The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-02-07
TOBACCO CULTURE.
A Valuable and Instructive Treatise on the Sub
eCt by an Expert
The First Stages of the Cop-The Preparation and Sowing
the Plant Beds "A Paper of Interest to the New Beginner

~ ~
The following extract is taken from
a treatise on tobacco culture written
by the late Maj. R. L. Ragland, of
Halifax county, Va. 1t will be of in
terest and value to tobacco growers
generally, and especially to new be-
ginners. In future issues we will pub
lish other articles, following the SUBJ
ject up in regular order through the
various stages Of the crop as it prog
resses from the plant bed to the curing
barn:
There are two modes for raising
plants, in hot bed or cold frame, one or
the other of which has preference &C
cording to locality-the former being
more practiced north of forty degrees
latitude, while the latter is preferred
south of that line. We will here give
both, that planters may choose for
themselves:
PREPARING THE PLANT BED.
For hot bed, select southern or
southeastern exposure, sheltered on the
north, dig and shovel out space five
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 besD five
inches deep. How 20 cover the
bed with canvas will be presently de-
scribed.
Tobacco seed is sown on the bed
thus prepared at the rate of two tea
spooufuls to bed five by twelve feet.
To sow regularly, mix the seed with
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 canvas
during the day, a:.d only replace it
when there is danger of frost, or to
keep off the flea bugs. There is the
advantage of having earlier plants by
this mode and perfect security against
the flea bug, which will repay for the
additional cost Of raising at least a
portion of the plants needed for the
crop by this safe mode.
But there is no question that open
air beds are cheapest. And where
this mode of raising plants is practical
Bile it is greatly to he preferred ,r the
main supply of plants. 1t is we'll es-
tablished opinion that plants raised in
open air stand transplanting better
and usually grow off quicker than
plants raised in hot bed or cold
frame.
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 a spot near a
branch or stream of water, embracing
both hillside and fat, and having a
southern or southeastern exposure,
protected by woods on the North.
Burn over the plat intended for plants,
either by the old or new method. The
first consists in placing down bed OF
wood on small skids three to 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 halt
an inch deep. With hooks, or old
hoes fastened to long poles, pull the
burning mass Of brands a distance ol
four and one-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 one half to two hours tc
cook the soil.
Or, better still: Rake over NIGEL,
the plat to be burned, then place down
poles from two to four inches in dI-
ameter, three and one half TO four feet
apart, over the entire surface to be
burned. Then place brush thick, ,
over the plat and weight down with
wood, over which throw leaves, trash
or other combustlble material; over
this sprinkle kerosene oil, and set the
the whole on fire and burn at one op
Grafton.
But any mode of burning the pla
will suffice, provided that it is effect
ually done. After the plat has been
/ burned and has cooled, rake off the
large Goals and brands, but let the
ashes remain, as they are essentially a
first class manure. Then coulter over
the plat deeply, or break with grub
hoes, and make fine the soil by repeated
chopping and raklng, observing not tc
bring the subso:l to the surface, and
remove all roots and tufts. Manure
from the stable, hog pen or poultry
house, or some reliable commercial
fertilizer, should be chopped into and
thoroughly incorporated with the
soil while preparing the bed to be
sown. Experience has demonstrated
that it is better to use both.
A good tobacco fertilizer mixed with
equal quantity of poultryhouse DIR p
pings and thoroughly incorporated
makes a most excellent manure fol
! plants, and so does a compost made