The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-01-09
TOBACCO CULTURE.
How to Prepare the Plant Bed.



has preference according to locality ;
the former being more practical North
of forty degrees latitude, while the lat
ter is preferred South Of that line. We
will here give both that planters may
choose.
THE HOT BED
Select a Southern or Southeastern
exposure, sheltered on the North, Dig
and shovel out space Eve by twelve
feet or any required length, to the
depth OF eighteen inches. Place straw
to the depth of three or four 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 best-five inches
deep. How to cover the bed with
canvass will be presently described.
Tobacco seed is sown on the bed
thus described at the rate OF two tea
spoonfulls to bed five by twelve feet.
To SOW regularly, mix the seed with a
fertilizer, ashes or plaster, and SOW in
drills three inches apart. When the
plants have pretty we'll 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 fea-bugs. There is the
advantage Of having earlier plants by
this mode and perfect security against
the fea-bug, which will repay for tine
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 practical
Bile, it is greatly to be preferred for
the main supply of plants. 1t is well
established opinion that plants raised
in the open air stand transplanting
better and usually grow off quicker
than plants raised in hot bed or cold
frame.
SELECTION OF LOCALITY.
On the selection of a proper locality
for plant bed, and its preparation,
largely depends the timely supply OF
strong healthy plants, without which it
is impossible to raise crop Of fine
grade. The planter, therefore cannot
be too careful in choosing a sheltered
spot, neither too wet nor too dry, as
rich naturally as can be found, and To-
Gated SO as to possess different degrees
of moisture.
Go into the woods, original forest,
if possible, and select spot near a
branch or stream of water, embracing
both hillside and fiat, and having a
Southern or Southeastern exposure,
protected by woods OH the North.
Burn over the plat intended for plants
either by the old or new method. The
first consits in placing down bed Of
wood on small skids three or four feet
apart on the ground we'll cleared and
raked. Then fire this bed of wood
and permit it to remain burning long
enough to cook the soil brown for half
an inch deep. With hooks or old hoes
fastened to long poles, pull the burning
mass of brands to distance of four
and half or five feet, throw on brush
and wood and continue burning and
moving the fire until the bed is burned
over. Never burn when the land is
wet. 1t will require from one and a
half to two hours to cook the soil prop
erly.
Or, better still Rake over nicely
he 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 plat
Ind weigh down with WOOD, over which
throw leaves, trash or other combusti-
Die material over this sprinkle kero-
'ene oil, and set the whole on fire and
Jurn at one operation.
But any mode of burning .he plat
will SUFFICE, provided that it is effectu-
lily done. After the plat has been
burned and has cooled, rake off the
arge Goals and brands, but let the
lshes remain as they are essentially a
irst-class manure. Then coulter over
he plat deeply, or break with grub
hoes, and make fine the soil by repeated
:hopping and raking, observing not to
BRING the subsoil to the surface, and
emove all roots and turfts. Manure
rom the stable, hog pen or poultry
louse, or some reliable commercial
ertilizer-such clip Top shonld
De chopped into and thoroughly incor-
oorated with the soil while preparing
he 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
louse droppings and thoroughly incor-
,orated, makes a most excellett ma
lure for plants, and SO does a compost
made with Powell's prepared Chemi-
ais, stable manure and rich moist
arth. The latter when composted in
ime is the best and surest. But be-
ware of using manure containing grass
eed: The judgment of the planter
must guide him 10 the amount Of ferti-
'zing material to be applied at this
tage: but it is we'll to remind him that
he tobacco plant rarely responds to
homeopathic doses of plant food, but
hat the allopathic usage suits its best.
Sow at the rate of tablespoon of
eed, which is about halls an ounce, on
very fifty square yards at first sowing
nd later resow with a heaping tea
poonfull over the same surface to Sc
ure good stand. Injury by frost or
Jugs may require a third or fourth
owing. Sow little thick rather than
90 thin to meet CONTINGENCIES. and GO.