TOBACCO IN CALIFORNIA. 



* 



THE PLANTING GANG — MANAGEMENT OF BEDS — COVERING AND UNCOVERING. 



During the season of planting each hand may he expected to set, on 

 an average, two thousand plants daily. Picked hands, after practice, 

 may average three thousand plants each. A very expert one can set 

 four thousand. Knowing the total number of plants to be set, and the 

 period within which it is desired to complete the operation, the number 

 of planting hands to be hired is first ascertained. According to the 

 variety of tobacco planted, the number of plants to be set on each acre 

 will be from six thousand (Connecticut) to twelve thousand (Havana.) 

 Thus if the total number of plants to be set be three hundred thousand, 

 and the time within which it is to be done twenty-five duj's, it will be 

 necessary to set twelve thousand each day. To do this will require six 

 planting hands. There will be required, for tending the beds and other 

 concurrent operations, an equal number of hands more — or twelve in 

 all. The distribution of these will become apparent as the detail of 

 planting is developed in the description of that operation. A two-horse 

 wagon and team, it will be seen, is also required. 



THE BEDS DURING PLANTING. 



Provide at least a dozen boxes to contain the plants after they are 

 drawn from the beds, each twenty-four by eighteen inches, and six inches 

 deep. The cracks between the boards forming the bottom should be 

 slightly open. Each box will hold about one thousand well grown 

 plants. The plants to be set out one forenoon should be drawn from 

 the beds the previous afternoon, and a supply for one half day's plant- 

 ing thus kept on hand ahead. The beds from which plants are to be 

 drawn should be copiously wet down from six to twelve hours in ad- 

 vance of drawing. The wetting is done in order that the roots may be 

 drawn without breaking, and it must be done long enough in advance 

 for the water to have drained away, so that muddy lumps or clods may 

 not adhere to the roots. The degree of development which a plant ought 



* For the commencement of this article, see page 273. 



