The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-03-12
The Culture Of Tobacco.
(BY PROF. A. II. WARD
Continued from last reek.)
SOWING THE SEED.

In case a hot-bed is not available, a
warm, rich, sheltered spot should be
selected and the ground properly pre-
pared. If the earth for the seed-bed has
been previously baked in a stove or
oven it will destroy the weed seeds con-
tanned in it, and they are more easily
and surely eradicated in this way thai
nv burning brush on the surface OF the
he'd : and enough earth should ne baked
to make the surface of the bed about
four inches deep of the baked earth
chemicals then applied VIII enrich IL
without bringing in weed seeds, ana
there will be strong, stocky plants TO
transplant.
TRANSATLANTIC.
This is n of the most important
operations in the culture of the tobacco
crop. Everything depends upon a good
stand. 1t is most apt to be successful
if done Just at evening or Immediately
| before or during the first part Of a rain,
| about the worst time being just after a
| rain. when the ground being wet it is
impossib,e to sufficiently press 1t about
| the plant without its baking hard. Ii
| water is used at all, it should be used
| freely. and the wet surface Immediately
covered with dry soil. The earlier the
younn plants are ready for transplant
! Gne the surer the crop will be. Rep!ant-
mo is always necessary to some degree:
The cut-worm, grasshopper and
drought will destroy more or less o. the
plants first set, and the missing hills
Should be set out as late as the LIST OF
Julv if occasion calls for it, though every
PLANTER is advised, when it is possible,
TO have the entire crop set as early as
the middle of June. Plants ought not
TO be set until sufficiently large to resist
the shock of transplanting. Larger
plants are required for old land than for
that which is fresh and new. The best
plants are those with large roots and
low. bunchy tops spindling ones are
more tender. and less liable to resist
the heat of the sun and ravages of the
worm.
It is not considered desirable to set
out the whole of the space to be devoted
TO tobacco at one time, as this necessi'
tates all being harvested at the same
time. which produces inconvenience;
and losses when the crop is a large one
\ plan adopted by the best planters Is
to divide the field into three parts
They prepare the first part Tor the re
ception of the most forward plants Ii
the plant bed and set them. Then, a
soon as a propitious time occurs, TN
second portion is set, and hnally th'
third and remaining part OF the held
This provides against any of the plant
being harvested either too early or to-
late.
TO RAISE SEED.
Leave the best and strongest plant
for this urpos The suckers only ar
removed. and the leaves left On tn
plant until the seed is ripe.
CULTIVATION OF TOBACCO.
The cultivation of the tobacco CROP
though thorough. should be superficial
that is, only the surface soil should b
stirred. the subsoil lett intact.
AS soon as the plant has taken roo
which is shown by its changing color,
should be worked with the hoe only, b
removing the crust of the Hill and draw
ing loose earth around the plant. TIL
destroys the first crop OF grass, an
helps TO destroy the cut-worm # 1t
present. If, however. the land betwee
the rows has become foul. it should /
ploughed with a shovel plough at thl
first working. When the plants hay
covered the hills, say Il breadth
twelve inches. they should be worke
thoroughly with both plough and ho
This ploughing should be with Il
: shovel plough, using short swlngletre
] and running it close to the plants, al
throwing out the row with four or fly
/ burrows. If the land has become vel
/ foul a turning plough is preierabl
] With the hoe, all the surface soil shou
: be drawn into hills around the plants
: at first. This working is a lay-by of Il
\ plough. which should never be used
4 ter the plants have come into top. b
later than this, should the land aga
J become foul, it should be scraped wi
: the hoe only.
4 PRUNING TOBACCO.
= Remove the lower leaves Of the plal
{ to the height of five or six inches fro
! the ground. These are removed for tv
q reasons. FIRST. if allowed to RENAL
B they will be made worthless by comil
u in contact with the soil. Second, to il
a prove the quality Of the remaini
q leaves, as III topping. Do not COZ
mence printing unit! the principal pc
a of your toppipg IS done; then contin
"a it regularly, aud save every le
II Though light in weight, you will get
= fine tobacco from these primings as a
II to your crop.
IA TOPPING.
IL No inflexible rule can be given for t
81 number Of leaves that should be left
Is a plant. All depends upon the varie
il OF tobacco, the strength of the soil, t
Is promise of the particular plant, the pl
y bable season. and time LETT for ripenir
Il One year with another. taking the 81
Z. sons rs they run, eight leaves will 81
IL a better result than any other numb
See to it hat the suckers are promp
IA removed. 1t is work quickly done, al
W with worming, may constitute a sins
a operation.
IS Printing, topping and suckering hi
IS not be done during a rain, or when
n dew is on the plants, or they will {
Es rust spots, which will grow larger eve
Ia day, and at last destroy the whole lie
e TO BE CONTINUED.