The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1919-01-22
SELECTION AND PREPARATION
OF THE TOBACCO SEED BED

Early vigorous plants are neces-
sary for best results with tobacco.
Location, fertilization, and prepara-
ton of the seed bed are necessary
for good plants. Select we'll drained
1rlable land, protected on north by
woods. For each five acres to be
planted there should be 200 square
yards Of seed bed, preferably Is
feet wide and as long as necessary
Tor greater ease in placing and re-
placing cover. If selected in the
woods there will be less danger from
grass seed and cold spring winds.
Clean off all trash, roots, etc., and
sterilize or "burn' the soil. Lay
skids or small poles two feet apart
on the bad and put on dry wood suf-
MT to produce heat enough to
destroy any fungii spores in the top
3 or a inches of soil. This also puts
the soil in good mechanical condi-
tion. Rake off unburned chunks
and large Goals and work the soil
IN such a way as to leave the
burnt" soil on top.A A grubbing hoe
may be used, care being taken to
pull hoe out at same angle it was
driven in, to puIverize the land well
four or five inches deep.
Apply any good tobacco or cotton
complete fertilizer, 100 pounds to
100 square yards of bed Hog pen
manure is fine, as it contains no
grass seed Avoid other manure,
for picking grass and weds from
the bed later is both expensive and
injurious to the tobacco plants. In
corporate the fertilizer thoroughly
with the top soil and rake till in
perfect condition.
Sow about two level teaspoonfuls
of seed to each -00\ square yards,
using care to distribute evenly over
the bed. Some consider it desirable
to mix the seed with two or three
quarts of cheap flour, land plaster,
dry ashes, or sifted road dust for
proper even distribution. Tobacco
seed need no covering except that
obtained by rolling with roller, or
by firm uniform pressure such as
might be given by careful trampling
with bare feet.
Lay and stake in place poles or
boards about six inches high around
the bed and throw up earth against
the outside of these. Ditch around
the bed to keep out all surface
water.
A loosely woven cloth made for
the purpose Of covering beds can be
bought at dry goods stores. Sow
strips together to get cover wide
enough. with seams running the long
way of the bed. Plice wire, small
poles or Stats across for the cover
to rest on so that it, will be ten
inches above surface Of bed. This
keeps out insects, retains moisture
and heat, and prevents frost injury.
Plant seed January I, to March I,
preferably not much later than Jan
uary Is. Though slow to germi-
nate, they seldom fail to do so.
Cold snaps at certain stages of ger
mination may kill some of the seeds,
| and if not a sufficient stand is left,
more seed may be sown on the bed
without disturbing it al all
Tobacco plants grow rapidly under
favorable conditions. Keep weeds
and grass removed and moisture
conditions right, watering frequent
~ if dry weather. If plants are yell
low and unthrifty, apply ono quart
of nitrate of soda to 100 square
yards. Beat soda fine, run thru a
scivc, and sow on bed in afternoon
when plants are dry, and apply water
or not as needed. In watering a
liberal wctting every four days is
better than sprinkling daily.
About April I, or earlier, after
danger of frost, remove the cover
and allow plants to tougher. By
April l to II in the coastal region
of the State and corrcspondingly
later to about lay 10 IN other parts
of the State, pants viii be ready to
transplant. 1t is better to let them
get to be strong stocky plants about
six inches high in the bed before
transplanting.