Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-12-13
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G6l FARM
From the American Far mer.
Tobacco Beds Preparation for.

-r..- From the American Farmer.
Tobacco Beds-Preparation for
Tobacco is undoubtedly one of the most
profitable crops raised in several Of the
Southern States-but from what has been
accomplished elsewhere, it is very certain
that there is great room for Improvement.
We published in one of the numbers of
this volume of the Farmer, some very in
teresting facts connected with the grow
ing of the weed in Connecticut, furnished
us by Mr.. White, of that State, showing
their mode of culture, and the immense
profits made by the planters-and we now
present an article from the pen of Mr.. H.
G. Vaughan, of Montgomery county, Ten
nessee, the centre of the great GAINESVILLE
tobacco growing region, which is timely
for our readers, as it has reference to the
preparation of the tobacco beds in the
fall. The Nashville Rural Sun, an excel
lent journal recently started under the au-
spices of a number of the most distinguish
ed farmers and planters of the State, from
which we copy the article, says of MI. V.
that he has for nearly forty years been one
of the best and most successful growers OF
tobacco in the State, and has perhaps had
the supervision of as much tobacco in the
field as any man to be found, and conse-
quently his experience is valuable and
furnishes the kind of information that
planters so much need. The editor of the
Sun says that his own experience in the
preparation of plant-beds comedies with
that of Mr.. ", that tone rod of land well
prepared in autumn will Yield double as
many good plants at setting time as if pre-
pared in winter or spring.
autumn (says Mr.. Vaughan) is the
most suitable season for burning plant
beds. In the first place, the ground is in
better order now than it will be later; it il
dryer, and hence takes less wood and less
labor. They should not be burned wher
the ground is too wet to pillow. Farmers
know the bad effects of working ground
in this condition. Early burning gives
more time for the ashes to rot, and thus tc
make the better plant-food. Ashes i'm
prove the soils, more especially clay soils
by making them more mellow and less adj
hesive. In this respect they act something
like lime. The potash in them also en-
riches the soil. Do not, by any means
remove the ashes, but incorporate then
with the earth.
After an experience of at least thirty-fvt
years, I am entirely satisfied that one roc
of land burned, and prepared in the fall
and sown in January or February, will
furnish as many good plants at setting
time as double the area burned at the u
sual time. I will further state, that
throughout my entire experience and OBJ
servation, I have never known bed wei
prepared in the fall to fail.
MY usual mode of preparing beds Ii
this: First, select good, rich black loamy
soil. ION southern exposure, covered with
an underground of some of the following
kinds: halle, sumac, black gum, pawpaw
or scrub hickory. This should be shrub
bed off with an axe, and not grubbed with
a hoe. Now rake off the leaves as clear
as possible, and, if brush is to be used
begin at one side of the bed, and make 6
LAYER of brush about four feet high, ano
the same in width. Against this layer
set up brush inclined about ten degrees
from the perpendicular, and continue this
until ten feet of ground is covered. II
would be well then to set up row Of
poles or sticks of wood ten feet long, and
then begin with the brush again and COW
er ten feet more. Then poles as before
until the ground is covered. Should
brush not be convenient and old rails are
used, (Which are .betterO lay down skids
every four feet, and cover with the rails
two or more in depth. To this set fire.
If the ground is dry this will be wood
sufficient to burn the soil hard enough,
IL I>o 1,,ax hxrf tho rod
dish cast. After it has cooled off dig up
with a mattock, OF break up with mar
row coulter, being very careful not to re-
verse the soil, as many good beds are ruin
ed by turning the clay to the top. After
it has been dug up, continue to chop and
rake until it is thoroughly pulverized.-
Now dig trench all round so as to pre-
vent the water from running over. In
close it with substantial fence, and let it
lie, receiving the ameliorating influence OF
freezes until January or February. Then
when it is sufficiently dry, slightly stir the
surface with rake, and SOW level table
spoonful of seed to ten yards square. Do
not now tramp, or rake, but wait until the
bed is frozen, or very dry, then take brush,
free of leaves, and cover thick enough to
retain the moisture, but not to exclude
the light. This brush should be kept on
until the plants cover the surface.
It would be well enough just as the
plants begin to come up, which In this
latitude is about the first of March, eeto re-
sow the bed with the same quantity of seed.
Itlis not necessary in this resolving to re-
move the brush.
YIn order to protect the plants from the
ravages of the fly or insect, various meth
DDS have been tried by me. have found
the most effective to be the tying hen,
with young chickens, in the middle of the
bed. have never know this to fail, and
have seen many fine beds saved by it.
when all other remedies had failed"
- Our Receipt for Curing Meat. z.