xt73ff3kxr86 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt73ff3kxr86/data/mets.xml   Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. 1930 journals kaes_circulars_230 English Lexington : The Service, 1913-1958. Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station Circular (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n. 230 text Circular (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n. 230 1930 2014 true xt73ff3kxr86 section xt73ff3kxr86 I 4,.- .$;C: ’
 I UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY A
WO A»_.  COLLEGE OF AGRICULTUR E ·  
IE sg  Extension Diviéibn
  THOMAS 1*. (`()()l’I<}R, Dcaun uml I)Il’(‘('t()l'
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to   CIRCULAR NO. 230
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’€ , THE PRODUCTION OF WHITE
ms  `II " BURLEY TOBACCO
and K
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[mg   Lcxingtou, Ky.
I;1,SO'   l"('I)l'lI1ll')', 1930
mml  T
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|‘¤¤\»li~l¤···1 in ····um···11·»¤ mm mp ;.;»—a.-»»11m—;.1 ··xm··»·$i·»¤ w»»¤·x¤ ¢·:¤x·ri<·»I Am
IW *‘*>·<¤\>\‘1`1l|in11 nl` tlw i`<1ll¤~;¤· uf .\Ql'I4'\|IIllI'l‘. I`ui\'¤*1‘:o1‘tant element for tobacco in the Central l‘lluCg‘i‘Z1SS
:010}-Z" f R€gion. since it produces a larger increase in yield than tl1C
`bfmu other elements, Outside the Bluegrass Region. phos]>l1ol‘US
SSIJICS . Qives the largest increase. A fertilizer analyzing 4 to 5 per-
f l"m·- €C11t of nitrogen, S to IO percent of phosphoric acid. and el to
5 percent of potash is probably as satisfactory as any that

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6 ]{¢‘Il[ll(`/n’_\' E.r/wzsionz Clfl'(`l!f(l}' X0. 230 Q
can be used. For those who prefer to mix their own fertili—   o
zcr, -1 parts of nitrate of soda or 3 parts of sulfate of ammonia, l a
5 parts of superphosphate, and 1 part of sulfate of potash give   2;
a satisfactory nnixture. The annount to use depends upon the i ;1·
productivity of the soil. For soils that will nnake 40 to 50   sn
bushels of corn per acre in good season, 500 to 000 pounds   p
per acre is recommended; for soils making 50 to 60 bushels, l tc
400 to 500 pounds of fertilizer. Fresh soils in a very produc- I tl
tive condition do not require fertilizers usually; especially   ] c:
this true in the Central Bluegrass Region. A side dressing of { y
100 to 200 pounds of nitrate of soda per acre or equivalennt   0
amounts of other soluble nitrogen fertilizer often may be usenl   0
prolitably to stimulate a slow-growing crop.   li
Recent developments in the fertilizer industry have made   Ci
it possible to manufacture nnuch nnore highly conccntn·ate,1l O
fertilizers than formerly. These highly concentrated fern-; t'
lizers are now on the market and undoubtedly will soon he l Sl
offered for sale in all parts of the country. Very little intl t'
formation is available regarding their effectiveness. but it 
assumed that they are relatively as effective as any otlnerl 1*
fertilizers. It is necessary to apply these fertilizers veryi ll
carefully in order to avoid injury to the young plants. l ll
In using highly concentrated fertilizers for tobacco, onne   E
should be selected that has the percentages of plant food inn   li
about the same ratio as in the fertilizers previously recom-l . C
mended; that is, a 1-2-1 ratio, the lirst figure referring 
nitrogen, the second to phosphoric acid, and the third tai
potash. A 12-24-12 or a 15-30-15 analysis has this ratio. 0i  
course nnuch smaller amounts of these concentrated fertili-Q A
zers will be required than of those of the ordinary type. lint    
example, when the recommendation is for 500 pounds nil  
-1-S-4 analysis, only about 165 pounds of the 12-24-12 analysi> l  
should be used, or 135 pounds of the 15-30-15 analysis.   t
  f
A EFFECT OF FER'[`IL]ZER ON QC.-\L]TY. I
l
ln the limestone region of Cenntral Kentucky, fertilizers: 1
seem to have very little effect upon quality in the aven‘a£‘F· I
season, except where the soil is not sufficiently productive te 1
give a fair growth of plants. l?’robably an excessive annonnnn: F

