282 Transactions of the 



slightly crowning, when it has been observable that the plants on the 

 south side of the bed were always more advanced than those on the 

 crown, and these were more advanced than those on the northerly 

 slope. This slight slope is also sufficient to insure against water collect- 

 ing, and standing on the surface; while if the slope he greater, there is 

 danger that the minute seeds may be washed away. All bed work 

 should he done by the line. Along the northern line of each bed, after 

 they are sown, a six-inch or eight-inch board is to be set on edge, held 

 in place by pegs fifteen inches or eighteen inches long, firmly driven 

 into the ground on each side of the board. 



COVERS FOR THE BEDS. 



The beds are to be covered by light frames; to which thin, unbleached 

 muslin (technically known as Ashl}' Brown 4-4) is tacked. This can 

 be hought at seven to eight cents the yard. If redwood lumber or clear 

 Oregon pine can be procured for the frames, the size of stuff may be one 

 by two inches. Size of the frames, twelve by three feet. If the more 

 brittle pine of the Coast .Range is to be used, it should be one by three 

 inches (clear), and the length of frame may then be made sixteen feet. 

 The lighter the frames consistent with strength the better. Nail strongly 

 together with one center and two diagonal braces. If the heavier ma- 

 terial be used, the diagonal braces had better be shorter to save weight — 

 as the covers will be heavy and clumsy to handle at best. Do not cut 

 out the frame stuff at the corners, which weakens it too much. Nail all 

 the cross pieces on the same side of the long pieces. The sheeting stuff 

 should be well backed along each frame piece, including the cross braces. 

 These covers will be placed over the beds, one of the sides resting on 

 the board previously fixed to receive them, the opposite side resting on 

 the opposite (south) line of the bed. The frame should not project over 

 the board lest a strong wind take it and tip it over. As the young plants 

 grow, this ( south) side of the cover can be raised by setting small blocks 

 under it. It should not need to be raised more than two inches, as the 

 plants will be read}* to set out before they become large enough to 

 require greater space. If the beds are where leaves or other trash 

 blowing about can get under the covers, the open spaces at the ends of 

 the beds should be closed with boards. This will also prevent strong 

 winds taking the covers at the ends and tipping them' over. 



SOWING THE BEDS. 



The different varieties of tobacco, the uses to which they may be 

 severally put in manufacturing, the methods that may be followed in 

 curing in order to secure a product specially fitted to these different 

 ends, will all be considered under the head of "curing," in subsequent 

 papers of this series. It must suffice here to say that for low alluvial 

 land, in which moisture will be coining freely throughout the season, the 

 " Connecticut Seed Leaf" will be found specially adapted. On land from 

 which tlie moisture should begin receding toward the end of the season, 

 the "Florida" plant should do better. The " Havana " variety ought 

 to be planted only on the moist alluvions. " Orinoco " (or Virginia) may 

 be substituted for " Florida" on upland, but in four cases out of five a 

 crop of the last named ought to give the better money result. Provide 

 a box six inches deep and of any convenient size — say six to ten square 

 feet area; and if more than one variety of seed is to be sown, provide 



