IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 1.25 
 
 i 
 
 
 " IAS ilM 
 
 1.8 
 
 U 111.6 
 
 % 
 
 4>>^« 
 
 W 
 
 
 "^ \> 
 
 
 7 
 
 % 
 
 /A 
 
 
 O 
 
 / 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
L<P 
 
 mj3 M-> 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
 Collection de 
 microfiches. 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 
 
Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques 
 
 The Institute has attempted to obtain the best 
 original copy available for filming. Features of this 
 copy which may be bibliographically unique, 
 which may alter any of the images in the 
 reproduction, or which may significantly change 
 the usual method of filming, are checked below. 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 D 
 □ 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 
 n 
 
 □ 
 
 n 
 
 Coloured covers/ 
 Couverture de coulcur 
 
 Covers damaged/ 
 Couverture endommagee 
 
 Coveru restored and/or laminated/ 
 Couverture restaurde et/ou pellicul6e 
 
 Cover title missing/ 
 
 Le titre de couverture manque 
 
 Coloured maps/ 
 
 Cartes g^ographiques en couleur 
 
 Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ 
 Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) 
 
 Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ 
 Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur 
 
 Bound with other material/ 
 Relid avec d'autres documents 
 
 Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion 
 along interior margin/ 
 
 La reliure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la 
 distortion le long de la marge intdrieure 
 
 Blank leaves added during restoration may 
 appear within the text. Whenever possible, these 
 have been omitted from Mming/ 
 II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes 
 lors d'unc restauration apparaissent dans le texte, 
 mais, lorsque cela dtait possible, ces pages n'ont 
 pas 6t6 fflmies. 
 
 Additional comments:/ 
 Commentaires supptdmentaires: 
 
 L'Institut a microviimd le meilleur exemplaire 
 qu'il lui a 6xi possible de se procurer. Les details 
 de cet exemplaire qui sunt pau^-dtre uniques du 
 point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier 
 une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une 
 modification dans la m6thode normale de filmage 
 sont indiquds ci-dessous. 
 
 I I Coloured pages/ 
 
 Pages de couleur 
 
 Pages damaged/ 
 Pages endommagdes 
 
 I I Pa^es restored and/or laminated/ 
 
 [^ 
 
 Pages restauries et/ou pellicul^es 
 
 Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 Pages d§color6es, tachet^es ou piqu^es 
 
 I I Pages detached/ 
 
 Pages d^tachies 
 
 Showthrough/ 
 Transparence 
 
 Quality of prir 
 
 Quality in^gale de I'impression 
 
 Includes supplementary materic 
 Comprend du matdriel supplemontaire 
 
 r~y Showthrough/ 
 
 I I Quality of print varies/ 
 
 I I Includes supplementary material/ 
 
 D 
 D 
 
 Only edition available/ 
 Seule Edition disponible 
 
 Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata 
 slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to 
 ensure the best possible image/ 
 Les pages totalement ou partiellement 
 obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, 
 etc., ont dtd filmdes A nouveau de facon d 
 obtenir la meilleure image possible. 
 
 This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 
 
 Ce document. est film6 au taux de reduction indiqud ci-dessous. 
 
 
 10X 
 
 
 
 
 14X 
 
 
 
 
 18X 
 
 
 
 
 22X 
 
 
 
 
 26X 
 
 
 
 
 30X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 J 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12X 
 
 
 
 
 16X 
 
 
 
 
 20X 
 
 
 
 
 24X 
 
 
 
 
 28X 
 
 
 
 
 32X 
 
lils 
 
 lu 
 
 lifier 
 
 ine 
 
 age 
 
 The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks 
 to the generosity of: 
 
 Library 
 Agriculture Canada 
 
 The images appearing here are the best quality 
 possible considering the condition and legibility 
 of the original copy and in keeping with the 
 filming contract specifications. 
 
 Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed 
 beginning with the front cover and ending on 
 the laSi page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All 
 other original copies are filmed beginning on the 
 first page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, and ending on the last page with a printed 
 or illustrated impression. 
 
 The last recorded frame on each microfiche 
 shall contain the symbol ^»- (meaning "CON- 
 TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), 
 whichever applies. 
 
 Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratios. Those too large to be 
 entirely included in one exposure are filmed 
 beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frames as 
 required. The following diagrams illustrate the 
 method: 
 
 L'exemplaire film6 fut reproduit grdce d la 
 gdndrositd de: 
 
 Bibliothdque 
 Agriculture Canada 
 
 Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le 
 plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et 
 de la nettet6 de l'exemplaire filmd, et en 
 conformity avec les conditions du contrat de 
 filmage. 
 
 Les exPHipiaires originaux dont la couverture en 
 papier est imprimde sont film6s en commengant 
 par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la 
 dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second 
 plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires 
 originaux sont film6s en commenpant par la 
 premidre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par 
 la dernidre page qui comporte une telle 
 empreinte. 
 
 Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la 
 dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le 
 cas: le symbole ^^> signifie "A SUIVRE", le 
 symbole V signifie "FIN". 
 
 Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre 
 film6s d des taux de reduction diffdrents. 
 Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre 
 reproduit en un seul clichd, il est film6 d partir 
 de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, 
 et de haut en bas, on prenant le nombre 
 d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants 
 illustrent la m6thode. 
 
 rrata 
 :o 
 
 pelure, 
 n d 
 
 D 
 
 32X 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
i' ! 
 
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
 
 CENTRAL EXPERLAIENTAL FAR^[ 
 
 OTTAWA, CANADA 
 
 BUI. CTilTII^s :N^o. 30 
 
 TOBACCO CULTURE 
 
 AfRlL, 18138 
 
 I'VHI.ISIIKII liV llIUK( I ION Ol' THK IfON S\|iNKV A. Fl>HKM, ^riMSIKK Ol AiUilcLI. rt'RK 
 
 I 
 
o 
 
 En 
 
 <lc 
 gf 
 
 lia 
 til 
 wi 
 
 111 
 
 c 
 
To the Honourable 
 
 The Minister of Agriculture. 
 Sir_I beg to submit for your approval LiuUetin No. 30 of the 
 Experimental Farm series prepared by myself. 
 
 -[he rapid increase during the past few years m the aiea o lan-l 
 
 .k-voted to the growing of tobacco in Canada has rcsuhed m a 
 
 2 latll^d for inforn.ation on this subjeet, -d nnny UK^nnes 
 
 tive been made bv correspondents at tlie Lentral harm for pai- 
 
 Ucu as relating to this industry. Under your n.struct.ons and 
 
 h the view 0I meeting this den.and, the Bulletin now subnn c-d 
 
 been prepared, giving the results of the expene..e o v^ac .^^^^^ 
 
 ,nen who have bee.) engaged in tobacco grown.g for .an >ea^.^ 
 
 I trust the facts presented will be found nf value t._. those 
 
 seeking information on this subject. 
 
 I have the honour to be 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 WM. SAUNDElvS, 
 Director Expenmental Farms. 
 
 Ottawa. April 3th. 1808. 
 
T()i;.\('('() ci i;ri UK 
 
 lll'nnn S,ni,i'/'r.^, /./../>.. /'./,'.>'.. / '. /. . >'. , .t'> 
 
 I »ll;i I'liil; r!\ l'Ki:iMl- A i.\l l''.\i;*l.-. 
 
 I ho Mibjitiiiicf Iviiuwii a> Uibaci'u cuiisisi.^ ui tin- Icaws or a 
 iiarculic plain, a native ui SmUh America, belonging {•> the ovdtv 
 Sti/tiuthii and known li> Itntanisis as Xhc'iciiiii J ii/'!i<iiiii. Its 
 nse is more general ami witlely spread than that of an\- other 
 narcotic or stinnilant ; it is largely niamnai'tured for smoking, is 
 also i)repared tor chewing, and is nsed to a more limited extent as 
 Mmtt. Specimens of this plant were iir>t hronght to Enm[)e in 
 I 35S !)y h'rancisco l'"ernandes, a ]ihysician who had been sent by 
 I'hilip II. of Spain to investigate the prtKlncts of .Mexico. While 
 I'ibacco first came to Enrone throngh .'^pain, the hal)it of smoking 
 was initiatetl and spreail by English examj)le. and .'^ir Walter 
 Raleigh was one of the devotee> to the nse of this weed wli ■ 
 helped to bring it into prominence. Dnring the seventeenth 
 centnry its use spread with great rapidity among all the nation. 
 notwitliNlanding the resolute opposition of statesmen and priesl^. 
 and penal enactments of the most severe description. 
 
 'J'here are other specie-' nf tobaccd gn.wn to a limited exteni 
 in other parts of the world, but the tobacco produced on tiie 
 .\merican continent and in Cuba, is all made from the species 
 leferred to. The tobacco plant is a coarse, rank-growing annual, 
 which attains a height of from four to six feet, crowned with a 
 panicle of pink flowers and having alternate leaves which are very 
 large, often attaining a length of three feet or more and a pro- 
 pi irtion;ite width. .Although this plant is a native of South 
 .Vmerica, it flourishes over a very wide area and adapts itself to 
 many dififercnt climates. It is grow'n in most of the sonthern 
 .ind middle .'^tates iu the neighbouring repnblii-. and il- cultivati"n 
 is rapidly increasing in Canada. Tlie tobacco plain i> very 
 susceptible t(( \a''ia'ii.ns in elimale .ind s. lij ; nm (inl\ ;n"e ilie size 
 and texture of the leaves so influenced, but the rpiality, strength 
 .'ind flavom- are thus affected in a remarkable degree, louring the 
 long period this plant has been under cultivation, many different 
 varieties have been jirodnced, but the finer qualities of high 
 llavour are grown rliells- in iniiiieal dunlries with a ennipara 
 tively dry climate. The seeds of the high-flavoured sorts, such as 
 are grown in Cuba, when sown in the cooler climates of the east- 
 ern States or ("auada ]'iii(lnce plain^; of nmch less tlavmu- and of a 
 different texture. Nevertheless, many useful commercial varieties 
 can be grown in the cooler climates of this coinitn-. 
 
