and far exceeded that of any Pennsylva- nia plant which could be produced from a native seed. 28 Tobacco Culture. CHAPTER VIL SEED PLANTS. We of the Eastern and Middle States produce two kinds of plants, those grown in " hot beds," under glass or white canvass, and those grown '• in the open air." I will first give the " hot bed " method which I have found to answer my purpose best. I make ready ray frames in the fall of the year, generally about the latter part of October. A hole is digged, in a southern, south-eastern or eastern exposure, twelve feet long, five feet wide and about twelve inches deep. On this, on the edges, I place a frame, supported at each corner by a strong stake driven into the ground. In the fall, before the ground freezes I secure two cart loads of leaf mould which I place along side of my frame, and cover up closely with straw and bundles of corn fodder, ready to be unearthed in February or March. When the proper time arrives, say about the last of Feb- ruary to the middle of March, when the sun has acquired good power, when the icel)reaks up and the ground becrins to thaw, then I begin my first Spring operations for to- bacco. This, in our latitude is ordinarily a month sooner than you v.'ould be enabled to seed in the open ground, unless it be an exceptionally early Spring. I then have the hole tilled to the top with a lively, half rotted stable ma- nure, that produced from the horse stable, a straw manure, hot and in an active stage of decomposition. I never use old or fully rotted manure, as it would not generate the heat necessary for the purpose required. This manure, is packed well into the hole by being firmly trod upon. Then I unhouse ray pile of leaf mould by removing straw and fodder. It is in fine condition, not having been frozen, or if so, only a few inches m depth. This is turned over and thoroughly pulverized. Then my frame, which is about the same size as the hole in length and breadth, Tobacco Culture. -^ 29 and fifteen inches high nt the back and ten inches in front, giving a slope of five inches to the sun, being all ready is placed over the hole and secured on the stakes. I then mix with the leaf mould about one bushel of leached ashes, and two bushels of finely pulverized horse dropping?,. The soil being then prepared, is placed upon the manure inside the frame, to the depth of about eight inches, mod- erately pressed down, and evenly and smoothly raked over its entire extent. Then I take my seed, which I am most careful to assure myself is of first-rate quality, not more than a heaped teaspoonful, I then mix this seed intimately with a quart of ground plaster or dry leached* ashes, and sow it evenly over the surface of the bed, I never rake the bed but take a light, inch thick, pine board and use it to press the earth down lightly over the whole surface. Then my sowing is completed, and I [)lace on the frame four sashes containing window glass, each frame being three feet wide by al)out five feet long, sufficient to etiectually cover the frame, and made close enough to exclude cold and to retain all heat generated within. I then bank up the earth all around against the sides of the frame. If the sun lie bright and warm, in the course of four or five days I open the frame by lifting one of the sash, and I find it quite warm within and a gentle vapor arising. I run my baud down into the earth, and I find it has become quite warm, and in case the soil be a little dry I take a can or two of tepid water and sprinkle it all over. I then leave it, and in the course of eight or ten days I find the seed germinating nicely, coming up thick enough, all over the bed. From this time on, as often as the weather will allow of it I open the frame about noon of each day, for an hour or two, and give the young plants an airing. As the Spring progresses and the weatlier gets settled and warm, say along in April, I remove the windows in the morning and keep them off all day, and if the nights happen to be exceptionally warm I keep them ofi' altogether. In this BO Tohacco Cidfure. way I succeed in securing strong and vigorous plants to set out early in May. But I am asked, wherein consists the advantage of this process ? Simply this niy friend : I thus render myself independent of frosts in April or May, which might ensue, and often do, destroying all the plants which were being cultivated in the open air. Another thing, by securing early plants I can gain a month in setting out and can therefore cut matured tobacco early in August. Well, what then ? This : From the roots or stumps of the plants, which are cut early, spring vigorous and numerons shoots or sprouts which, if the fall be at all a late one and favorable weather, I can harvest a second crop of tobacco not nearly so line as the first one, but which will go well towards paying the expenses of the first crops. So much