The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-02-25

k@fY&pa pariDg and cult
GEK waiting the crop. Ths
- wing article
from the Winston Tobacco /ou,na
gives the experience of practical plan
tiers and their success will doubtless be
of value to others:
One of the first requisites of to.
bacco crop is to have plenty of strong,
healthy tobacco plants when the sea-
son for setting comes around. To
have only weakly plants and an in
sufficient supply, puts the crop behind
at the start and is often the direct
cause offailure. He is the wise plan
ter who heeds this caution and bestirs
himself to avoid this trouble into
which SO many planters fall.
BEGIN EARLY.
TO make sure that you have plants
in abundance, begin early with your
plant-bed making---say as soon as the
Christmas and New Years festivities
are over. At this season of the year
the planter is generally more or less
at leisure and can take his time and
do his work we'll. At our suggestion
number of practical planters have
given their plans for plant-bed max.
ing, seed sowing, ETC., which we here
reproduce for the benefit of our read
ers. These descriptions come from
practical planters who have made sue
cess in the business
COL. D. J. PAGE, IREDELL CO., N. C..
"The first thing to be done in rails.
ing of a crop oftobacco is the burning
of plant land. Select your riches,
woodland that is not too sprouty---on
southern slope is best. Cut all trees
near the place for bed, as water drip
ping from limbs injure the plants
Then burn thoroughly---not too hard
but enough to kill the seeds of any
vegetation that may be in the soil
After burning, l rake off all Goals,
leaving the ashes. Then dig the bed
we'll; dig perpendicular, up and down
so as not to leave any of the bottom
soil on the top. Rake thoroughly re-
moving all roots. Sow IS pounds o.
some good standard fertilizer per hun
dred square yards and rake in. L
you have not the fertilizer, use ma.
nure that is free from grass seeds. The
best ] have ever used is from my hog
pens. This being done, ditch well
that no water may flow through. Then
sow three tablespoonfuls of seed tc
every hundred square yards. Then
tramp we'll and cover with canvas.
SOW in January and February, and my
plants are ready by the first Of May"
j. W. GROOM, GUILFoRD CO., NC.
'sIn the first place, plant bed
snould be burnt in low, fiat ground,
near a branch or creek, and it should be
burnt well---say one hour at place
before the fires are moved. After il
is thoroughly burnt, it should be dug
up finely, without turning the sod
Then sow about four tablespoonfuls Of
seed to bed of ten yards square. But
before sowing the seed there should be
good load of stable manure, vel
pulverized, dug in, and then rake the
bed we'll; then SOW your seed and GOV.
er the bed we'll with green brush ol
hog hair---the latter is preferable
Let it stay covered until the plant:
are we'll up
J. NJ. M'MICHAEL, sUAMERFIELD, n. c
After making proper selection o
seed, the next important step to take
is to select suitable place for burning
the seed bed. A dark, rich virgin
soil on low place in the woods, Of
on the side of branch, and if not toe
wet, any location will do we'll, excep
north hillside. The beds should bt
burned where they will get as much
sunshine as possible through the day
Old beds burned over will do we'll
but tor making early and vigorou:
plants it is always best to select virgir
soil. Any time from January 1st tc
March 18th, when the ground is dry
will do to burn beds and SOW seeds
Enough wood should be burned or
the beds till they become thoroughly
dry and dusty. Then dig up ths
ground two or three inches deep anC
leave most of the ashes on top; rak,
over and then dig again crosswise
The bed should be thoroughly pulver
lied by digging and raking. Their
level off the ground, and to every Ioe
square yards SOW one heaping table
spoonful Of seed, one-half bushel 0
good fertilizer and two bushels of wei
rotten chicken manure. 1t is a very
great mistake to SOW the seed tot
thick or put too much seed for th'
land, as the plants are too mucl
crowded and get stunted in the bed
1t is all important in attempting t.
make good tobacco to have larg'
bodied healthy plants. After sowing
the seed and fertilizer, whip th'
ground over with a timber brush t
cover the seed; then pack the groune
by tramping over it or running rol
ler over the same This will keep th'
land from becoming too dry when th'
seed are sprouting. Then place small
poles over the bed three or four fee
apart and put on them the plant-bet
cloth made for the purpose. Th