The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-28
The Wet Weather and Tobacco-Plant
Beds.


Beds.
In our buckingham letter in Yesterdays
issue of the Dispatch complaint is made
tiat in consequence of the continued wet
weather nothing has yet been done in the
way OF plant-bed preparation. Now, there
AZ one man in Virginia who has, more than
any other that we know OF, given his I'M
divided attention for many years to the
best methods of production and manage
men. OF the tobaccos peculiar TO this lati-
fude. That man Is Major ROBERT l.. RAG
LAND, OF Halifax county. He has not been
unmindful OF the troubles besetting
the planter this season. The situa-
ton IS especially grieyous in view
OF the excellent prices promised for
the crop 10 be raised this year. He says,
however, that the beds when made should
be literally supplied with fertilizing ma
terial, SO as to make the plants move lively.
IA fact, with reasonably favorable season,
the plants should be ready in fifty days
from the sowing OF the seed; and as the
crop is not planted until between the Goth
OF May and the 10th Of JUNE, there does not
seem TO be room for a hopeless feeling
about the matter. That we may he Of some
service III this direction, we reproduce the
following, relating to plant-beds, from
Major RAGLAND's famous essay on tobacco
Preparation Of Plant. Beds.
there are two modes FOR raising plants-ln hot
he'd or cold frame or In the open ar--one or the
other OF which has preference, according to
iocaltyi the former beng more prscteed
t..l is preferred south Of that iine We viii here
THE Hor-BED.-Select southern or southeast:
shoyel out space 5xl2 feet, or any required
i'ngth to the depth OF eighteen inches. Place
es.aw 10 the depth of three or four inches In the
l,ottom of this trench, and cover with fresh un-
rotted manure from the stable 10 the depth of SIX
0r eight inches; then cover the manure with soil
round the bed with planks twelve inches wide on
'he north side and six inches vide On tue south:
These will make afrsme over when sect,ons o.
warm, promote growth. and protect tue plants.
-lnesc sections may be made OF frames I'VE feet
long and three feet wide. with common domestic
cloth tackled thereon covering, and they an
swer every purpose IS glazed sash, are cheaper and
less destrncsble and ay ne used ior several years
uset YOU will he 10th TO do without them for the
later purpose. But 10 RETURN Tobacco seed Is
avn on the bed thus prepared At the rate of two
tsaspoonfuls TO 4 bed 5xl2 feet. To SOW regular
w. nix the seed With fertilizer. ashes or plaster,
,,d SOW In drill three inches apart. bed i2 feet
ans vii, reire four sections OF canvas covering,
wi,ich are ilght aud handy. an1 may be put on or
.oa or adjusted at pleasure. When me plants have
RE canvas during the day aud only replace them
wien there Is danger OF frost or % keep OF the
aea-bugs There Is the advantage Of having earlier
plants nv this mode and perfect security against
l. c fea-bug which viii repay for the additional
cost Of raising at lest portion OF the plants
OPEN-AIR BEDs.-But there isno question that
.opcn-air beds are cheapest; and where this mode
OF raising plants T. practicable IL Is greatly TO be
preferred for the main supply Of plants II Is u
weli-estabiished opinion that plants raised IN me
open AIR stand ranspianiing better anu , usu s
SELECTION OF I,ocsalry.--on the selection Of
A prorer locality for plant-bed, and Its prepara-
ten. largely depends the timely supply OF strong,
.seaithy nlaats, without winch II is Impossible TO
pos t bs to o. Careful n choosing sheltered spot
nsither too wet nor 700 drys - rcn naiS y, ~
20 into the woods--originsl forest IL possible
and select n spot near branch or stream OF water
embracing both hillside and fiat aud having a
sovthern or southeastern, exposure, protected by
woods on the north. Burn over the plat intended
for plants either by INC old or new method. The
FIRST consists In placing down a bed OF wood on
small slids three e tour feet apart on the ground
wei cleared and raked. Tllenfre this bed of wood
and permit II 10 remain burning long enough 10
cook the soil brown for half an inch deep. With
hooks. or old hoe; fastened 70 long poles pull the
half or FIVE feet, throw on brush and wood, and
continue burniag and moving the FIRE until the bed
W upined over. Never burn when the land Is wet
IL win require from one and half 10 two hours to
cook tic soil properly.
Or better stii RAKE over nicely the plat 10 be
inifned, then place down poles from Two 10 f0nr
inches 10 dismetef three and a hal: 70 -FOUR feet
apart, over the entire surface 20 be burned. Then
place brush thickiy over the plat and weight down
wlta wood. over which throw leaves, trash, or
other combpsfinle material, and set the whole on
hre ana nara ~ Que Sperassops MA, sim s.e,ea
provided that II is efecfnally zone. After the plat
has been burned aud has cooled rake OF the large
Goals and brands but let The ashes remain as they
0ger fhe plat deepiyor break with gvub-hoes. and
make iine tlse soil b, repeated ehopping and rsk
lar, observing mol 10 bring the sHb50 10 the sur
fzff. and remove all roots and iuts. Manure from
liable CON mercia. feriiiizer should he chopped
xIfo and Thoroughly incorporated with the soil
while preparing the bed 30 be sown. Experience
Lao demonstrated that Y g better g use both But
isware "a using manure containing grass seed.
ylse judsment Of the planter must guide him Ia
ne amount az ErfiizIas tefia 70 be applied at
tins stage but II were xell 10 remind MN that the
1abseee-piant rarely fespvsds ,e nom,%,epa.le
,w A. ne rate OF tablespoonful 90 every any
..,.lre Yards al firsf soyn2 and later fespw WIN
= besping tesspoonfal over TIC stme surface, ~
g.-,e 4 third or fonrtii sowlpg. Sow little thick
<a7',,f dian zoo thin % neei contingencies and
- sme . good stand Ia time. - No..
he ben wsy % SOW the seq y V NIX ts so,s
.,ee regularly over the bed. rcserytng seed cnong
y, .ro<s~sow " promote regularity line ,oDsus a
. "a he smallest Of all farm seede, ana coiise-
Ises,f requires light covering. y lbe seeo az j.
3ub bcfore TIC 2Vth a teS.Aa ~ W. ~ e,e
Il 4 T.,t N y, -, fafef scfD lightly over Nitb