The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-02-06

J plant 10 NelIOW well On llle Hill anu
gives the leaf when cured smooth,
silky texture. Do not use coarse. rough
stuff. Compost with 20 bushels cotton
seed or 200 pounds acid phosphate for
every acre. or both; with good oak leaf
mould with little straw does not mat.
| ter. Have the top of the ground raked
up. Rough manure under the tobacco
plant causes it to button low. and is
apt to grow coarse when topped. Make
calculation for fifteen two-horse loads
for every acre. Haul, say thirty-five
loads of mould to each compost pile.
Make heaps as early as possible.
PREPARATION OF LAND.
The following should be done with
turning plows, covering all the he vege,
tation as much as possible. The first
breaking should be done in December
or early in January The winter freezes
will be very beneficial, and it will be
found to pulverize nicely when plowed
again in the spring.
Any method Of preparing tobacco
land for planting will suffice, provided
it is thoroughly done If rested, II
should be broken in early winter, in
order that all the vegetable matter be
we'll decomposed On land of ordi-
nary fertility, lay off the rows g. feet
inches apart, and before the middle
of March throw it up in beds of four
furrows with a turn plow. Reverse
once more before planting.
MANURES.
For land ofaverage fertility use five
or six loads of stable manure, 25 bush
els of cotton seed, 900 pounds of acid,
$50 pounds of cotton seed meal, and 50
pounds sulphate of potash or same pro-
portion of any standard tobacco fertil-
iZer to every acre.
Land that has been planted II to-
bacco or any other crop for a year or
more successively. should be prepared
as stated, and the same manureS used,
except that plenty of well rotted woods
surface should be used to supply hu-
mus in the soil.
TRANSPLANTING.
If the land is to be planted by hand.
make pats" by striking the center of
the bed firmly with the back of a hoe
2 feet 10inches apart. If the land is
poor, it might be well to give more
distance; if ingood state of cultivation
the distance given is about correct. In
every instance, the richer the land or
higher the manuring, the closer the
nlantinr should be, 10 avoid coarse
ness. Planting should commence on
the first season, about April TO- Let a
girl or boy 60 ahead of the planter
dropping two rows at a time, one plant
on each hill. The setter follows and
straddling the row with a peg or mar
row paddle about eight inches long,
makes the hole. inserts the plant and
should press the dirt firmly, not hard
to the roots.
It is not, however, always advisable
to wait for rain; when the plants are
large enough. they should be set and
watered arti6cially When this is ne
cessary, the following plans have been
found most economical: Garry water
to the field in barrels, placing them
convenient distances apart send a hand
ahead; and punch holes in every hill
with pole about eight feet long and
sharpened at one end; follow with
buckets of water and dipperS, and put
one pint of water in each hill.
Where a transplanter is used for set
ting plants the preparation is the same,
except that the beds are made firm by
passing heavy roller over them. This
transpIanter is a remarkable machine
and of great value to the tobacco plan.
ter. 1t is arranged to water out and
set the young plants In time OF
drought. Make an effort to have
plants large enough to begin setting
by Sth or 10th of April. If the spring
| is dry, water plant beds regularly
every evening to force the growth, use
one quart ammoniated fertilizer to
every 100 square yards every evening
for week, then stop with fertilizer
! for week, but continue watering if
weather remains dry The tobacco
plant should not be less than six
inches high when set. Endeavor to be
through planting by May 5. Early
tobacco invariably succeeds best.
CULTIVATION.
The cultivation of tobacco is similar
to that of corn, except that the dirt
should always be worked towards the
plant-never from it. Keep it clear
of weeds and grass and work the
ground when needed. Plow with
fiat sweep the first time. When the
crop reaches the height of twelve OF
fourteen inches I have found the turn
plow to do very effective work, and
especially if the season is likely to De
wet. Usually three hoeings and four
plowings will suffice. In each success
sive working with the sweep, turn the
wings higher each time, so as to have
a good bed when your tobacco is LAID
by. Commence to cultivate soon as
plants have taken root well.
woRMING.
The horn and bud worm usually
makes its first appearance on the full
moon in May. Great care should be
taken to pick them off twice every
week. Have the work thoroughly
done, or great damage will be done tc
the leaf.
TOPPING.
This is the most important stage Of
the work Every plant should be top
ped according to the strength and '.
tal;ty of It's growth Some plants will
bear sixteen leaves, perhaps the next
not more than eight. Leave just
what will mature properly. Make q
calculation for the top leaves to attain
at least eighteen inches in length
when lnatured. Good Judgment Is
what is needed here.
| SCCKERING.
Suckers will make their appearance
few days after the plant is topped
\ l,o 10 I-a,, off