Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-03-17

western one is not desirable, and a
northern one is still worse. IL must
be sheltered on the north and west
from the keen blasts Of early spring.
The southern exposure gives the
young plants the full benefit Of the
SONS rays early in the season and
advances them rapidly, enabling the
farmer To set out his fields earlier
than he otherwise could, thus avoid
ing the hot weather Of summer.
BURNING THE SEED BED.
We desire To draw especial atten-
ton 10 a custom which Is invariably
f,uitful in good results, which is al
most universally practiced in the
| Southern tobacco States, but which
hardly one farmer in hundred in
Lancaster county practices We OF
course allude TO burning over the
seed bed prior to planting. Anything
that will burn may be employed for
this purpose brush, wood, corn
stalks, old rails and logs, briars, in
short anything that is at hand. Sew
eral hours hard burning is not too
much. This has the effect not only
Of killing all weeds and seeds that
may be in the soil. but ako the nox-
ious insects near the surfaee-no
slight consideration. II would be
difficult, in fact, 10 describe all the
good results from this practice. Af-
ter the bed has been carefully burnt
over, the refuse matter should be
carefully raked of, leaving only the
ashes. The ground must then be dug
over, care being taken not 20 turn up
the subsoil. All stones, roots. or
other foreign substances must be
carefully removed, and the soil made
fine and friable. We feel as if we
could not strongly impress the good
results Of this fact upon our tobacco
growers. In those portions of the
State where timber is still plentiful
and cheap, the custom ought TO be
universally followed.
The ordinary custom is, however,
not TO burn over the seed-bed. 1t
should be dug over as early in the
spring as the weather will admit or
the ground is dry enough. A rich
virgin loan is the best soil black, if
it is TO be had. is preferble, as the
color absorbs the suns rays better
and advances the plants faster. If
the ground is not naturally rich
enough, ii. must be made so. You
cannot make il too rich. Well-rotted
stable manure is much the best article
that can be used chicken or hog
manure are not nearly so desirable.
nor are the artificial manures. 4
compost made the previous year of
the various manurcs produced on the
farm and plcntifully applied would,
no doubt, produce excellent results.
This must be spsded in and care be
taken 10 render the soil on the sur
face, and indeed throughout. as fine
as If run through a fine sieve. Lumpy
ground would impede the free sprout-
ing Of the minute seed by covering
them. The bed is now ready TO re-
cciye the seed.
sPRoUTING THE SEED.
Most growers sprout the seed be-
fore planting. but few do not. The
former course is much the best. 1t is
surer, because it enables you TO see
whether your seed is good 1t also
gives you plants sooner. as unsprout-
cd seed in an unfavorable season
sometimes lie in the ground a long
time before terminating. When the
season is late and inclement weather
prevents the early preparation of the
sced-bed, it is sometimes all-important
that the plants are brought forward
as rapidly as possible. There are
different methods Of sprouting the
seed. The more common way is to
tie it in a little bag and place 1t in
slightly tepid water for day OF two;
it is then removed and placed under
some moist wooden covering in an
atmosphere sufficiently warm to for
ward the process of termination
near stove in light room is a good
place. Much care must be taken in
handling the seed at this critical pe-
Rod. Any injury TO the tender sprout
that issues from the minute seed is
sure To result in the death of the
germinal principal. They must be
kept slightly moist all the while, so
that the sprouting process may not
be interrupted, which, were ii TO oc-
cur, might also result disastrously.
An old and very successful grower
of our acquaintance sprouts bis to-
bacco seed in an entirely different
manner. He selects lot of chip soil
from the site of an old wood pile, Sits
IT carefully to remove all foreign sub
stances and TO pulverize the earth
thoroughly. This is then moistened
with warm water, placed in earthen
pots, or some other vessels, and the
! proper quantity of seed thoroughly