The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1907-01-18
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES
Growing Tobacco Plants.
By EvERETT FISHER, JANEsvILLE, WIS.

Awarded first prize by the Wisconsin To
bacco Growers and Dealers Association for
best paper on the growing of plant beds.l
SEED BED.
No step in the culture of tobacco is
more important than proper care In the
preparation and sowing of the seed bed.
This work cannot be neglected without
running the risk of making partial or
total failure of the crop. To have plenty
of good, strong, healthy plants is the
surest foundation for good crop, pro-
vided they are from seed true to the de-
sired standard. The land selected should
have slightly southern exposure to get
the full benefit of the warm rays of the
sun in early spring, and should have a
wind protection on the north and west
side. The soil should be rich black,
sandy loan. Black is preferable, be-
cause it absorbs to greater degree the
rays of the sun, and brings forward the
plants several days earlier. The ground
for the seed bed should have heavy
dressing of well-rotted horse manure
plowed under in the fall. In the spring
the soil should receive top dressing of
very fine, rich manure, which should be-
pulverized in as soon as the ground will
do to work without packing. At this
time the seed bed should be made very
fine and friable to the depth of three or
four inches. When in nice order mark
off the bed four to six feet wide, and it
is ready to be seeded. 1t is usual to SOW
one table spoonful of seed into the square
rod; more seed makes spindling plants.
Some of the most successful growers
sprout the seed before sowing. This is
advisable provided the bed is covered
and carefully cared for. In sprouting
seed it is good plan to sprinkle thinly
upon a dampened cloth and cover it
with q WOODEN cloth. The two should
then be rolled together, the woolen cloth
on the outside. This roll should be kept
in warm place and dipped in tepid
water every day. In about one week the
germs will appear, at which time the
seed should be soWua. Prudence will
suggest the preparation of several par
GELS of seed at intervals of several days.
1t would be we'll to sprinkle some dry
seed with the sprouted seed at time of
sowing. To insure even seeding the best
way is to mix the seed with corn or cot
ton seed meal, as it is easier to handle,
and the meal cam be seen upon the
ground, and more perfect sowing made.
just before sowing the seed, rake the
bed, and be sure that the ground is very
fine and we'll settled. After sowing the
seed, the best plan is to run heavy
hand roller over the bed, or plank the
bed. Firning the soil is very essential
to success, as the compact surface re-
tains the moisture in the ground. It is
advisable to sprinkle the bed thoroughly
with warm water Immediately after roll
ing or planking. In fact the bed should
be sprinkled with luke warm water every
other day The following recipe is in
.despensible, and should be applied orce
d week until the plants thoroughly COW
er the ground: Three bushels of poultry
droppings placed in a large barrel and
filled with soft water. After one weeks
fermentation the liquid is ready to dilute
with warm water in the proportion of
one of liquid to ten of water. This will
stimulate the plants without delay and
cause good, healthy development.