6 
 
 The census vi Laiuula in 1891 shows a total pnnhict in all the 
 provinces of 4,277,936 pounds, of wliicii about 90 per cent was 
 thrown in the iirovinoe of Quebec. Most of this crop was culti- 
 \ateil ni small anas, nuvly exceeding a few acres on any one farm. 
 l^ecenily the cultivation of tobacco has increased very rapidly m 
 western Ontario, especially in the county of Essex. Walker .'^oiis, 
 .11 W alkerville, were ainonj; the i)ioneers in this industry, and 
 have for some years past had the larj^est tobacco farm in the I )o- 
 minion. In 181)7 dicy had 130 acres undc-r this crop. .\ considiT- 
 able number of larmcrs in the neighbourhood of Leamin);ton. 
 (^nt., have of late entered on the cultivation of this plant, .c^rowinc;- 
 from 5 to JO acres each. It is estimated that about l,oo(j acres 
 of land were devoted to the .q-rowini;- of tobacco in that part •>( 
 Msse.x in iS()7, and that about 40 car loads of cured leaf wen- 
 .shipped from that district. It is believed that a much larger ar"a 
 will be planted during the coniincr season. 
 
 SOir, AND ITS IMU:rAU \Tlo.V. 
 
 The soil most suitable for a tobacco croi) is a deep rich friable 
 loam, dry and warm, which can be easily worked up into a Ihu; 
 and mellow condition. While a rich sandy soil is usually pre- 
 ferred, the crop often docs equally well on a loamy clay, provided 
 it is of such a porous and open character as will admit of its beint;- 
 brought into a tine condition of tilth ; tobacco does not usuallv 
 succeed well on a heavy clay. When grcnvn on the heavier classes 
 of soil the jilants pncUice a thick leaf more suitable for the maun 
 factme (H chewing tobacco, and when grown on lighter sandy 
 .-oils a thin or liglit kaf more suitable for the making of cigars. 
 The tobacco plant grows vcr}' rapidly and is a gross feeder and 
 neecW ;ui abundant .'■upplv of plant food, hence, in the preparation 
 iif the soil for this crop barn-yard manure is used very liberally. 
 Abiiut thirty twn luir-r Im.-kU, nr lU'iVe. per acre aw ;ip]ilieil dufiug 
 tile wiiuer or early in the spring and pluuglu'd under. Subse- 
 i|Uenil\- the land i.^ l.j'rrowed-usuallv with a ili>eharn)\\ fi'Uii 
 time til time uii'.il the soil is thorougiilv atid tnu'ly i)ulverizei! in 
 a deptli I if ab.int tlrei inches. Wood ashe^ iua\- alsn ln' fiTel\ 
 Use.] with umcii benefit to this cri ip. 
 
 -owixi; 'nil'; siot:!). 
 
 Tiiliacco seed is smnetiines siiwn in hot-beds, sometimes in cnM 
 frames and occasionally in open ground. The first method has 
 l)cen practised at the Central Experimental Farm at Ottawa ai:d 
 is the plan usnaHv followed in the province of Quebec, b'P in 
 western ( )ntario, where the season is longer, although hotbeis 
 are fref|ucmly used, the sowing of the seed in cold fratne-; and 
 open beds is not uncommon. 
 
 In preparing a hot-bed select a southern or south-eastern ex- 
 posure sheltered nn the north, and dig out a s\rdcc 5 feet bv 12, or 
 any required length, to the depth of 18 inches. Place 3 or 4 inches 
 of straw in the bottom and cover with fresh manure from the 
 horse stable 10 the rlepth of M or 10 inches treading it rlown well. 
 
