The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1894-02-23

VIZ VAIN 1onEnAAo AZ aaAAeA oPatabs
For If the bed should become dry
and parched on the surface the
young plant will suffer. perhaps
turn yellow and quit growing,
which will delay the time in plant
ing. This is notthe only difficulty
that presents itself; the plants be-
come dwarfed and probably will
never make a large stalk of tobac-
co. Neither is this all the evil
that may result; when ever the
beds become dry on the surface the
garden flea, a small black bug, and
the fly and various other insects
attack the plants and the bed is in
a few days found to be bare Of
plants, when ever the plants become
retarded in their growth the above
difficulties may be expected. To
water the beds is almost imprac-
ticable partly from not having the
rain water as spring Or well water
is not healthy TO the plants, and
partly because it seems as useless
to pour water on a dry bed with
every thing dry around it as il
would be TO pour water down raj
hole. 1t then appears that these
difficulties must be guarded against
ct the very start.
TO PREVENT BEDS FROM DRYING OUT
Select a loamy, soft, close soil in
woodland, partly shaded by tim
Der, on gentle slope to the North
or East, burning the bed with dry
brush, in limestone land, till the
surface becomes slightly red-in
freestone, just sufficient to kill the
weeds and grass seed ) If dry brush
cannot be obtained place two poiei
eight feet apart at the top of th-
slops where the he'd is intended u
be made, place the poles so that til
logs will be a little ways from tn,
ground, and that the logs may roll
down the hill, cut logs twelve feel
long, place them on the poles high
enough from the ground TO let thu
FIRE pass underneath to burn th,
earth, and in sufficient numbers Il
make q hot fire, set fire to then
and when the ground is sufficiently
burnt, roll the logs on the SAM
polls down the slope to q fresl
place and let them burn rs before
and 50 continue until your plan
bed is as large rs desired. Whel
the ground is sufficiently burnt
dig it up to the depsh of--f6ur inch
es, mixing the askes thoroughly
with the earth then rake and pull
yefize every clvd, and be sure t.
take out all roots, rocks, chips Of
whatever other obstructions may
be found in the bed, and cover witt
tobacco stalks three inches deep
so that small patches of the ground
may be seen through them; leave
it thus till about the middle of Feb
ruary or first of March, when th,
stalks should be removed and tn,
bed left to dry till it will work well
then rake. A light coat Of land
plaster has heen found TO be o
great benefit. If used rake il II
and mix well with the top soil.
SOWING THE SEEDS.
Prepare about three large tea
spoonsfull Of seed to every hundred
square feet, mix it with corn meal
line, ashes, or other white sub
stance which will show on III,
ground ana be an advantage in get
ting the seed spread evenly on tn
bed, after which rake lightly owe
the bed again, and tramp or pound
down smooth and solid that it may
be in the best condition to hol(
moisture during the dry weather
before the plants are large enough
to take deep root and shade th,
ground.
cAYvAssISG THE BEDS,
Is the next important thing to b.
done. First, to protect the plants
against frost and insects, to prevent
the beds from dying out, and Il
hurry the plants on Tor early setting
as the first steps taken to raise q
good crop Of tobacco depends in q
great degree the whole summer
work it is very important that vi
take every precaution to secure goot
healthy plants. 1t frequently hap
pens that we have severe frosts Al
ter the tobacco plants make theil
appearance In the plant beds; thu
canvass will not prevent the plants
from freezing, but being in confined
air and being protected from thu
wind will thaw out as in q fog with
out materially iniuring them. a
the same time keeping the air made
warm during the day by the heat o
the sun confined during the col
Fights produces a much eve.r
temperature. The canvas bein;
thin does not prevent the sun from
shining down on the bed and warm
ing the earth under the canvas