CARE AND CULTIVATION OF TOBACCO IN CONN. VALLEY. 1/3 



and properly enriched. Many methods are here applied, differ- 

 ing according to individual opinion ; also as to whether glass 

 or cloth are to be used, or whether the bed is to remain open, 

 whether dry or sprouted seed is to be used. All these things 

 are merely matters of opinion; but, observing results and 

 experiments closely, I am led to the conclusion that it makes 

 but little difference in the final result how they are obtained, 

 so long as they are obtained. I know that artificially forced 

 plants are a few days earlier — an important consideration in 

 some cases — but that they are more liable to contract disease, 

 are more costly, and are obtained with the expenditure of much 

 more labor and attention. Also that plants grown in an open 

 bed, planted at the same time, with dry seed, will on the first of 

 August be as far advanced and just as early as those that were 

 forced, and less liable to develop calico and rust, though, as a 

 rule, not so desirable for machine setting, where longer and 

 more spindling plants are a necessity. 



This open bed system, the old fashioned way as it were, 

 though almost obsolete for a few years, is fast coming back 

 again into popularity among some of the oldest and most suc- 

 cessful growers. Where extremely early setting is necessary, 

 in order to prolong the season of that laborious part of the work, 

 of course some method of forcing must be employed. With 

 only a few acres to set it is different. The plants that are to be 

 used for very early setting must of necessity be artificially 

 forced, regardless of extra labor and care. A good way to 

 obtain middling plants is to remove the cloth or glass after 

 the first weeding, when the cold winds are somewhat abated 

 and the frosty nights are over, and leave them off. This will 

 retard the plants somewhat, but it will give stronger and better 

 plants, as plants breathe and need plenty of air, something 

 they are not always sure of getting. Air is as necessary to 

 them as it is to an individual. The only reason for having 

 extra early plants is when an extra large field is to be set and 

 the grower wishes to extend the time of setting. Plants set 

 from the 15th to the 20th of June as a rule give the best re- 

 sults. Nature has its season for producing tobacco, even in 

 Connecticut, and her plans must not be interfered with very 

 much. 



It has been demonstrated that we can grow tobacco here 

 under shade conditions. Tobacco has been known to grow 