Cover with good rich loamy soil to i depth of 4 or 5 inches, and 
 pack it firin. Allow this to statul lor a few days to heat up and 
 then rake the bed smooth, when it will be ready to receive the 
 seed. Where a hot-hcd is used, the seed may be sown in row i 
 from 4 to () inches apart, or broadcast, having previously been 
 mix(<l with ashtis or cornmcal so as to ensure more evenness in 
 sowing. If sown broadcast the surface should afterwards be press- 
 ed liriniy by i)l'i,-ing a board about one iool wide and nearly llie 
 lengili 111 tile liel. on ihi surface of the ni-wly-sovvti ground, and 
 walking ovi'r it, then move the board so as to press another fiot, 
 and so on, until the whole bed is evenly pressed. Then cover wi'li 
 tVanies either gl.r-v-d 01 covered with cotton to |)rotect from colil 
 and frost and sprinkle the surface often enough with water or 
 weak li(|uid nia!nn"e to kci'p it nioisl. < it-rniinatiou takes pl.ice in 
 about ten days, and in from twenty to thirty ilavs after the plan's 
 appear, they should be large enough to transplant 
 
 Where the seed is sown in cold frames or open beds, a slieltered 
 position is desirable.with a southern ex])osure. Upon the plot select • 
 ed, brush is usually burnt until the soil is made liot enough to kil! 
 the seeds of grass and weeds near the surface. When the soil lias thus 
 i)ecn baked to the depth of abrut half an inch and the lied h;i-; 
 cooled, the surface is stirred with hoe or spade to the depth of 2 
 or 3 inches. Well-rotted manure is then spread over the ground 
 and raked and worked mitil it has become tlioroughly mixed, and 
 the whole made mellow and tine. Mix carefully one tablesijoonful 
 of seed with about a quart of ashes and sow broadcast. This 
 quantity is sut'ticient for a bed ten feet scjuare, and sho'.dd furni>h 
 plaiUs eiunigh for an acre of land. Urush or rake tlie seeil in 
 very lightly and use a light roller to make the surface compact, 
 smooth and even, or jiress the surface smooth with a board in the 
 maimer reconuiieiuled fo,' the sowing in hot-bc 1:;. I'se c ict. n 
 covered frames or cover with light brush thick enouL^n 
 to afford some shade to the young plants and to pri • 
 tect them from tlrying winds, and water from time 10 
 time as iiceded tn keep the ground moist. Kei'p the plants hee 
 from weeds and thin them out where necessary to avoid crowding. 
 Sometimes the seed is sprouted before sowing. This may 'le 
 done by mixing it with some fine mould and placing it near a 
 stove or in some other warm place and keeping it moist for four 
 or live days, ."-^ow it as soon as it can be seen to have sjirouted. 
 By adopting this plan some time may he saved, but it is not 
 generally recommended. The time of sowing will vary in different 
 localities, ranging in Canada from the 1st to the 15th of April, and 
 the young platits will be ready to put out from the 25th of May 
 to the loth of June. The seed bed should be large enough to 
 permit of a sufik-ient number of plants of the same size being 
 taken from it to complete the planting of the desired area at one 
 operation, so that the subsequent growth mav be even and regular. 
 There shoidd also be a suq:)lus left sufficient to fill the vacancies 
 caused by failure. 
 
 PT. ANTING. 
 
 The plants are usually put out in rows about 4 feet apart and 
 from 2/ J to 3T/J feet apai-t in the rows. Where practicable, the o ms 
 
s 
 
 sliuuld niii mil th and south so that cacli i)Iaiit may got the largest 
 amount ui sunshine. The places for the plants in the rows are 
 usually indicated by rumiing over the ground with a corn marker. 
 Some prefer to lidge the ground before planting, and claim that 
 subsequent cultivation can be carried on '..ith less injury to th-J 
 plants where this method is practised. If the ground be flat f»r 
 heavy this plan is preferred, but on lighter soils with good drain- 
 age the plants m.iy be successfully grown either with or witliout 
 ridging. 
 
 \Vhen the plants in the seed bed arc 4 to 5 inches high and the 
 hugcbl leaves from .i to jy^ inches wide they are ready for tiu- 
 held. Before any are lifted the bed should be thoroughly 
 >[iniU<ie(l uitii walei- >> • lli;it llie larili nia\ adlurr to tiir iikii-. 
 A cloudy day after a shower of rain is preferred for transplanting, 
 but i' the plaiUs are carefully removed with a ball of earth attached 
 tu the roots of each they may be set out with fair success, pni- 
 viucd the ground is reasonably moist, without waiting for such 
 specially favourable conditions. Small i)lanls should not be used, 
 it is better to wait a few days until they are of the proper size. 
 When i)Iauting, a l)asl<et of jilants is carried by a boy uj) between 
 the rows when one is dropped at ea.'h side where indicated by the 
 marker I llie iiiou ii How ami pm tlieiii m ilie ,l;1"Iiii(I. ii>mt^ .i 
 planting peg or the finger for this purin^se, pressing the earth 
 carefully about the roots. Where the platUation is very large, a 
 piantiiig machine is somctinu-s used. Messrs. Walker Sons usi. 
 till' r«emis' plainer by whicli with > im^ pair i if horses, driver and tWd 
 men to tend the machine, ahmit twmty thousand plants may bo 
 Set i)er (lay. 
 