then for the hot bed plants. I will now give toy "open air process." OPEN AIR PLANTS. This is the best mode of raising plants in all districts where the climate will allow of working the ground and sowing the seed early in the month of April, or the latter part of March. It is less expensive, less trouble, and the plants are hardier and less apt to wilt and die, when trans- planted from their beds to permanent quarters. It has, however, the disadvantage which I before mentioned, first, danger of being frost killed, and also inability, very often, of maturing them soon enough, so as to allow of setting out in time to secure, after cutting, a good second crop from the same stalks. This is no small matter, for if an early start be secured and the crop cut about the first to the tenth of August, and the fall be a long and open one, you may secure an after yield, paying from fifty to seventy-five dollars per acre — or even more. I am thus plain in these details, because in ' Tobacco Culture. 31 « cultivating this plant it is well to observe every point which will add to siKtcess. I calculate mj second crop will at least pa}- for manuring and plowing the land. In preparing my seed bed I am always careful to select a warm and sheltered locality, looking to the south or east. Select, if 3'ou can, a piece of new ground, protected at tho north and west by a copse, piece of a woodland or a largo building oi' close board fence. Then rake all the dead leaves, old brush, corn stalks and old limbs of trees, into small heaps about twenty feet from each other and then set afire. When they are thoroughly consumed have the aslies raked cleverly over the surface which is intended for your seed bed. Tiieu have the ground well spaded to the depth of at least twelve inches. While it is being spaded work into the furrows a plentiful supply of well rotted horse manure. After spading the ground have every clod broken, all stone and stubble removed and rake it clean and smooth. Then top dress the surface with a com[)()st made up of horse droppings two parts, leached ashes two parts, and one part Peruvian guano or chicken manure. Tliis must be well raked and thoroughly incor- porated in the surface soil. When this is done the ground is in j-eadiness for the seed. The ground mast not be too wet neither too dry, when the seed is sown, but select a day when there is an appearance of approaching rain, or one or two days after a light rain. Do not sow the seed on a windy day, as the light grain will be blown and fall unevenly over the surface of the bed, but choose a mild and calm morn- ing. For every twenty-live j^ards of surface square, take one tablespoonful of seed and mix thoroughly in about one peck of ground plaster or finely sifted ashes. Then sow it broadcast over the bed, endeavoring to secure as even an application to the whole surface as possible. Secure from the slaughter yard al)outone bushel of hog hair and spread it evenly over the bed. This answers several purposes. It secures warmth and protection to the delicate young plants 82 lobacco Culture. • and in addition seems to supply to them some chemical in- gredients which tend to promote their rapid growth. When this is done get a few bundles of small branches of pine or cedar and place them over the surface of tlie bed. These also furnish heat and protection and may be removed when the plants have grown to the size of a silver dollar. During the growth of the plants great attention must be given to weeds, taking them out as soon as large enough to be distinguished from the young plants and this must be done by hand. In a case of a drought, sprinkle the plants in the evening from a watering pot, giving them a thorough soaking. This will be all that will be found necessary to mature the plants for use when wanted to set out in the patch. CHAPTER VIII. .SOIL AND ITS TREATMENT. A diversity of opinion seems to exist amona: the growers of tobacco, as to the relative merits of level lands and roll- ing, of hill and bottom lands. I think the question nar- rows itself to this: In some localities and climates, high or rolling lands are best adapted to the varieties there raised, whilst in other districts, other kinds require and thrive best on level or low lands, always, in either case bearing in mind that the lands should not be so hilly as to wash off plants and nutritive substances, or so low as to he subject to overflow and thus drown the plants or render the ground so moist as to unfit it for working purposes. In some parts of Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina, the finest and best qualities of tobacco are raised on the sunny sides of gentle hills, and on what are termed foot- hills, whilst on the other hand, in Connecticut, Pennsylva- nia and Ohio, the heaviest crops and finest tobacco are raised ' Tohacro Culture. 3S on level land and bottoms, alon