CARE AND CULTIVATION OF TOBACCO IN CONN. VALLEY. 1/7 



set the day before. Any theory that has been advanced as 

 to the cause has been exploded. Usually it comes in an early 

 stage of growth, when it is possible to reset. High ridging 

 has become obsolete, unless it be on certain lands, where there 

 is a surplus of moisture. Level culture is now considered the 

 best, especially for seed leaf. High ridging is mostly used 

 in the cultivation of Havana. Of course, level culture is a 

 necessity with machine setting, but among small growers the 

 machine is not considered profitable, and the result is that one- 

 third of the acreage is set by hand. The old prejudice that 

 once existed, that machine set tobacco was more subject to 

 disease, has been refuted by a demonstration. After the set- 

 ting, usually about eight or ten days elapse before the hoeing be- 

 gins. This is rather a delicate operation, it being necessary 

 to use the first time some fine pulverizing tool, running very 

 near the plants, smoothing the ground as much as possible with 

 the hoe, and setting the missing plants. Plants are some- 

 times killed by worms, or they die from other causes. This 

 work is generally done immediately after the first hoeing, 

 or after a shower of rain. Sometimes this is a work of very 

 little importance, but it has been necessary to plough up the 

 whole field and set over. The second hoeing is more rapidly 

 done than the first, as the plants are much larger. 



A slight hill can now be made around the plant, as it 

 helps to sustain them in case of a heavy blow, though any 

 radical departure from a general level is not popular. The 

 second hoeing immediately follows the first, with usually an 

 interval of about a week. The plants are then five or six 

 inches high. From this point the growth is very rapid, unless 

 cold nights or dry weather intervene. Indeed, the superficial 

 growth of the plant is made in good seasons in about six weeks. 

 Still another hoeing is necessary, with cultivation also, to re- 

 move the last standing weeds before the crop covers the ground. 

 About this time the anxiety of the grower is very great. This 

 anxiety will continue without abatement until the crops are 

 harvested. The paramount danger is from hail, which is the 

 most feared, heavy winds, too much or too little rain, rust, 

 insects, etc. 



When the plant shows a little color in the bud it is time 

 to top it. It should be topped at a point as low as the leaves 

 seem to be of proper size to save, or as low as one thinks 



AgR. — 12 



