The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-03-31

HOUSE.
SELECTION AND PREPARATION OF THE
A soft, deep, sandy soil is preferable,
which before planting should be
always put in the finest tilth, it
being an adage with good farmers,
that at %" crop properly planted is
If the land is new ground, it
should, after having been grubbed
and chopped, be raked cleanly and
all leaves and litter burnt. 1t is then
ready for the plow, and should be
closely broken twice and crosswise
with the bull-tongue, and as often
narrowed 1t should next be marked
off by bull-tongue in horizontal rows
three feet three inches apart, into
which should be drilled 800 pounds
per acre, unless where the land is
naturally rich, of good and active
fertilizer. 1t is then ready to be
listed or bedded with a turning
plow. | prefer the list, since it
lightens the hoe work Of hilling. and
is at the same time more ecOnOmi-
cal use of the fertilizer-the balks
between can be thrown out at the
first wedding. With a broad weed
ing hoe these lists or beds should
now be worked into cOnical hills,
placing them three feet three inches
apart, and giving about 1900 hills
to the acre. know that many re-
commend more crowded planting,
giving the rows and hills distance
of only three feet But in doing so
nothing in my opinion is gained in
weight, while something is lost in
the length, breadth and body of the
leaf which with the manufacturer
are the prime requisites. The hills
can be laid off with great accuracy
by stepping or otherwise measuring
one row, and then placing the hills
of the next between those of the
first. and so on or what is called
lodging them. To prevent crowd
ing or irregularity in hilling, this
rule will be found of use where raw
hands are employed.
The hill culture, both in the pre-
paration and the subsequent work
ings of the tobacco crop, should new
er be departed from for the reason
that that method of cultivation gives
the land the best drainage of which
it is capable. And in this crop drain
age is one of the first things to be
considered, for the reason that all
the diseases to which the plant is
liable, such as frenching, firing, spot
ting, rusting and shedding, come
from excessive rain, accompanied by
excessive heat. The growth of the
plant itself would suggest as much,
for in time of drought the leaves
stand up to gather the rain, but so
soon as it has enough Of it they turn
down and throw it off | repeat,
then, let no water stagnate upon the
ground
For new ground, the hilling can
be done as early as April or March,
and should be always when the soil
is in good working order neither too
wet nor dry In the one case it will
bake and prevent the ready growth
of the plant, and in the other it will
require much rain to put it in con-
ditiOn for planting.
If the land is not new ground,
either forest or pine field, it should
be fresh or at least long rested and
in good heart, and upon which neith-
er corn nor sorghum has been lately
cropped For such land the prepa-
ration is in all respects similar to
that for new ground, except that a
turning plow may take the place of
the bull tongue, and that the hilling
should not be done earlier than the
first of May, for fear that the hills
may become grassy while waiting
for the plants or season to plant
them. To preserve such lands and
to prevent damage to the growing
crop from washing rains, water-tur-
rOwip NJ or rr,,tf orin m iS recommended