The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-04-18

your soil and locality. The soil sbs,,ss,
be dry and warm. contain considerahls
lime and I've, if possible, reasonahl,,
well protected from hard winds.
AS with most special crops some az
perience is necessary in order tn Ma
die properly and for this reason ~.
better plan is to begin on smsT
scale and then gradually increase tbs
acreage as experience is aeouiras
This will lessen the chances of faiIura
Plenty of fertilizers should ba psas
Like cabbage, rhubarb, asparagus ana
onions, tobacco is a grass feeder ana
the best growth is obtained plenty -
fertilizers must be used. Stabls 4.
farm-yard manure and every tbinqalss
that will add to the supply Of availabls
plant food should be applied. Nirats
OF soda or any material CONTAINING.
good percentage of phosphates can IL
ways be applied. Whatever fertiliza.
is used should be thoroughly incos.
porated with the soil. When If can i,
done the ground should be well nlowad
In the fall, the manure applied DURING
the winter and then thoroughly worked
In with the soil by cultivating and har-
rowing. 1t is essential that good cara
be taken in this respect; for the plant
food must be placed in an availahlo
form If any considerable amount oe
benefit is to be derived.
In the spring the first important
work to be done is the preparation If
the seed-bed and the sowing Of the
seed to secure the plants. The bed
should be as free from weeds and grass
seed as possible. The plants win hot
make a satisfactory growth among
weeds or grass, and it is important to
have strong, vigorous plants. Ono Of
the best plans of making the seed-bed
is to take a piece of new land, pillow or
spade up thoroughly and then pile uu
lot of brush all over the bed and set
II afire. The object is to DESTROY the
weed-seeds, and for this purpose ths
heat should be kept up for some time.
usually about an hour. This can ba
done either before or after ssading mn.
The more thoroughly the weed-seeds
are destroyed the easier will be the
task of getting good plants. When the
condition of the soil will permit the
seed-bed should be made reasonably
early, in March, if possible; if not,
early in April. Take pains to do thor
ough work, getting the soil in the very
best filth. The seed is very fine, and il
good termination is to be secured It
will be necessary to have the soil thor.
oughly prepared.
One ounce Of seed will, under aver
age conditions, make plants enough to
set out three acres of land. It is diff
cult to sow the seed evenly, because
they are so small, and many prefer to
mix them with about twice their bulk
of inely-pulverized soil, taking pains
to SOW as evenly as possible. The seeds
are slow to terminate, and will require
from twelve to twenty days, depending
upon the warmth of the soil and the
season. If the bed should get dry IT
will pay to water it. To prevent the
plants making too spindling growth,
care should be taken to thin out, leaY.
ing the plants about an inch apart.
This work can be done with sharp.
toothed rake, and will always pay in
the better plants that will result. After
the plants are up well, sprinkle over
them a mixture of ashes and plaster.
This will be found necessary to protect
from the tobacco fly that often causes
considerable damage to the young
plants. Louis Republic.