The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-09
How 20 Make Beds" Without
Feathers, and Grow Weeds
Worth $1,000 per Wagon
Inad
load.

Mr.. Thos. i. Lyon. auclionc.r a. ii,
''Star' Warehouse, Greensboro, write. t
the Pttriot.-
1t IS pretty generally Conceded BY tn,
most successful tobacco growers, tina
the best and earliest plants are grown I
beds SOW about the Ills. or middle II
January, although | have seeu very fail
plants drawn from beds seeded the irsl
u March. The latter, however, can not
be pat down as a Precedent, for it /.
dangerous IN the extreme, and is only re
sorted q IN extreme cases and then al,
most invariably atten led with f~ruitless
results.
In selecting a suitable spot to burn
plant beds, 1t j. best to locate the bed on
the south side Of a kill where they will
be protected from cold winds aud get the
benefit OF the sun. There is nothing so
disastrous 10, young plants as Try and
sweeping winds. Again, you should be
very careful as to the nature of the soil
"meefe earth Will not produce plants If
ever 50 fertile, bur 90 the contrary the
soil should be original, with a firm sub,
soil. Where hicLo.y and dog,cood arc
p~ten,J"t-d = q SIRE sign If g0od plaat
taHd. After deciding on the spot to To-
cate your bed, la IL of with judgement
with an eye to convenience, so YOU NAV
be able 70 protect it from washing rains
&c See that the land is thoroughly
cleaned off before burning-do not leave
a leaf or anything that will preyent the
fine ftom reaching the soil and killing
out all grass roots, vegetation, &c. When
the land is sufficiently burned. rake off
:he ashes and avoid leaving too many on
the bed. Dig up and pulverizc the SOL
thoroughly, AMI never throw the CLAW
upon the surface. Then apply a light
coat OF very fine aud well rotten stable
m~anure--rakc lightly, sow down your
seed and tramp under. The old way of
protecting beds from froSt, &c, was 10
throw brush upon them but the raising
of plants is attended with more u.iortu-
nate vents, plaques, &c, than when the
industry was in its infancy years aao.
There were no traces Oh the fiea-buy.
and many other destructive in
sects, which are at this day abundant.
The fiea~bug Is decidedly the most dis
of all other plaques and their
result IN the almost complete cxter-
nlnation OF the young aud tender plants
they comet the surface of the ground.
The failure in crops IN large tobacco
growing sections is attributable to a very
great extent c. the ravages of the flea
BUG. These destructive little creatures
have bafflcd the skill of the most expert
snced growers and not until very recently
a discovery made by which the plants
ire protected.
1t IS true that many preparations, mix
'dres, &c, called bug de~stroyers,"
plant protectors, &c, arc tuegcd over
he country for no other purpose than
o humbug the farmers out of their hard
1arnings; but am proud to say that the
arc opening their eyes t. such
The remedy that | suggest costs
nothing, 50 far rs [ am concerned.
t Is this: After the seed have been
get four plaDks inch thick and -
inches wide, SINK these planks about two
nches IN the soil on the edge of the bed,
it the corners and nail them up alright;
his vii! form 4 complete box around the
led. Then get a sufficient quantity of
heeting-the cheaper the better-sew
he edges together aud make a complete
over for the box, draw the sheeting
over the edges of the planks and
ack it down and your plants are secure
flea bus. At a glance you will see
ects the plants from insects, but rom
Tinds frosts, etc and serves as a hot
ed. When the plants are sufficiently
trong take off the sheeting and planks
nd put them away for future use. Hy
sing the box and sheeting you can raise
in your gardens or anywhere the
oil IS adapted TO their growth. This
emeiy apples to various vegetable
|lanting for the GARDEN"