State Agricultural Society. 483 



Seventh — Making the three prods with the dibble too near together, 

 so that the pressure of the foot in closing the last one compacts the 

 earth about the plant. This retards early growth. The plant is set 

 wholly with the dibble. 



Eighth — Setting the plants too deep, so as to bury the crown. This 

 is a very persistent and vexatious fault, especially where the plants to 

 be set have short roots, as they will have if they have come on quickly 

 in the beds. 



Ninth — Failing to clear the space on which the plant is to be set, quite 

 across the ridge, and failing to drag down with the foot the crest or ridge 

 between two successive plants. The effect of this is to have the plants 

 set in a series of cups, from the edges of which earth rolls down on 

 them — especially when we come to cultivate. 



Tenth — Failing to pat the earth firm enough, in which the plants are 

 set, when it is liable to dry out if there be much wind when the plants 

 are uncovered. This is hardly likely to kill plants, but may retard 

 growth until after the ground is settled by first cultivating and hoeing. 



If these faults be avoided, the ground having been put in proper order, 

 and in the absence of anything specially unpropitious in the season, the 

 loss of plants at this first setting may not exceed one per cent. The 

 hotter the weather the better for planting, but drying winds are not 

 favorable. 



COVERING. 



Each plant as it is set is to be covered with a small handful of grass, 

 which is dropped by men who follow the planters. If the grass be good, 

 not too long, so as to twist up and tangle, nor yet too short — say from 

 a foot to eighteen inches in length — one hand should cover for three 

 planting; or two may cover for seven. But if weeds, wire grass, or 

 other trash be relied on for this purpose, it may take one hand to cover 

 for two; or even, if it be attempted to use long wire grass and clover, 

 hand for hand. And commonly this stuff will have to be hauled some dis- 

 tance. Taking all things into account, it is a decided economy to sow grain 

 for covering, and let it be done on land adjoining the tobacco. It should 

 be sown thick — say one hundred and twenty pounds of wheat to the 

 acre — then one acre of cover will provide for four acres of tobacco. By 

 sowing early it is sure to be ready by the time it is wanted, while — 

 should it become apparent that the cover is going to be too long by that 

 time — it can be mown over once in advance. It is well to roll this cover 

 land at the proper time to make the grain stool out more. A horse 

 mower will cut in an hour a supply that will carry six hands planting 

 through the day; but if the cover be over two feet high it will be economy 

 to cut it with scythes and take two cuts at it. Wheat, barley, or oats 

 makes equally good cover; probablj 7 wild oats stools out most and goes 

 furthest, but it is not always convenient to get the seed. Alfalfa is first- 

 rate provided it be cut short; when long it tangles and is a great nuisance. 

 Grain cut thus early for cover will still head out, though short and light, 

 and pay for itself for stock to work on in the Autumn after the tobacco 

 is housed. 



The cover being cut, a two-horse team will haul within three hours a 

 day's supply for six planters. It is to be distributed along the road 'at 

 the long sides of each block — that is, at the ends of the ridges — in con- 

 venient cocks. Tho men or boys who cover, take each as much grass 

 as they can carry under the left arm, and twitch out small handfula 

 with the right hand, depositing exactly on top of the plants. The. 



