Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-06-02

pects mucH brighter. ouch being the
case, when his field has been properly
laid of in rows - feet apart and bis
plants in the seed bed saow leaves as
large or larger than Bland dollar, 1--we
are almost tempted TO say the larger
the better) he is ready for the work of
transplanting. IF his seed bed has
been thinly sown and well cared for, he
Will have AN ample supply of strong
stocky plants. 1t in well TO select them
as nearly alike in size as possible. This
insures more even looking field, and
the crop is more likely 10 mature even.
ly, which is preferable 10 having TO
cut few score or few hundred stalks
daily, a. the case may be, during a
period Of several weeks.
Few Of the operations in tobacco
farming require greater care and nicely
than setting out the plants. Careless
nsss tells as quickly at this point as at
any later stage. The seed bed ought TO
be moist enough 10 allow the plants TO
be pulled up without breaking the roots.
1t can be easily put into this condition
by carefHl watering. Each plant should
be removed by itself, and care must be
exercised not to tear the roots or bruise
the leaves. 4 small pronged implement
like fork will facilitate the work OF re.
moyal. The plants should be carefully
drawn, as on this depends much of the
hiter'ynlue of the plant bed. Only a
single plant should be drawn at time.
II the removal Of more is attempted
small ones are often taken with the
large ones, giving the field an UNEQUAL
stand. Small plants ought not to be
set out except in cases of necessity.
The best plants are, Of course, those
with low, bunchy top, a. they are
certain to have plenty Of large, strong
roots. Slender, spindling ones have far
less vitality and easily succumb 10 the
cut worm, drouth, dry winds and other
enemies of the tobacco field. Thin
sowing will gen orally do away with much
annoyance on these points.
They may be carefully placed in a
basket and in this way carried TO the
field. Here the planting should be done
a. rapidly as possible A boy with the
basket IN hand passes between two rows
and drops plant on every spot marked,
as We have already explained in a pre-
ious article. He will be able TO drop
the plants quite as fast as two men can
plsut them. A variety Of methods and
devices are in use for this purpose.
Some use light trowel, which is thrust
into the ground, pressed to one side, and
IN the opening thus formed the roots OF
the plant are inserted, when the trowel
Is Withdrawn and the earth closely
pressed around them. This at least has
the merit OF speed. but we do not ad
wise its practice. The more nearly the
roots are placed in the position they
were while in the seed bed. the more
likely and more quickly the young
plants are TO grow. A better way j. TO
use planting peg, about six inches
long 10y one and quarter in diameter.
round. the lower end tspering with n
rounded point. This the planter must
throw about two inches into the hill,
then withdraw 1t, and into the opening
made the roots Of the plant must be
put and the dirt carefully pressed about
the roots. II there Il time and the
field il not large the hands can be used
with better results than either the trow.
81 or peg. The Necessary opening in
the ground can be scooped out aud the
roots Of the plants put into their natur.
81 position and the ground drawn over
them. This Is a slow process, but it is
the best Few care TO practice il. not
being willing TO encounter the labor il
entails. The ground around the plant
must not be left higher than the plant
It,eif or q heavy rain may cover the lat
ter with dirt II possible. a slightly
shallow disk may be left around the
plant the better ~ catch the rain. II
rapid planting j. desired the peg system
gives the best results. Let the planter
start Iu on his row with plant in his
hand, go held that the moment the hole
jz punched into the hill the plant is
ready to bc inserted a moment IS suffi
cIent TO give the required compression,
after which, before rising, let him take
up the one dropped on the hill, adjust
Il while moving 10 the next hill, and be
ready 20 place it in the hole as soon As
be gets there. II not too stiff in the
back bone one mao can set out from
5000 20 300 plants in a single day.
Here again the skill Of the grower will
manifest itself. II the plants are of
good slze aud strong. and have been
carefully planted, nearly all will grow.
while weak, tender ones, badly planted,
viii compel you 10 DO much oi your
work over.
PLANTING N DRY WEATHER.
When the ground is too dry aud the
( plants are getting too large In the seed
bed. the farmer will be compelled TO do
the best he can under the circumstances.
/ Watering the plants on the ground be.
comes a necessity. There are several
ways Of doing this, and each one has It's
advocates. Commonly, water is hauled
to the field in barrels and small guam.
tty Is applied 10 every plant set in the
ground; this has a tendency 10 bring
the ground closer to the roots As we'll Ms
to supply the required moisture. This
operation must, of course, be repeat ell
on the succeeding days until the plant
has commenced to grow, or until timely
rains render IL unnecessary. II has also
the tendency 10 bake or harden the soil
around the plant aud thus impede it's