 S()me experiments liave been tried at the Central Experimental 
 I'.irni as t(j the effects (if twice trans[)lanting. The plants were 
 pricked out from the hot-lx'd to cold frames, where they were 
 set in rows 8 inches apart, and about 3 inches apart in the rows, and 
 after they had grown strong and stocky they were transjilanted to 
 the held. It was observed that when treated in this way the plant.s 
 grew more rapidly and there were fewer failures in planting than 
 when they were transplanted directly from the hot-bed to the field. 
 The yield of leaf was also larger. When transplanting from tlie 
 bods the thinning should be so carried out as to give the remain- 
 ing plants more room and thus permit of a spreading stockv 
 growth. 
 
 m,TI\ATION". 
 
 .\fter plantin--, the grt imul should Ik- stirred with a 1 lue-horse cul- 
 tivator about imcc in ten or twelve days, so as t(i keep the land 
 thoroughly clean from weeds, and in a porous and mellow cond'- 
 tion. Frequent cultivation will also induce more favourable con- 
 ditions of moistm-e. This should be continued as long as the 
 cultivator can be passed through the rows without injuring the 
 ]ilants. After \]u<. a> tlu ink it -Of the planls will then almost fill 
 the space between the rows, the ground should he kept clean by 
 shallow hoeing-. 
 
u 
 
 I'HIMINO AND TUl'I'l.NU. 
 
 1j\ ilic word '• i>riiiiiiig: " is meant, tlic iviiioval (jf tlic lower or 
 priniar)- leaves which coiik' out too near the grouiul, and often 
 touch the surface and become lorn and sand) . it is an advantage 
 til do this work carlv. su that llic pianl^ may not unnece^sariK lose 
 strength by their growth. The distance from the giound this 
 liriniiiiL; siiouKl b- <l(.ni depi'iids soniewiiat on the \aiifly, but tlie 
 bottom of the stalk is usually stripped to a height of from 4 to 6 
 inches from the ground. 
 
 Topping is the removal of the flower stalk with one or more 
 ttf the upper and smaller leaves. This is done to tlirt)w the 
 strength of the plant which would otherwise go to the production 
 of seed, into the more perfect development of the leaves. The 
 plant is ready to top when the "button," as the blossom is called, 
 lias grown long ciKntgh to be taken hold of without injuring the 
 upper leaves of the plant. As the plants do not all blossom at the 
 same time, it is usual to let those stalks which bli.om first run 
 a little I)eyond the usual time of topping, so that all may be topped 
 at the one operation. The top? when broken off should be thrown 
 between the rows and .allowed to decay. The number of leaves 
 left on the stem at the time of topping varies from ten to sixteen 
 or eighteen, depending on the variety grown ; if topped too high 
 the upper leaves are apt to be too small to be of much value. As 
 tlie leaves of the tol)acco plant arc arranged on tb.e stem in eignt 
 perpendicular ranks, the ninth leaf stands directly over the first. 
 'This fact will assist the operator in determining the number of 
 leaves on a stalk without counting them. 
 
 SUCKRRIN-O. 
 
 .\i\vv tii|)])ini;. " m ckt r- " Nimn bcs^in tn ui'nu. ^ho'itmg "Ut 
 from the stalk on the upper side of each leaf at the base, those at 
 the top starting fiist. As soon as they are large enough to be 
 pulled they should be promptly removed, othenvise much of the 
 >lri'ngth iif ibe pl.am will In- I^st and lln' maturing of tlu' ero]) 
 delayed. Should they start a second or third time, tliey should 
 hv again removed 
 
 SA'.'iX'"; or SF"M. 
 
 To obtain seerl for sowing the following year, a few of the 
 earliest, most thrifty and large-leaved stalks should be left without 
 topping. These will bloom and seed freely, and when the crop is 
 cut these stalks should be allowed to stand. As soon as the seed 
 pods turn to a blackisl' colour the seed will l)e nearlv matured ; 
 then cut off the heads and hang them up in a dry place to cure. 
 Later in the season strip the seed pods from the stalks, rub them 
 in the hand and clean the seed by sifting through a fine sieve. 
 Tobacco seed is said to retain its germinating power for several 
 \ears. 
 
 INSECT RNEMIKP. 
 