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  T/ic }’r0r/zrclfozz of ll'/zi/v /Jzir/cy 7`0Iu1cc0 7
rtllj.   of nitrogen f€1"E1liZ@l' <>1“ ll€Zl\‘}’ Zll>pliCZ1tioils of manure will
.»nia_   affect duality adversely on soils where drainage is slow
givei and aeration imperfect. ()n “quicl<" soils, even very large
itlie   amounts of nitrogen fertilizers seem not to be injurious. ln
o 50   sections where soils are deficient in phosphorus, the use of
und;   phosphate in the fertilizer will usually improve quality ma-
hels_ l terially. The same thing is doubtless true of potash, \Vhere
>duc— I the weather following transplanting is cool and wet. commer-
ly   ] cial fertilizers may have a decidedly henelicial effect upon both
lg Og, yield and quality. in 1929, when such seasonal conditions
nlem l ()CClll`l'G(l, f€l`UllZ€(l t0l)ElCCO lllZIlUtZUH€(l El StCZl(ly gl‘1)\\'tl`l tl1l‘u—
userll out the wet period and was sufficiently mature to harvest
l before the drouth which followed became severe enough to
mndel cause injury. rlirllis e€Ll`l)’—mZl'Ci1l'illg tolmcco gave good yield.;
wml   of excellent quality leaf. (ln the other. hand, much unfertilized
fem?   tobacco made a very slow growth.durmg the early part ot the
m he l season and the drouth prevented its development later. Such
IC ml tobacco gave low yields of poor quality leaf.
it   Lime is not often of direct benefit to tobacco; in fact,
Otjml tobacco planted on land that has recently been heavily liined
YU`.   may be injured. indirectly, lime may be of beneht by mak-
' l ing better grass and cloyer in the tobacco rotation. Its bene-
IV Om; licial effects may be obtained without much danger of any
Od ini unfavorable. results by lusing moderate applications on the
ECON? l j crop following tobacco in the rotation.
ir » 2
      APPLYIXG (`())l)[I·]R(`L·\L FERTILIZERS.
u Oi; V . · ..
f __ E Lnless very large amounts ol fertilizer are used. row
iemlklil application is preferable to broadcasting. Four hundred to
' Dil   six hundred pounds per acre, perhaps much more. can be used
df in   safely in the rows if properly applied. To avoid injury, the
Milli]?   fertilizer should be mixed thoroly with the soil or so applied
  that it will not be directly in contact with plant roots. A ·
§ fairly safe job can be done with the ordinary one-horse ferti-
_ lizer drill owned on most farms. A narrow shovel should be
Vilizclai l1SC
of superphosphate drilled in the rows. Nanure may be l i
slightly more effective if used as a top-dressing after the I
ground is plowed; however, if coarse and strawy, it cannot f {
be used in this way. Chicken manure. especially if quite dry l ;
and free from straw or other bedding material, contains inuclf I I
more plant food than ordinary stable manure and less necfl   ·
be used. A top—dressing of 4 to 5 tons per acre should gut l ·
good results.   ;
i

 T/10 [)l‘()(Iillt.`ffO}Z 0f if']Ili1i(’ ]}lll'f(`y Y`()l7(li`(TO 9
ultl , . .
. RAISIB G THE l’1iA.\'I`S.
ing
the The growing of plants is fully discussed in Kentucky Ex-
»ulunucc0 13
the f — not large. This method is worthy of trial by \\Thite Burley
T growers. It seems very doubtful if method No. 4—topping
led. ‘ when the tobacco is harvested—is profitable. as both yield
  and quality were the lowest of any method,
  . H AR\`l<1S'l‘IN (il.
The yellowing of the lower leaves on the plants indicates
lng QT that \\'hite Burley tobacco is beginning to ripen. The yel-
011-   lowing g1'€l(lllZl.ll}` CXt€ll(l5 to the leaves higher up on the
irly T plant until, in fully ripened Burley, even the top leaves have
her a decidedly yellow cast. Good, colory leaf is obtained by
ved T cutting at any time after yellowing begins; but if cut when
dry quite immature, the yield is much less than if the tobacco is
T allowed to become ripe. Tobacco cut green is also more
em I likely to damage in the barn than riper tobacco.·in case of
me 1 unfavorable curing weatherg Un the other hand, it does not
des y pay to let tobacco stand until the lower lighter leaves necome
hm damaged, as these are among the most valuable on the plant.
