American Cyanamid Film (1950s?)

any tobacco farmer will look with for in these rows of healthy vigorous plants lies the promise of a full crop of high quality and even grade when Harvest arrives this crop will pay dividends here is the reward of faithful intelligent ATT first important step in tobacco farming the healthy seedling from the properly managed tobacco plant bed this is such a bed like thousands of others throughout tobacco land it has produced a splendid stand of sturdy plants because the weed seeds in the bed were killed before the bed was planted this was accomplished by the special use of the well-known nitrogen fertilizer Aeros cyanamid in these beds plants did not have to compete with weeds for moisture and nourishment nor were they ever subjected to the rough and damaging treatment of hand weeding now just right for pulling they show the results of this special care in their excellent color and sturdy root systems the vigorous plants will withstand the shock of transplanting and make rapid growth in the field such fine plants were made possible by modern cyanamid method of weed control which was first introduced in 1936 the handling that plants must undergo when they are set out in the field makes the need for sound stock quite of obvious while extreme care is taken to avoid damage still the physiological shock of uprooting and resetting plants cannot be avoided at this critical time therefore plants from a modern cyanamid treated bed have by far the better chance for survival but even so plants must always be handled with care and set in the ground with the least delay here a county agent demonstrates a hand transplanter this device helps to eliminate much of the backbreaking job of hand planting and speeds up the work of setting out the plant where acreages are big enough mules or track means and with practiced hand set them into the holes prepared by the machine as it goes along while efficiency is the keynote here the same care is given each plant as is required in any other method of operation need for healthy plants Remains the treated beds will thrive in uniformity fine color and texture of this tobacco there is evidence of a properly balanced fertilizer supplying essential soil nutrients and of good insect control that keeps Leaf surfaces undamaged as the plants approach maturity they are topped and the suckers are removed by interrupting natural growth processes in this way all the nourishment is reserved for those leaves that make the best tobacco at priming we see the final results of the care which has given these plants tobacco leaves ripening from the the bottom of the plant up are carefully picked a few at a time as they reach the proper stage of maturity because injured leaves do not make good grade particular care must be exercised in handling the leaves at all stages of harvest even when loading the cart leaves must be treated carefully so that there will be no bruising or tearing when the cart comes in from the field with its load for the curing barns waiting hands stand ready to string the Tobacco on sticks it takes several people to keep one good Stringer busy such slight of hand comes only with long practice and exper yet fast as the work proceeds careful and expert manipulation forestalls any chance of damage to the tender leaves with a few good stringers several people are kept busy filling the curing barn with hundreds of these neatly strung sticks of tobacco in the barn this bright to be slowly and carefully blue cure a different system of harvesting is practiced in the Burley producing sections and in Pennsylvania and Maryland where tobacco is air cure in these areas instead of picking leaves as they ripen the entire plant is cut down and the Harvest completed at one time as the plants are cut they drop on the field in Long orderly rows they are then picked up on the spot and pierced on sticks for hanging in the curing Barn all of this tobacco seen here was also started from healthy transplants grown in cyanamid treated plant beds the sticks are now taken up in the field and loaded on trucks with a convenient and practical rack body and hauled to the air curing barns here like other types of tobacco They will receive the same careful attention during processing for market after curing tobacco is taken from the barn to be finally prepared for Market bright tobacco like this is sorted for size and graded for quality and then tied in bunches called hands auction time is tobacco land's busiest and most colorful time of year this is the market and the farmer's reward for the careful attention he gives his tobacco from plant bed to harvest while many factors determine grade and the price tobacco brings all good Leaf has its origin in good tobacco plant beds and good plant beds are the result of good yearr round management good manag starts immediately after transplanting with the sewing of a cover crop sorghum cow peas Sudan grass or soybeans like this help to control weeds and Supply humus building organic matter to the soil this green cover crop should be plowed under or thoroughly disced in about a month in advance of the time for treating with cyanin instead of a cover crop deep mulch that is free of weed seeds can also be used to conserve moisture and improve soil condition but the addition moisture holding capacity of the soil maintain the desired physical condition and also improve the action of cyanamid in weed control 30 days after the cover crop has been plowed under the ground will be ready to be worked again in preparation for the cyanamid treatment at this time the plant bed is worked over with disc and Harrow to break it up and pulverize it cyanamid kills on contact only and it cannot reach weed seeds that are sealed up in clouds and lumps only carefully prepared finely pulverized soil will give cyanamid a chance to deliver its full measure of Effectiveness to reach that weed seed and kill it a number of different farm implements may be used for this work elaborate Machinery is in no way a necessity but a thorough pulverizing of the soil is absolutely essential soil that is finally broken up free of plumps and clouds is the first consideration and the first promise of a weed-free tobacco plant bed it is now ready for the cyanamid treatment granular cyanamid is an easy to spread free flowing material the correct quantity to use is given in the leaflet with each bag a booklet available at your dealers gives specific recommendations for various tobacco growing regions after determining the total amount to use this quantity is is divided in half making two equal portions the first half of the