 Cutworms are sometimes very active in destroying the newly set 
 plants. Where these are troublesome thev may be reduced in 
 
 \M, 
 
10 
 
 numbcM- by placing at many different points in the field small 
 binchcs of poisoned weeds, grass or clover. These bunches are 
 tieii and rendered poisonous by dipping them in a mixture of 
 Pans green and water in the proportion of two ounces of the 
 poison to a pailful of water. The cutworms take shelter under 
 the bundles of weeds and eat of the poisoned material and die. In 
 hot weather these bundles should be put out after sundown and 
 a shingle may be laid on each to keep it fresh. Cutworms are 
 tlie caterpillars cf dull coloured active moths or "millers," which 
 fly at night, mostly during the month of July. The caterpillars 
 lie hidden during the day and come out to feed ?t dusk. They 
 arc smooth antl naked, and arc usually of some dull shade of 
 greenish grey, or brown, with dusky markings. When these 
 caterpillars are fully grown, wliich is usually in the latter part of 
 June, they enter the ground and change to chrysalids, from which 
 the moths emerge later in the season. These deposit their eggs 
 on gras> or niiicr plants i ir wccils ; the young larva* hatch in al)om 
 a fortnight and feed uhually unobserved amid the abtnuiant growth 
 of summer, and wlieii they reach a length of one-half to three 
 quarters of an inch they bury themselves in the ground in autumn, 
 vhere they remain until the following spring. On emerging fmtn 
 their long period of torpor they become very active anil feed 
 greedily on almost any green plant whicli comes in their way. 
 
 Cutworms usually attack the plants about the base, and having 
 eaten the stem through leave the greater part of the young plant 
 to wilt and perish. Where a plant suddenly withers and dies, the 
 author of the mischief can generally be found within a few inches 
 of the platU. buried just below the surface of the ground. In 
 such cases they should be searched for and destroyed. Where 
 cutwofins are p' ntiful it is necessary ti) look over the plants 
 everv dav or two, and to promptly reset any which mav have been 
 killed. 
 
 After the cut worms have disappeared the caterpillar of a largo 
 sphinx moth, Sphinx qui/i(]jiciiuiculnfus, becomes a most trouble- 
 some foe to the tobacco grower. This insect spends the winter 
 in the chrysalis state buried in the ground. Early in June the 
 chr>'salis wriggles its way up to the surface, when the moth 
 escapes, ft tlies at dusk and in its flight much resembles a burn- 
 ming-binl, and ^(>o^ begins to deposit eggs. These are laid singlv 
 on tiie niulef --i le ui the leai. where \\\v\ liatt'h in the course oi a 
 few da\> when \\\v \i ung larva or " woimu " begins to feed on the 
 leaf, making small holes here and there in it. About the time 
 A hen the leaves are as large as a man's hand these caterpillars 
 appear. The plantation should then be gone over carefully, look- 
 ing at every plant. A sharp eye will detect the small holes they 
 make in the leaf very promptly, and on turning it up a small gresi 
 caterpillar will be seen t)n the under side with a projecting horn 
 on the hinder end of its body. These should be at once destroyed, 
 which may be done by crushing them between the finger ar;d 
 thumb. As the eggs of these caterpillars continue to be laid 
 during a considerable part of the season, constant watchfulness 
 and frequent inspection is needed to prevent injury to the crop. 
 Where tlie fields are neglected these caterpillars grow rapidly and 
 
11 
 
 lat \iir;u'itiu^ly, ami a single sncciiucn will soon dc.-tr«i\- the 
 greater part of tiie leaves of the plant on wiiicli it has been plaood 
 and on several (.'tl tr': r.ear li\. When fnll j^vown this larva 
 i'^ ,^ inehis lonj^', nr more, and about the thickness of ttie tore- 
 tinj^er, j^ft'en. with paler stripes alon.q' the sides of the liody. Whei-; 
 distinljed it raises its head in a threatenint;' manner and lool:s 
 cpiite fer(.ieions, but is iiieapable of indicting any injurw 
 
 IIAKVKSTIXU. 
 
 When the leaves approach maturity they graduall\ lose their 
 deep green colour and assume a yellowish hue, which, in souk? 
 varieties, is inultled with deeper markings of the same ct>lour. 
 Idle veins of the leaves ijccome swollen and the substance of the 
 leaf feels thick ami gummy. At this stage the tip of the Kaf !)e- 
 comes somewhat brittle and the midrib will usually break wit;; a 
 clean fractiu-e if the tip is sharply doubled back ; the leaves are 
 then ready for harvesting. When the leaf is sufficiently matiu'ed, 
 the sooner it is cm the lietlrr, as il is liaiilc to injnr\ imm frosi or 
 other unfavourable weather. The usual method is to cut the plant 
 down nearly to the ground and sus])end the stalk with its le;i\es 
 .ittached in a suitable drying-house where, when ilried, the leaves 
 are slri|)ped and |;ici-cd The other method which !•- '-■ niieiiiiie- 
 folluwed by those who cultivate tobacco on a small scale, or wh.'i'C 
 labom- is ]'lentifid and cheap, is to strip the leaves fnini the plants 
 in the held, gatluring them as they mature and stringiu'..' them 
 on twine or wires attached to laths or strips in sucli a maimer as 
 to alhnv each strip with its load of leaves to be h;mdled separate!^'. 
 These .'iri' then placed in the drying-house to cuvc. \\v this jiro- 
 I'l'ss a belter i|n;ilil\ o| leaf i-> obtaim'(l bm al a liri^er ci i>i '<•>]■ 
 labour. 
 
