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


AND REArMENr-aNNURihL Ar.
rLiCArtoNs-CNRETCL WEED.
ING NECESSARY.
Some disagreement exists among
tobacco growers rs to the proper
quantity of seed to grow on given
surface of ground. We can only say,
the danger always is to SOW too thick.
A heaped tablespoonful to every hun
dred square yards, and tablespoon
full To- every hundred square feet of
surface are about the usual proper
tions, but we regard the quantities as
too much. A far better plan would
be to increase the area Of the seed
beds largely, and SOW on the quanti-
ties given above.
The seed, having been sufficiently
sprouted, should be sown at once.
Being so exceedingly minute, this
cannot be successfully done unless
they are mixed with some fine mate
rial. such as siited wood ashes, plas,
ter or very fine sand. Advantage
must be taken of calm day, so that
an even distribution may be secured.
To attain this more etiectually, the
seed-beds should not be more than
four feet wide, and they might advsn-
tageously be sown one way with half
the amount of seed, and then cross
wise with the other half. \ more
even stand of plants results in this
way. The beds must not be raked
over after the seed has been sown.
The latter would find their way too
far under the surface to make rapid
growth, and perhaps be smothered
entirely. A smooth board laid over
the surface of the bed and pressed
upon the soil by the weight of man
upon it is about the best plan we
know of. Some growers simply walk
over their beds, pressing down the
entire surface with the foot, and this
method when carefully practiccd. may
give as good results rs any other.
The former. however, is more rapid
and does not pack the surface of the
soil so closely. \ roller OF the
proper weight could be used advan-
tageouslv, and even a spade could be
made to answer the purpose. The
object of this pressure is to prevent
the light seeds from being blown
away by the wind, and also TO bring
them in direct contact with the
ground, so that the tender rootlets
may at once penetrate it and thus
nourish the coming plant.
We have already said the'seed can
not be made too rich. In addition TO
the well rotted barnyard manure that
should be plentirully spaded into the
ground, top dressing of some good
compost, free ftom weed-seed, should
be placed on top. The plants are
advanced much more rapidly in this
way. 1t is not necessary that the
site of the seed bed should be chang
ed every year, but when old beds are
used a second or third time, it is
desirable that their fertility be re-
newed by q coating of virgin soil
several inches thick. The black veg
etable mould from woods is excellent
for this purpose. 1t must be care.
fully worked into the surface soil. In
the South, seed beds are nearly all
made in cleared places in the forests,
"a the insect pests are found TO be
less troublesome. OF course, the
seeds must be sown on top of the
compost we have just spoken of, and
not worked into it-merely pressed
down hard.
Lastly, when all this has been done,
n final top covering of hog bristles
must be added. Several other sub
stances are used in the South, such
as brushwoods of various kinds, but
all yield the superiority to bristles.
They serve not only to attract and
retain the moisture, but furnish
warmth to tue young plants, and APP
pear to act as n manure besides. Tn
less used, frosts are likely to play
havoc with the seed-bed. They abso-
lutely seem to require some protcc-
ton, add none equal to this has yet
ben found. They are n most valua.
BILE adjunct TO the seed-bed, and
should never be omitted. Care must
be taken to spread them over the bed
evenly, so as not TO choke the plants,
rs well as TO admit plenty of air and
sunlight. Common laths may be laid
over them at proper distances to
prevent the bristles from being car
ried away by the wind. With some
growers the custom Is TO replace
them after the first wedding, while
others do not. Care must, however,
b. used so that the young plants
shall not be injured during the opera
tion. A rake is the best implement
for this purpose. With care the same
bristles may be used n number oil
seasons.
OPEN AIR REDS PREFERABLE.