482 Transactions op thb 



protects the crown of the plant from being burried by the earth which 

 the dibble will- move up. The roots ma} 7 thus be laid — each filament 

 being free — against the left wall of the hole, and the planter can see 

 that they are so. Then insert the dibble slantwise about three inches 

 away from the hole, and so that its point will reach the bottom of the 

 hole, and by a movement — at once lateral and slightly upward — bring 

 the earth up firmly against the roots of the plant. Withdraw the dib- 

 ble and insert It again some three inches off, and by a similar operation 

 fill the hole from which it was withdrawn. Close this hole again in the 

 same way — all this time keeping the left hand at the plant, and now, 

 releasing the plant and raising the bod}', close the last hole — which 

 ought to be nine or ten inches away from the plant — by a firm pressure 

 of the right foot. As you let go the plant, give it a slight pull to try that 

 the roots are firm. It is likely that at first, somewhat to the planter's 

 surprise, he will find that they are not — and the plant must be set once 

 again. But in setting a score of plants, a careful hand will get the trick. 

 Then make a step to the left, coming into position to set the next plant, 

 at the same time drawing the right foot sideways along the top of the 

 ridge, removing the top earth, so that the spots cleared to set the plants 

 in may not form a series of cups. In overseeing a gang, keep close up 

 to them and test each man's plants by giving them a slight pull. They 

 must be set firm or there will be serious loss. It is as easy as not to 

 avoid this, depending on getting the hands started right. It is not 

 worth while to try and plant fast at the start. Break in the hands to 

 plant well, though they set only one hundred and fifty plants or less per 

 hour. Be firm in insisting on having each point done to suit you; make 

 a "drill " of it, as if teaching the manual of arms. Be patient. When 

 the hands shall have got the trick all right, then make them work up to 

 a rate of two hundred to two hundred and fifty plants per hour. Some 

 will be faster than others; let those who finish out their rows first set 

 plants on the rows of the slower hands, so that all may start about even 

 on the return rows. The proper distances between the plants are, for 

 the different varieties of tobacco, as follows: for Havana, fifteen inches; 

 for Florida or Orinoco (Virginia), twenty inches; for Connecticut, thirty 

 inches. This gives to each acre the following number of plants: of 

 Havana, eleven thousand six hundred and sixteen plants; of Florida or 

 Orinoco, eight thousand seven hundred aad twelve plants; of Connecti- 

 cut, five thousand eight hundred and eight plants. 



The faults to be looked out for in planting are these: 



First — Not cleaning off properly little clods of earth or bits of mud 

 that may be adhering to the roots, left there by the carelessness of the 

 plant bed men. 



Second — Not making the first hole large enough; the roots are con- 

 sequently liable to be doubled up, and this is nearly always fatal. 



Third — Failing to plant straight along the center line of the ridge. 



Fourth — Failing to set the plants at equal distances; especially tend- 

 ing to set too far apart by the slower hands. 



Fifth — Failing to bring the earth firmly about the roots — tested by the 

 plant coming away at a slight pull. This is frequently fatal. 



Sixth — Failing to close up the lower part of the hole in which the 

 plant was set. This comes from not inserting the dibble, when closing, 

 at a sufficient slant, or not putting it in deep enough. This fault is not 

 tested by pulling at the plant, for the roots may be firmly caught in the 

 upper part of the hole while their lower ends are dangling, or are in 

 earth so loose that the air will dry it out. 