cyanamid is now broadcast on the loose well-worked seeded even distribution is important because weed seeds lurk everywhere make sure of complete and uniform coverage leave no bare spots excellent distribution can be achieved on larger plant beds with lime and fertilizer spreaders an inexpensive cyanamid broadcaster attached to a tractor or other equipment makes distribution that is even complete and satisfactory in every way now the application must be mixed thoroughly with the top 3 in of soil use Light Equipment only and do not work below 3 in continue with a harrow until all clouds are broken up because even small clouds will not absorb enough material to kill weed seeds this application should be worked over repeatedly especially in heavy clay soils which do not break up easily thorough mixing and pulverizing yield improved results now the plant bed should be rake to a smooth surface with a crowned Contour to ensure good drainage clouds and refu should be broken up or removed when this is completed the smoothed plant bed is ready for application of the second half of the total amount of cyanamid this should be broadcast evenly on the surface this second and last application should now be red in lightly with a hand rake to mix it with not more than the top 1 in of surface soil in this finished soil surface the tobacco seeds will later be planted rolling may be useful under certain soil conditions to smooth and firm the seed bed now with the cyanamid weed killing treatment completed the ground is left in this condition for a period of 90 days before seeding time it is very very desirable to place a tight border of logs or boards around these beds at the time of treatment these borders keep weed seeds from washing into the beds and they are useful later on for attaching covers to keep out insects after the tobacco seed has been sewn ditching well around the bed is good practice too as it prevents erosion and helps further to keep weed seeds from washing into the bed another good practice is mulching mulching conserves moisture and prevents crusting or packing especially in heavy soil it checks deep freezing and ensures excellent soil conditions for seeding and early plant growth a 6 to 8 in covering of mulch that is free of weed or grain seed should be used clean straw corn stalks leaves and pine straw or needles all are satisfactory never use an airtight mulch such as paper as an added precaution an application of cyanamid along the borders is a worthwhile procedure the same dosage that was applied to the bed itself will help to ensure a weed-free area close to the plant bed the small amount of material required is cheap insurance whether or not beds are mulched they should be heavily watered at this time even if the soil is moist 10 to 12 barrels per 100 square yards is considered a heavy watering because watering is so important not only at this time but in all stages of plant bed operation it is desirable to locate the bed near a convenient supply of clean water here a farmer has the Good Fortune to have a nearby Pond of clean water from which he can draw with a tractor powered pump as he needs it with such a plentiful supply on hand he can conveniently and quickly do a thorough job of watering at any time the plant bed requires it here now is the bed 90 days before seating time completely prepared for winter with every Prospect of being in perfect condition when winter is over and spring arrives then when seeding time comes around again the mulch is Rak off if the ground is wet The Mulch should be removed a day or two before seeding in order to allow the soil to dry for working the first step at seating time is to broadcast a plant- bed fertilizer recommended by your county agent or tobacco specialist because the cyanamid that was used to kill weed seeds supplies a large amount of nitrogen a low nitrogen plant bed fertilizer is recommended do not apply more than the recommended amounts using too much fertilizer has often damaged young seedlings the fertilizer should be mixed in with a garden rake which at the same time prepares a shallow seed bed be careful here as the whole effectiveness of the treatment can be destroyed if the soil is worked deeper than 1 in deep cultivation brings untreated weed seeds to the surface therefore no heavier Implement than a garden rake is ever used at this time now for the actual seating the tobacco seed is carefully measured out and because it is so small in size it is most easy eily sewn when mixed with some material such as sterile soil cotton seed meal or fertilizer thorough mixing is important to assure uniform distribution of the seed the seed is sewn carefully in order to get an even stand of plants for this operation an experienced hand is needed careful seating will help to ensure an even and uniform stand of plants in the bed tramping now brings the seed in contact with the soil and establishes a firm seed bed instead of tramping light steel or wood rollers are often used for this purpose when the bed is firmed it is ready for covering a necessary protection guard young plants from late freezes and beating rains and keep out insects and weed seeds these where no log or plank borders were used are being pegged down over a very thin mulch of pine straw though the steps are many in the modern propagation of tobacco plants the cyanamid way each operation step by step Bears the recommendation of accumulated experience supplemented by the newest discoveries in Agricultural Science in proof of the effectiveness of this method let us uncover the result achieved here it is the bed of seedlings grown the Modern Way a fine stand of healthy plants because of cyanamid these sturdy tobacco seeds Lings did not have to compete for their existence against a host of fast growing vigorous weeds in this untreated bed for comparison the small tobacco plants did not have a chance a forest of uncontrolled weeds choked them out here treated and untreated portions of a bed Pro the value of chemical weed control the one produces a weakling the other a healthy seedling with the sturdy root system of a perfect transplant a healthy stand of plants like this can kept Weed Free by the modern inexpensive cyanamid method is now Within Reach of every tobacco farmer such beds need only ordinary care and watering until the time comes to pull the plants these will be in Prime condition for transplanting and sure to make good growth in the field today satisfied farmers in all tobacco growing areas realize that the cyanamid way is the modern inexpensive way to Weed Free plant beds the sure basis of a profitable successful tobacco Harvest