10 



tion of the tobáceo growers to the remareks of Professor 

 Baker on tobáceo seeclbeds in Bulletin No. 10 oí* this 

 station. It will probably be a number of years before 

 these suggestions can be adapted to Cuban conditions. 

 However, the use of a large amount oí* decayed compost for 

 fertilizer, hot water sterilizing oí the soil, the use oi small 

 quantities of selected seed, and careful watering oí" the seed- 

 beds, as well as treatment with Bordeaux and poisons, are 

 points oí* the highest importance. 



It must be remembered that when Bordeaux mixture or 

 lead arsenate is applied to tobáceo plants, a whitish stain 

 remains on the lea ves practically as long as the particular 

 lea ves to which it was applied are alive. Ii* plants showing 

 this stain are offered for sale they may be rejeeted by buyers 

 or acepted only at a reducced price, although the plants ar e 

 in no way injured. Comercial seedbeds should not betreated 

 with these preparations, except when the plants are very 

 small, without due eonsideration of this íact. 



Warning.— It is very easy to spoil an irrigated seedbed 

 by sowing the seed too thiekly and neglecting to thin the 

 plants, or by watering too liberally during the last two 

 weeks before the plants are to be taken to the fleld. 



SUMMARY 



1. Hot water appears to be the most practical means 

 which we have tried in Cuba for sterilizing tobáceo séedbed 

 soil. We believe that it will pay to sterilize the soil of 

 < areíully made (that is, intensive) seedbeds at all seasons, 

 but especially the early ones, which are more Hable to suffer 

 from damping off. 



2. Bordeaux mixture has proven thas far an effective 

 remedy for damping off of tobáceo seedbeds when propery 

 prepared and applied in time. 



3. Bordeaux mixture is a valuable repellant for inseets 

 attacking tobáceo seedbeds and, if used with poison bait, 

 will probably be effective. 



4. Poison baits are the most valuable means f o 



