The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-03-25

The tobacco plant thIIves lest IN 3 deep,
mellow, loamy soil, rich OF made so with
manures. The suusoil ought To he sutti
gently porous to permit the water IA nn5
on the surface to pass downward reaHiiy,
and rot TO accumulate to drown and stag
rate.
ii old land is selected, II ought to he fall
lowed deep in the fall or ea,ly winter. that
the frosts may pulver. re ii. Turn under,
If possible. some Coarse farm manure, for
its decay will greatly nclp to loosen the
soil. while furnishing pa,ulum for the crop.
As a coarse manure for yellow tobacco,
nothing is better than wheat straw turned
under in the fall and winter The plants
rarely fail IT, ripen yellow IN color on land
thus treated
In early spring more manure may bc APP
Billed. hut it is better that this should come
from the compost heap. Follow he appli-
cation OF the compost with one horse turn
ing ploughs. crossing the previous plough
ing, turning not exceeding four ar five
inches deep-abnut half tine depth of the
first plou9hing. Then, just before IT IS
time to plant. run double 81 evel pinugts
over the lot. crossing the previous burrows.
and follow with harrow or drag, crosSing
again to thoroughly make fine. These re-
peuted ploughingS, cro<sjng each time erery
prcri0ns one. never ia ! il the w4rk is dane
when thu land is in proper condition, to pat
it IN proper filth.
Let the nllnter remember that IA good
preparation IS ha'f cultivatIon.' and not
stop unit; rhe land is IN proper condition.
If any one knows OF a better way then
let hIm pursue 1.-THE W tier knows Of none
better. And jlst here it NAV he welt to
state, that perfection Is not claimed for any
one mode of practice recommended in this
book, but only the hest methods known to
the author given, for guidance to the an
initiated. We live and learn. tut life is
too short to learn every good thing bv ex-
perience unilded. Evary man owes some
thing to those who are Ia come after him;
to freely give as he has freely received.
But the author is not writing for those
who know more than he does and Doubt
less there are very many-hut for begin
ners, and those having hut little expert
ence in tobacco culture. He gives n ad-
vice which he has not followed in his own
work, and recommends nothing which ex
perience has not commended as the best in
theory tested ny practice. Those who pos
sess a better knovled - of the subject, ani
whose p actice is vorged ny results, ought
by all means to give the punllc the benefit
of their knowledge and experience. Plan-
tiers will gladly welcome their teaching anG
honor them for their service.
But to return. Having put the land IN
nice ''order," lay off the rows with a shovel
pillow. three feet three inches apart, and
follow, drilling along the furrow soma reli-
able tried fertilizer at the rate of some one
hundred and fifty to three hundred pounds
per acre, according to the natural strength
Of the soil and the quantity Of manure pre-
viously applied. Then follow with one
horse turning ploughs. tapping four fur
rows en- the fertllizcd trench, and when flo
.ci,LI -, ~, ,,,.,,, -N,. -. :, -
planted, when the beds have been : patted"
with hoes, with pats two feet ten inches
apart, to mark points for setting the pl ants
New ground, OF old field that his grown
up and been cut down, will require differ
ent preparation from old smooth land. But
on the former our best brights are raised.
Any preparation that will put the soil in
fine condition, clear of roots, tufts and
trash. is ali that is required. Experience
teaches, that if land is cut down two or
three years previous to its being prepared
for tobacco, 1t greatly facilitates the prepa-
ration and helps is fertility. Much of the
vegetable roth in AM upon the soil roots,
break easily, and the soil is altogether
lighter AM finer.
While 1t Is economy TO dispense with the
hani hoe in making hills cn old laad-thc
plough doing all the work as it OUGHT.
when it can he well done-yet, on stumpv,
rOoty and rough land, the hoe is indesper-
sible in the preparation of a hill. as it
should be made to receive the plant But
before the hills are made, it may be well
unless the soil is naturally rich. and such is
often the case with soils hest adapted to
yellow tobacco, to apply some fertilizing
material to hasten forward the plants and
mature them properly and early. Here
commercial fertilizers have done and are
doing their best work. Bulky, coarse ma
nnres often d. lore harm than good on
new and puff soils. The smaller the bulk
and the more concentrated the fertilizinp
elements, the more readily they are appro-
nriated and assimilated by the plants. if of
the right material and in the NEST a~vaila-
ble.form. Nitrogen, phosphoric acid, pot
ash. lime and soda are most necessary for
the tobacco plant; and a FERTILIZER which
supplies the relative quantity OF each will
nnver fail TO show good effects tberefrom,
..;,fo1 ia IN efficient TO quicken their