Friday, September 13, 1935. THE PILOT. Southern Pines and Aberdeen, North Carolina Page Seves Flue-Cured Tobacco Has Long Been One of Chief Cash Crops of North Carolina E. Y. Floyd Reviews History of Growing of Leaf and Price Range Over the Years By E. Y. FLOYD, Extension Tobacco Sp<‘ciali8t N. C. State College For many years flue.cured tobac. CO has been reasonably profitable and one of the state’s main cash crops. The peak year in production was 1930, which amounted to 585,990,- 000 pounds. The average poundage for the five highest years, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930 and 1933 was 518,299,. COO pound.s, , The price began to decline in 1930 and continued to do so until the fall of 1933 when the growers with the aid of the government agreed to co_ operate together to control produc tion. This was when the adjustment program began to affect the price. The price was raised considerably in 1933 after an agreement with the manufacturer to bring the price to a satisfactory level provided the crop was sufficiently reduced to take out the surplus. The .surplus was taken out in 1934, and in this state alone tho growers received $122,142,000. The growers will also receive a total of S12,454.459.48 for equalization, rental and adjustment payments, which will be paid in ad dition tu the splendid increa.se in prices. In 1932 sales amounted to .?35,. 428,000. It is true that the quality of tobacco over the entire belt.s in 1934 was 50 to 60 per cent better than 1932 and there were some increases in the con.sumption of manufactured to bacco. Tobacco is in a relatively better position than cotton so far as for. eign maikets are concerned. Flue, cured tobacco is grown in a relative ly small area, which includes north, ern Florida, parts of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virgin, ia. Flue-cufcfl tobacco is best grown on soils that have a previous sub. soil about 6 or 8 inches from the surface soils. Extremely sandy soils with a sub soil of 2 or 3 feet or the heavy clay soils are not as sat. Isfactory for gi'owing tobacco, con sidering the average production and quality for each year under normal conditions. The above mentioned territories Bonanza, and Gold Dollar are the types that have proved to give the growers the best yield and quality of cigarette tobacco, lu any type of tobacco, the selection of the seed plants in the field is very important. A broad leaf w'ith the fibers not too large and alternating along the mid. rib, and the leaves properly spaced on the stalk always gives better re. suits than the narrow type of to. bacco, such as Willow Leaf, or to go to the extreme, a variety known as Big Gem. Big Gem has an extreme, ly broad leaf and the fibers join at the midrib and extend out through the leaf in an opposite direction mak. ing a larger angle between the mid. rib than the above varieties. This causes the leaf to bret.k easily in case of wind. Tolmoro FVrfiliicrs Fertilizers should be ma;le of the very best materials. The nitrogen should be derived from 14 nitraie nitrogen, 1.4 ammonia nitrogen, 1.4 cottonseed meal, and 1.4 from blood, fi.«h 01' tankage. Urea which analyses 46 per cent nitrogen is also a good -source of nitrogen for. The phos. phate should come from super.pho.s. phate. The potask should not ex. ceed 2 percent muriate of potash and the remainder from sulphate. If no 'magne.sium limestone ha.s beon used on your soil in recent years, it will be profitable to insist that your tobacco fertilezer carry at least 2 pcrcent available magnesium oxide. Most soils of the State require at least 5 to (5 percent potash to give the mo.'it profitable results, however, there are .some soils where 8 per cent is necessary. Under average soil conditi ;ns the rate of application should be from .800 to 1,000 pounds per acre. The producer in all cases should know the productivity of his .soil to the ex. tent that he can make his applica. tion of fertilizer to the best advan. tage, considering the* growth and quality necessary for the best mar. ket demand. We vould recommend on light colorerl less productive soils of the Coastal Plain and Piedmont sections a 3.8.6. On the heavy more productive soils a 3.10.6, Where to. bacco follows a legume crop a 2. 10.6 should be used. Under most soil conditions best re. suits are given when the fertilizer is applied in the drill a week or ten for the growing of flue.cured tobac. CO have the advantage over most of i days prior to trans.planting On th the foreign markets in that the sea- light, sandy Soils that leach rapidly sons and soils are a little better adapted for growing quality and aroma that is now demanded by the smoking public. The quality factor is one thing that the above mention, ed territories must use every possi ble means to develop, if they expect to hold their partion in the produc tion of flue.cured tobacco that they have in the past. Tobacco Varieties The following are factors that greatly influence the quality of flue, cured tobacco and should be practic ed by all growers in order to ob. tain the best results: Varieties are very essential. White Stem Oronoco, Virginia Bright Leaf, during heavy rains, two applica. tions of fertilizer .should be applied —two.thirds of the fertilizer before transplanting and one.third about 20 days after transplanting. The second application should be applied as close to the plant as pos. sihle without injuring it. In all cases, the fertilizer should be mixed thor. cughly in the drill. The soil should be ridged so that when the tobacco is transplanted it will be above the level of the .'loil. The young, tran.s. planted plant will live much better if planted on a bed rather than on a a small ridge. Tobacco plants should also be kept above the level of the ground with the middles scat. WE RECOMMEND The Purchase of Wood's Italian Rye Grass FOR YOUR Winter Lawn A Grass Seed producing the finest winter lawns in the Sandhills. Tested and used for years by the gard eners of many estates, and a quality seed for both large iand small plots at a price no greater than inferior seed. September rainfall has been copious, giving the ground plenty of moisture. NOW IS THE TIME TO PLANT YOUR GRASS SEED Also— Wood’s Winter Green Lawn Grass This is a mixture of grass seeds highly recommended for our Sandhill soil. No coarse grasses—no clumps or tufts. HcNElLL & COMPANY Feed and Seed Store Telephone 6244 Broad Street Southern Pines tered to take care of the excess wa. ter. Spacing Tobacco Early tobacco should be planted closer together, by all means, be. cause early planting has a tendency to make small growth leaves which generally cure out as leafy tobacco but nat as valuable as a thin, bright, luggy cigrette type of tobacco. We find that the closer we space the thinner the tobacco will be when cured. I would suggest that the maximum distance between hills be 24 inches, and on very fertile soils 18 to 20 inches, and the rows should be 4 feet wide. Tobacco CuUivation The following plan has given us a not ret'.:rn of more than .SBO per acre as coripared witii faulty cultiva. lion. 1. The first cultivation of tobac. CO should begin as soon as the plant snow.s £!'“s that it is taking root. The best practice is to cultivate lightly and break the crust around the plant with a hoe, 2. Continue cultivating about every week to ten days until about a weok before you are ready to top the tobncco. In the second cultiva. tion begin the putting the .soil to the plant in ordei' to make it put out a new roof system high