Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-06-02
TOBACCO CULTURE.
How 10 Raise the Coming Crop.
THE TINE FOR SETTING ouT THE rLASTs-
now TO SET THEN OuT--A MOIST soIL
INPoKTAST-THE CUT WORN To
BE LOOKED ATTER-yAKtOus
OTHER NATTERs.

now TO sET THEN OUT--A MOIST SDIL
INPoETAST-THE CUT WORN To
BE LOOKED ATrER--yAKtOus
OTHER NATTEEs.
Prom the Lancaster New IRA.
In our last article we gave minute di.
reciions about the preparation of the
tobacco ground for the reception of the
plants. The time is now near at hand,
in this latitude, when the plants will be
in a sufficient state of forwardness to
transplant. As the seed was sown late.
however, they are not so far advanced
IA IS usual at this time, The untoward
season also retarded work on the tobac.
co fields, and every effort should be
made to get them ready at the earliest
possible moment. 30 that when favor.
able spell OF weather comes along the
tobacco grower will be ready to take ad.
vantage of it. All depends upon doing
the right thing at the right time; IN
being ready TO avail yourself OF any
favorable circumstances that may turn
up.
TnE IIHE TO rLASr.
Plants may be set out at any time
from the 10th Of May TO the same time
in June. From the lst TO the 10th Of
June we think n better time than either
OF the frat mentioned dates. The plant
requires in an average season about 100
days from its removal from the seed bed
10 grow and mature fully. II set out
too early. and the weather proves unfa-
yorable, IT is likely to become stun,cd.
mature prcmaiurely without attaining
the fullest development Of leaf, aud.
bes dee, be deprived Of the August and
September dews, which are well known
20 be very beneficial TO 1t. II, on the
other hand, IL is set out too late. there
is danger that the early ffosts of fall
may come before the crop is ripe. and
the hard labor OF the segson rendered
proitless in a single night. Early in
June is, perhaps, as good time a. any,
although the tendency here in Laueas.
ter county is tn plant as early "a the
season and the plants will admit.
THE WEATHER An IMPORTANT FACTOR.
Then, too, the weather must be care.
fully looked after at this season. Some
growers pretend they are indifferent TO
the weather and plant the moment
their plants are large enough. Experi-
enced growers are not indifferent. how.
ever. To set out the plants in ground
that is very dry, is not only TO make
yourself great deal of trouble. but
bring your plants 10 a standstill for an
uncertain lenght of time. II il better
| to wait week or even ten days for
showers that will put the ground in
order. You gain time by this practice T;
the plants continue to grow in the plant
bed, and II the coil is sufficiently damp
afterwards they will grow right along
and make a better stand" than IL set
out week previous in the dusty earth.
We are well aware plants can he made
to grow in dry season but those who
have been compelled to haul water for
a large tobacco field need not to be told
the trouble, labor and expense Of that
| operation. A few warm showers may
save all this annoyance. and. besides,
no one needs to he told that natures
! plan Of irrigation is far more beneficial
than that Of man. We say. then, do
not be too much in a hurry. Wait on
the hoped.ior rain at least few days
If IL does not come in time, the farmer
will still have the opportunity of re.
sorting TO the slow and tedious process
of hand watering. Remember. the long.
er the plants remain ct n stAndstill IN
their dusty beds the longer the dreaded
cut.worm will continue to work its raw.
ages. II the soil Is in good condition
and the plants make an early start they
are soon beyond the reach of this ever
present enemy. Replanting, of course,
l. unavoidable, but the less of it the
planter has to do the better he is salts
fed, and when plants are scarce, ne
they sometimes are, 10 Is n matter of
money Is we'll ~ Of time and trouble.
To set out the plants in ground that Is
50 wet = to be muddy ianearly as bad
as to plant them In ridge from which
the sun and winds have extracted all
the moisture. The one extreme is
about as bad as the other. The dirt
clings 20 tightly to the tender rootlets
as 70 impede the natural growth Of the
plants.
SETTING OUT THE PLANTS.
The season being favorable. the plan
4 s.. = A L. 4.