The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-02-21
TOBACCO Gull IURE.
Preparation Of Plant Beds.
lbs L. l.. Eag!and, Hyco, Val


that line. We viii here give both
that planters may choose.
THE PLANT BED.
Select Southern or Southeastern
exposure, sheltered on the North, dig
and shovel out space five by twelve
feet or any required length, to the
depth Of eighteen inches. Place straw
to the depth Of three or tour inches in
the bottom OF this trench, and cover
with fresh unrotted manure from the
stable to the depth Of six or eight
inches then cover the manure with
soil-woods- mould is le5t-fvc inches
deep. How to cover the bed with
canvass will he presently described.
Tobacco Seed is soWn on the bed
thus described at the rate Of two tea
spoonfuls to bed five by twelve feet.
To SOW regularly, mix the seed with
fertilizer, ashes or plaster, and SOW in
drills three inches apart. When the
plants have pretty well covered the
surface Of the bed, remove the canvass
during the day, and only replace it
when there is danger of frost, or to
keep off the nca-bugs. There is the
advantage Of having earlier plants by
this mode and perfect security against
the fea-bug, which will repay for the
additional cost Of raising at least a
portion of the plants needed for the
crop by this safe mode.
OPEN AIR BEDS.
But there is no question that open
air beds are the cheapest. And where
this mode Of raising plants is practi-
cable, it is greatly to be preferred for
the main supply Of plants. 1t is a
we'll established opinion that plants
raised in the open air stand transplant
ing better and usually grow off quicker
than plants raised in hot bed or cold
frame.
SELECTION OF LOCALITY.
On the selection of proper local
ity for a plant bed, and its prepare
ton, largely depends the timely sup
ply of strong healthy plants, wi;hou,
which it is impossible to raise CroE
of fine grade. The planter, therefore
cannot be too careful in choosing q
sheltered spot, neither too wet nor toe
dry, as rich naturally as can be found
and located SO as to possess different
degrees of moisture.
CO iDtn the unn1c
if possible, and select a spot near a
branch or stream of water, embracing
both hillside and fiat, and having
Southern or Southeastern exposure
protected by woods on the North
Burn over the plat intended for plants
either by the old or new method. The
first consists in placing down bed 0
wood on small skids three to four fee
apart on the ground we'll cleared ano
Iaked. Then fire this bed of Woo
and permit it to remain burning long
enough to cook the soil brown for hal
an inch deep. With hooks, or ole
hoes fastened to long poles, pull thu
burning mass Of brands to a distanc,
of four and a half or five feet, throw
on brush and wood and continue burn
ing and moving the fire until the bee
is burned over. Never burn when tn,
land is wet. 1t will require from ont
and half to two hours to cook tn,
soil properly.
Or, better still: Rake over NIGEL,
the plat to be burned, then place down
poles from two to four inches in diam
eter, three and half to four feet apart
over the entire surface to be burned
Then place brush thickly over the pla
and weigh down with wood, over which
throw leaves, trash or other combusti
bic material; over this sprinkle kero
sene oil, and set the whole on fire an(
burn at one operation.
But any mode of burning the pla
will suffice, provided that it is effectu
ally done. After the plat has beef
burned and has cooled, rake off tht
large Goals and brands, but let tn,
ashes remain as they are essentially ;
tlrst-Class manure. Then coulter owe
the plat deeply, or break with grul
hoes, and make fine the soil by repeat
ed chopping and raking, observing moi
TO bring the subsoil to the surface, and
remove all roots and tufts. Manure
from the stable, hog pen OF poultry
house, Or some reliable commercial
tetilzer-such as clip Top should
be chopped into and thoroughly incor.
porated with the soil while preparing
the bed to be sown, Experience has
demonstrated that it is best to use both
Powell's Tip Top Bone Fertilizer
mixed with equal quantity of poultry
house droppings and thoroughly incor.
porated, makes a most excellent ma
nure for plants, and SO does compost
made with Powell's Prepared Chemi-
Gals, stable manure and rich moist
earth. The latter when Composted
IN time IS the best and surest. But
beware Of using manure containing
grass seed. The judgment of the
planter must guide him in the amount
of fertllizing material to be applied at
this stage; but it is we'll to remind him
that the tobacco plant rarely responds
to homeopathic doses of plant food,
but that the ailopathic usage suits it
best.
Sow at the rate of a tablespoon OF