The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-02-21

the SubieCt-f1Ow to Prepare the
Plant Bed-Care and Attention Nee
essary to Success-Met thod by Which
an Early and Abundant Supply May
be Grown.
To the beginners in tobacco culture
let it be remembered that it is necessary
to have good land, we'll prepared, as
paying crops grow on no other.
Success can not follow if the soil is
unsuitable and the preparation, care
and cultivation are not all they should
be. This rule while applying to all
crops is more especially true of
tobacco.
Next, procure good seed of the
most approved variety, for there are
many. Endeavor to have your plants
come in good time, and sow for a
bountIful supply. The man who de-
pends on his neighbor for plants, SO
far as a crop is concerned, is between
the devil and deep water. In locating
the beds rather avoid porous or rocky
soil, as it is readily affected by drou,h.
Select low lying lands, deep soil, full
of plant food and moisture. Keep
away from the timber, as you will need
only the shadow of the canvas with
plenty of sunshine. Such a location
will sometimes produce plants ten days
earlier than when swept by the west
winds.
A frequent mistake is made in using
too much seed. 1t is better to err in
using too little In the latter case the
plants will be large, healthy, low and
stoCky, and will withstand very hot
sun, and may be set with very little
moisture in the soil. When plants are
crowded in the bed the stems are
small, white and crisp. They have a
| weakness of constitution and hundreds
of them perish after being transplanted
| and even If they survive this shock
their vitality is SO feeble that several
weeks must elapse before they show a
healthy growth. In the meantime they
are preyed upon by Cutworms, grass
| hoppers, and other enemies, SO that a
good stand is almost impossible to be
secured with such plants. In conse
quenCe the tobacco field is of uneven
| growth, which entails much unneces-
sary work upon the farmer, and seri-
Ously impalrs the value of his product.
| Whenever or however sown, the bed
must at once be tramped over solidly
with the feet, or whipped over with a
brush, or rolled, in order to settle the
seed we'll into the soil. The surface is
then covered with brush or canvas.
This covering is necessary protection
against harsh changes of temperature,
cold and drying winds, or such atmos-
| pherlC conditions as dissipate the
moisture from the soil. When the seed
first terminates, or the plant comes up
it is susceptible to cold and drying
winds, and is easily destroyed.
The canvas covering is in every re-
spect to be preferred. No simple de-
vice has ever effected much for the
tobacco grower at such a small cost
1t is an absolute protection against the
ravages of the flea beetle it hastens
the growth of the plants by keeping
the bed moist and warm. The hea
absorbed by the soil from the sun:
rays during the day is in the open all
radlated and lost at night but under
this covering is reflected back by the
canvas to the soil again, and thus {
highly favorable uniformity of ftempera
turc IS preserved. 1t protects the bee
from drfted leaves and trash, and :
given area will furnish at least a thirC
more plants. Its construction is very
simple. A frame or box is mad,
around the bed, of plank or scantllns
from four to ten inches high A few
wires may be stretched across tn,
frame to support the canvas, which i
drawn tightly over the frame an,
closely tackled on the edges. In plac
Of wire small quantity of light brusl
thrown over the bed will help t,
sustain the weight of the cloth.
Instead of making the frame the full
size of the bed, a more convenien
, plan would be to construct numbe
] of smaller frames, eight or ten fee
square, over which the cloth may b
SITE he'd and neatly fastened, suftic
lent number of these frames being pre-
vided to cover the bed. Such frame
well braCed with their covering coul(
be removed when no longer needle
and stored for future use. If the Clot
Is treated with a single coating {
white lead and oil, it will las, for sc,
eral years.
Still another method may be MOI
- economical. The frames may be mao
and properly braCed with diagon;
pieces inserted at the corners, fl>
with the upper edges of the planl
The cloth or canvas should be CT
some three inches longer and Wild
than the frame and hemmed along II
edges. Eyelet holes worked along Il
edges will serve to receive strings wi
which to tasten the canvas TO hook
pegs or nails driven in the outer fac
- of The frame four inches below the u
= per edge. Constructed in this mann
8 the canvas may be rolled up to a
and harden the plants. Such cove
g ings for bed amount to 4 positive i
!" surance OF the plants at a very sma
expense.
'' When the plants are nearly lar
enough to be transplanted, they shou
Sa os be aired and exposed to the sun dali
* by lifting the frame or rolling up {,
is canvas. This will harden the plan