The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1885-01-14
Prof. kiIiebrew, Conmiss ssIoner
of Agriculture in Tennessee,
on Tobacco Culture.

seems to destroy the seeds and germs O
other vegetation which would otherwis
spring up among the plants, and retar,
their growth. 1t renders the soil NOR
permeable to the roots of the plants ant
5y increasing its absorptive capacit,
preserves the proper degree of warmth
and moisture 50 favorable to rapit
growth it vegetable life. A third effecl
| is in promoting more thorough pulver
rization of the soil, rendering it NOR,
friable and increasing, as it were. tn,
pasture-ground for the roots, thus max
iug every particle of plant food availa-
| Bile.
Another beneficial effect is produced
by the presence of minute particles O
charcoal which, being black, make the
bed warmer by increasing its capacity
for absorbing the rays of the sun.
Charcoal is also good absorbent fol
carbonic acid gas absorbing about
ninety times its volume) thus collecting
supply of rich food for the plants
The ashes, too, which are left after burn
ing supply alkali in quantity sufficient
for the health of the plants. And final
ly, it is well known to agricultural
CIICHilStS liidl Jul dCu Sidy, OCluS ICll-
dered porous by burning, absorbs am
moniacal and other gases from the soil
and from the atmosphere and fixes them
for assimilation by the plants. All
clays, says Mr.. Johnson, contain sensi-
bic quantities of most of the mineral
substances, potash, line, soda, etc.,
which plants require for their healthy
growth. They are, however, in an in
soluble condition, which circumstance
united to the stiffness Of the clay, pre-
vents the roots from readily taking
them up. When burned by a gentle
heat these substances are liberated ahd
made to contribute to plant growth.
Such are same OF the effects of burning
which, however difficult of explanation,
we know by experiment to be highly
promotive ofrapid growth.
A virgin soil in all the States named
is chosen with deep covering of light
and porous vegetable mold. A South
ern or southeastern exposure is preferred
that the genial and fructitying influence
ofa vernal sun may impart warmth to
the bed and that it may be sheltered
from the harsh and drying northern and
northwestern winds. The best possible
situation is on a sloping hill on the
north side Ut running stream, but sut-
ficiently elevated to be above anv dam
ger from overflows. In such situation
the fogs will quicken the termination of
the seeds, aud accelerate the growth of
the plants, bringing them forward from
ten days to two weeks earlier than on
level land.
A black soil is preferred because it is
more readily warmed by the sun and re-
tains heats much longer than light col
ored SOIL A slight admixture Of gravel
for the same reason is of advantage. In
North Carolina, though many planters
prefer black soil free from sand or gravel
the majority of growers of fine yellow to-
in which the plant is to be grown to ma
turity.
Plats are selected containing from 100
to 200 square yards, according to the
wants of the planter and the convent
ence of material for burning. The wild
growth is then cut off with an hoe and
not dug up All leaves and trash are
carefully raked off Brush, wood and
trash are piled up on one end of the space
to be burned, to the height of three or
four feet, and against this brush from
tree tops, intersperced with sticks OF
wood. is placed in a position nearly verti
cal. incining against the foundation layer
sufficiently to prevent it from falling
back ward on the bed space. This is con
tinued until the area intended to be
| burned is covered.
If the wood is not mingled with the
brush it is made to form layer on top
| The whole is set on fire when ligh,
wind is blowing. Some times it is found
most convenient to burn with logs alone
the logs of old buildings being frequently
saved for that purpose. In that case
skids or poles three inches in diameter
are laid down three or four feet apart
and a layer of logs, old rails and smaller
wood. four or five feet wide, is built or
the skids and set on fire. The object ir
using the skids is to keep the wood from
resting upon the ground, so that the sur
face of the soil may receive the full hea
from the fire. When the fire has beer
kept burning for an hour or two the
whole layer is brought forward will
wooden hooks, so as to burn another sec
ton Of the bed, and this is kept up unit
q plat is burned as large as NAV be de
desired. When the fuel is very dry o.
when old rails are used exclusively, tn,
whole bed-space may be covered at once
and fired. Skids should always be used
otherwise the ground will be very un
evenly burned. The burning in all case
should be sufficiently hard to give th,
soil red dust tinge, unless as in Con
necticut, the burning is done simply tt
destroy the seeds of weeds and grass ant
not to ameliorate the condition of tn,
soil II the soil is stiff and compact o
is charged with an undue amount Q
moisture, the burning must be harde
than will be required on light and porous
soils naturally or artifcially we'll drained
The time usually chosen for burning il
at any period between the lst of Januar,
and the lst of March, when a prope
combination of favorable conditions ar,
present. The ground should be as DIR,
as possible and should not be frozen. Th
most auspicious time for burning IN TIN
fall when the soils is very DIRE, the amour
of fuel required being consequently small
er, and the mineral fertilizers from th
ashes left from the material burned will
be we'll decomposed and leached into tn
soil by the SHOWS and rains of winter
This time, however, is rarely chosen
chiefly because the material for burnin!
is not generally prepared and the de
mands upon farm labor are more pres.in
than iu the winter and early spring
since the practice Of using canvass for
covering has been inaugurated, it ha
been ascertained that the period 70
burning may be extended even TO tn
last of April and still give ample tim
for the plants to be ready for the lst G
June.
So soon as the soil has become suffi
GENTLY cool after burning, it is dug u
with grub loes or lightly broken with
coulterplow and then narrowed, rake
and chopped until it is we'll and thorough
ly pulverized. In preparing the soil it