 ."^onie gi'o\\e:> -plu ihe Mpriglit >\v\\\ cif U'e plant lielore culling, 
 with ;i sharp knife down the middle to within 4 or 5 inches >^\ the 
 base, then withdraw the knife and cut the stalk oti' close to ihc 
 ground. This plan is said to be convenient for hanging, a> 'lie 
 >ta'ks c:u\ be ])laced astride the strips on which they are susr.eiiled 
 and the leaves on stalks thus treated drv more rapidly : thev are, 
 however, more apt lo slip off the slicks when moving them. 
 
 Another method is to pierce through the stalks with a \ -shaped 
 spear made of iron or steel, with a socket large enough to admii 
 the vi]i\ of ;i stick on which the tobacco is to be hung. The stick 
 i-^ set upright on the ground, fitted with the spear at the end, 
 when the tobacco is lifted, one stalk at a time, and thrn-t on 
 the spe;ir, which passes thr()ug"h the stalk, about six inche< from 
 the base The sticks ;ire usnallv made .| ■ j fi'ct long, and atfurd 
 -i';ice I'liongh to suspend eight plants. When one stick i-^ 
 lilled. the spear is t;iken otV ;md attached to another, and tiiis 
 proce>;s is continued until the plants are all hung. ( 'ther growers 
 ]irefer \o sn^^pend the ]ilaiits by tving them to suitable sticks wiili 
 twine. 
 
 Cutting should begin ;is soon as the dew is off the ]ila:its 
 in the morning. ( iit with a hatchet or snitalile knife, grasp 
 the stalk with the Kli h.-md and bend if well to the left, so as 
 
 ■fl • 
 
^ 
 
 mm 
 
 12 
 
 to exijosc the lower part of the stalk, and sever with the knU'e 
 laar the surface "f the ground, letting- the stalk drop over 
 wiihont duubliug the leaves under. Lay the plants on the 
 grMund to wilt fur an hour or two, or until the leaves lose their 
 brittleness and can Ix handled wiUiout breaking. Then Inad 
 the tobacco on a wagon, keeping the butts out on both sides 
 ill loading, and draw to the drying-h nise. Xo more i)lanij 
 should be cut than can be taken in and hung U[) the same day. 
 Never cut tobacco on a raim' day, as the leaves arc then sure 
 to get sanc'.y, which will lessen their value, and do not allow 
 the plants to lie long on the wagon or in a pile, as they soon 
 sweat and heat, which quickly injures them. 
 
 iJKVIXO. 
 
 A house 30 by 24 feet so arranged as to hang the tobacco 
 in four tiers is said to be large enough to give drying accon.v- 
 mudation to an acre of tobacco. Most growers prefer to build 
 llieir drying-houses tight, so that they may be closed up in unfa 
 \ < lurable weather. Such buildings are supplied at the base with a 
 number of doors, allording oijcnings large enough to admil air 
 freely, and ventilators are provided ainive. Drying-houses are 
 most commonly built from 16 to 20 feet wide, 16 feet high and 40 
 to 50 feet long, or longer if required. C)ccas!t)nally buildings arc 
 iiiL-t with which have their sides covered with boards so placed a- 
 to leave an inch or more of si)ace between each to provide for 
 free access of eiir. This, however, does not alford sufhcient j^ro- 
 tection in case of unfavourable weather. Whatever method 
 may lie used for hanging the stalks, they are ])laced on the stick- 
 about 5 inches apart, leaving eight or nine stalks on a stick, 
 and the sticks are so arranged as to leave a space of S or i) inche- 
 ])etween them. 
 
 When the plants are sufficiently dried, which is known bv 
 the stems becoming of a brown colour and breaking when bent, 
 the tobacco is ready for stripping. Danij) weather is chosen for 
 this oi)eration, when the damj) air is freely .-idmitted and the 
 leaves absorb moisture so that th.ey can j^e handled without 
 breakinc;-. The operator pulls the leaves from the stalks one by 
 one, until he gets what is technically called a "hand," whicji 
 consists of from twelve to sixteen leaves, when these are fastened 
 together by a good leaf folded to two or three inches in width, 
 and wound around the base and secured by tucking the end 
 under. During the stri]iping the leaves are separated into two 
 gr.'ules according to 'i/e ;ind snundness — all the torn and inimed 
 leaves, as well ;t; ihe small and less matured s]X'cinicns, forming 
 the second crrade. 
 
 nui.KtNT,. 
 
