Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-04-07

sary TO 90 into The details required TO
bring forward the plants in that way.
In our opinion the practice should be
discouraged. The only advantage ii
offers is that plants are ready for
setting out earlier. With ordinary
care the open air bed will give you
plants early enough to mature before
the fall frosts. Besides, the latter
has many advantages. We do not
mean in regard to cost and trouble
only, but in the great superiority OF
the plants themselves. The plants
are always stronger and harder.
They can stand much more cold and
grow far more readily after being set
in the field. A weak, sickly plant is
always to be avoided, if possible.
The more capable it is of resisting its
enemies of whatever kind, the better
your chances for n good crop. Our
advice therefore is to Pennsylvania
growers TO dispense with the hot-bed
for tobacco plants.
Young plants can bear a pretty
low temperature before freezing. They
are much more easily nipped by the
same temperature when about matur-
ing, than when in the seed bed. A
grower of oar acquaintance neglected
to gather the seed from a plant that
was left standing in his garden. The
winds of autumn scattered it far and
wide, and much to his surprise these
selCsown seeds developed INTO hun
drcds of unusually fine and hardy
plants in the carly spring, all of
which were utilized.
So far rs the proper time for SOW
ing the seed is concerned, much of
course depends on the season. Most
farmers favor the earliest moment
possible. From the middle to the
end Of March is the usual time in
this county, which gives the plants
ample time in ordinary seasons to
attain their perfect development be-
fore the period of frosts arrives.
CARE or THE SEED BED.
The labor of the tobacco grower
begins with the seed bed, and no
where during the entire season can he
less afford to neglect his work. If
the season happens to be dry, the
warm sun would soon shrivel up such
of the sprouted seed as was not fairly
in contact with the soil. THIS must
be watched, and when necessary the
beds should be carefully watered
every evening with slightly tepid
water This should not, however, be
applied in large quantities, but only
enough to keep up the required mois-
ture. Careful observation will be
the best guide of the farmer in this
particular. When there are plentiful
showers, Of course artificial watering
must be dispensed with.
Liquid manure is n favorite prepa-
ration with which TO sprinkle the
seed bed, as the plants can much
more quickly utilize the fcrtiizing
properties of manurcs in this shape
than any other. Hen manure is most
commonly employed for this purpose.
Care must he taken, however, not TO
make the liquid extract too strong.
as 1t will In such cases not only cause
the plants to turn yellow and assume
sickly appearance, but it has been
known to Kill them altogether. The
careful grower will, however, note
every stage of progress, and modify
or altogether abstain from these APP
plications if he sees unfavoratle in.
dications.
When beds have been burned over.
the likelihood OF weeds is not so
great, but under any circumstances
more or less will make their appear
ance. These must be carefully watch
ed and as carefully removed. No
implement except the fingers of the
human hand will answer, and care
must be taken to disturb the tobacco
plants as little as possible during the
operation.
When the plants make their ap-
pearance, the beds should be exam
ined to see whether they are too
crowded. If that is the case the
surplus ones ought to be removed at
once, to give the remaining ones a
better chance. A small iron rake
with teeth three inches long, curved
and set about half an inch apart, has
been found eflicacious. The hand il
perhaps better for this purpose than
anything else.
After the plants begin to show
well above the surface top dressing
of manure should be spread over the
bed to hasten the development. Al
most any kind can be used for this
purpose, and various kinds are EN-.
ployed. Nothing better can be ap-
piled than n compound consisting of
one part hen manure, one part un-
leached wood ashes and two parts
black woods-earth these thorough