Furthermore, very ripe tobacco does not seem to color as
ml) _ well in curing as that not so ripe. The tendency recently
ms ‘_ has been to cut \\Thite Burley too green, resulting in smaller
Nu   yield and. in many cases. poor quality. The best stage to
‘est   harvest is when the middle leaves on the plant show a dis-
ght   tinct yellow color. Cutting at this stage will give practically
T the maximum weight of cured leaf, as good color as may be l
[lly 3— obtained. and the tobacco will not damage easily in the barn.
the \\`hite llurley tobacco is very easily injured by drouth.
not The leaves yellow and burn badly, regardless of the stage of
lute T maturity. Tobacco that has begun to burn severely should
tm, g be harvested if of sufficient size to pay for cutting. Tobacco
CCS Cut at this time will give good quality of leaf cvcn tho im-
mature.
ml. Splitting the stalk is the most common practice in har- ’
imt vesting \\Thite Hurley tobacco, but in recent years spcaring
the has also bcen'practiced extensively. ln splitting: the stalks
thc i Zlte split to within a lew inches ul the ground lWL*l<*l't"K`lllllllCQ`
md lll? plants. which are then straddled over the sticks. lll
_< i #]>t‘Zll'lug, the sticl; is pushed firmly into the g1‘ot1u’l and ll
T 15   *l*€11t' head placed on the top end. The plant is then spe?1l'<’acr0 15
3k` T iiyst illtlieiltltllli (lf }'€ll(>\\'lUg (Jl? HIC l€El\'€$, l`llO$'[ of the venti-
lm lators slltvllltl l)re   should lie well ventilated until the leaf is thoroly dry. ()n
wi   » windy days. ventilators should be closed to prevent shattering
ast l_ of the leaves.
Much cloudy. rainy or damp weather makes it very ditli-
ot. cult to get good results in air curing. ln fact. it is some--
vi ' times almost i1N]>t>SSll>lC to ])1‘C\'€l1TZ illjttry hy houseburn ex-
mg ` cept by using artilicial heat. lelouseburn is caused by an
ard » organism which seems to be always present on the leaves
urs but which causes no damage until the leaves begin to yellow
led or die. and then only when the weather remains very damp
Vw and warm for two or three Clays. Under these conditions.
car- the organisms develop and cause a rotting of the leaves.
There are few years that houseburn does not cause consider-
g able loss in all the air-cured tobacco districts, and in some
l years the losses are very heavy.
._ § \\'hen the outside air is warm and saturated with mois-
3%;   ture,   during times of almost constant rain alnd continued
lgtq E cloudmess, no amount of \’€lltllZltl<'1Il will be ot any beneht.
y T i lf the tobacco is at the “houseburn" stage at such a time,
Ou}   houseburn is certain to develop unless the tobacco is dried
lmgi   out with artificial heat. Coke stoves, usually called salaman— .
muh   clers. are much used in the \\'hite Burley district. They are
l round, open top, sheet-iron stoves, usually made by local
lm l tinsmiths, and are relatively inexpensive. Enough of these
El"?   stoves should be used to raise the temperature in the barn
l°m· Q 8** or 10** l·`., or sufficiently to dry the leaf. liight or ten in
UCS? 1 it 5·2lCl`(3 tobacco barn are necessary to accomplish this. unless
lem l the barn is unusually tight. Oil coke may be burned without
f llc 3 stoves; that is, tires may be maintained on the ground. This l
Q l‘ y kind of coke is difficult to obtain in most places. lt is best
VE]? l to maintain the tires until the weather becomes favorable.
lm   Coke hres do not injure \\*hite Hurley tobacco. and Z1 tem-
’l"”’lY   Deraturc up to 100** F. will not affect the character of the
full T l€Ilf. Experiments at the Kentucky Experiment Station have
thc i $h0\\’11 that \\Thite liurley can be completely cured with Zlrtl-
l

 lo Iiciz/ur/cy E.1'ft`lI.VI0ll Cfrrn/zzr N0. 230
licial heat where the temperature does not exceed lOO" F. ;
and still be identical in quality with air-cured leaf.
\\'here the outside air has any drying capacity whatever i
-—that is, it is not saturated with moisture or is much cooler
than the inside air—thoro ventilation may prevent houseburn_  
Blowing air thru the barn with the blower on a grain sepa-  
rator or ensilage cutter is beneficial when the outside air can l
still take up more moisture.
After curing is completed, there is no further danger ·
from houseburn. If the tobacco stays damp for long periods,
however, the leaf is likely to be darkened. This can be pre- l
vented by using the coke stoves to dry out the tobacco.  
Very cool weather following harves