 After the tobacco is stripped it is packed down each d.ay where 
 ir will be secure from drving winds or wet. The "hands" are 
 placed witli butt'^ out and the leaves overlapping at the tips 
 fcr about one-third of their length, laying- one row of btitts one 
 wav. then aimth'^- np the opposite, keeping them straight and 
 
13 
 
 even to prcvciu llic air fnun drying ilie material. The " liamls "' 
 arc pressed together by kiieelint;' on tlieni while packing, and 
 when the piles have reached a convenient heiLrht, say 3 to 4 feet, 
 they are weighted with heavy plar.ks on top stj as to press the 
 material down as compact as pcjssible. The pile is then covered 
 with some tahrie or material sr.cii as blankets or sacking to pre- 
 vent tlic drying of the exposed parts, and in this condition it is 
 allowed to remain al)out a month dnring which time the curing 
 or "sweating" process goes on by which when properly attended 
 to the leaves acquire a miiform colour. The bulking is foil nveil 
 i)y an increase of Icmpcrature in die pile, which sliould be 
 watched, and when a thermometer placeil in the '■eiure of the 
 iieap indicates ;', temperature of 100 to no i'ahr., or when the heat 
 is uncomfortable to the hand when introduced, the "bulk" should 
 Ijc opened ami rearranged so that the outer and upper tiers may 
 be brought to the centre. In this way the heat is lessened and the 
 curing process proceeds evenly and uniformly throughout '.he 
 pile. When the tobacco is tiiorouglily cured the " bulk " is (opened 
 and the material arranged more loosely and graduall}' cocjled whi'ii 
 the tobacco will be ready for market. W hen disposed of, it is 
 usually packed in bales of about too lbs. each, tirmly pressed to- 
 gether and enclosed in sacking. 
 
 V.VIUKTI'OS. 
 
 Among the earliest and bes*: yielding varieties tested at the Ex- 
 i)erimental Farm are : White Jurley, Connecticut Seed Leaf, Penn- 
 >ylvania Seed Leaf, Lryor Yellow, Climax, Yellow .Mam- 
 moth, Oronok) \ eliow, .Safrann, r>ra/.ilian ami Canadian. 
 In 1896 the \\ hill- llurle} grown at the Lxperinienial 
 l'"arm was matured and partly harvested, when a >harp frost 
 (iccurred in beptember, which greatly injured the later sorts. 
 The White Burley is much grown in the Province of Quebec, ar.d 
 is also the variety most extensively cultivated in western CJntario. 
 The Connecticut Seed Leaf stands probably next in public favour, 
 and is well spoken of generally. Messrs. Walker Sons have 
 I'ound the White Burle\- and Connecticut Seed Leaf the mcst 
 |)rotitable varieties to grow, and think that a fair average of the 
 \ield of these varieties, taking one season witli another, would 
 be about i,8(x:) lbs. of cured t()l)acco ])er acre 1 )r. ( i. LaRu(.|ue, 
 late \I.P. for Chambly County, Quebec, in his excellent little 
 i)ook on "Culture et Preparation du Tabac ' gives the crop rif 
 the different varieties grown in Quebec as ranging from 900 10 
 1,500 lbs, per acre, while Mr. M. G. Bnmer of OHnda, Ont.'irio, 
 istimatcs tlie crop about Leamington at from 1,000 to i.roo lbs. 
 I>cr acre. Where the same varieties are grown the yield in every 
 rase will depend much on the quality of the land and the quantify 
 ■ if manure which has been used. In the small experimental plots 
 at the Central Experimental I'arm, the v.eight of crop has been 
 estimated in dififerent seasons from about 1.500 to 2.500 'bs. <ty 
 more per acre. 
 
 i 
 
14 
 
 ■l'(tBA('(U AN KXHAUSTING CKKl'. 
 
 I'rom tlie reports wliich have been publislied of chemical 
 analyses of the leaves and stalks of the tobacco plant, it is evident 
 that' this crop draws heavily on the potash in the soiL It is 
 also a considerable consumer of nitrogen and of hme. On such 
 land as is frequentlv used for this crop, the ploughmg under of 
 clover to enrich the soil, large applications of barn-yard manure, 
 lil)eral dressings of wood ashes or of salts of potash, and an 
 occasional application of lime, will all be found beneficia!. As 
 tlie sialks take from the soil about the same proportion of the 
 fertilizing constituents as the leaves, the exhausting efifect of 
 this crop on the land mav be lessened by allowing the stalks 
 to remain on the gromKl' to decay and then ploughing them 
 
 under. . , t. • i i 
 
 In the pieparation of this bulletin the wnter has been aided 
 b\- \alued information from Walker Sons, of Walkerville, Out., 
 from John McXutt, Ruthyen, Ont.. and other practical tobacco 
 growers both in Quebec and Ontario. Free use las also been 
 made of the information gained by the comparative test of var- 
 ieties carried on for several years by the Horticulturist at the 
 Central Experimental Farm.