18 VARIETIES OF TOBACCO SEED DISTRIBUTED IN 1905-6. 



The preparation of the soil for Sumatra tobacco must be thorough 

 and complete. The soil should be thoroughly pulverized by succes- 

 sive plowing and harrowing, and reduced to a fine condition before 

 transplanting. Deep plowing and subsoiling causes a retention of 

 moisture in the soil if the season is too dry, and at the same time 

 affords the best opportunity for proper drainage if there is an excess 

 of rainfall during the growing season. The disk plow and disk har- 

 row have been used very successfully in the preparation of tobacco 

 soils, particularly where the content of clay is comparatively small. 



When transplanting the young plants from the seed bed to the field, 

 it is desirable to make a selection of the best and most vigorous plants 

 in the seed bed. At this early stage of growth the most vigorous 

 plants, having the largest and best-shaped leaves, can be very easily 

 distinguished by the grower and selected for the field. 



The ordinary distance for Sumatra under cloth is 3 feet 3 inches 

 apart for rows and 12 inches apart in the row. Under slat shades the 

 distance between the plants in the row is usually increased to about 

 14 inches. 



Before removing the young plants from the seed bed, the bed should 

 be thoroughly watered and the plants taken out with all possible care. 

 In setting the plants in the field care should be taken to avoid bending 

 and doubling the roots, and the necessary application of water should 

 not be overlooked. It is often found beneficial, just before transplant- 

 ing, to water the soil where the plant is to be set, and to water again 

 shortly after transplanting. 



The cultivation of the crop should include the removal of all weeds 

 from the field, particularly during the early stages of growth, and a 

 thorough cultivation of the soil at frequent intervals in order to keep 

 a loose mulch on the surface of the soil. It is usually the custom to 

 hoe the young plants twice and to use some form of cultivator at least 

 once a week during the remainder of the season until the plants have 

 become too large for cultivation. In many instances it has been found 

 desirable and practicable to cultivate the tobacco , until shortly before 

 the top leaves are taken off. In dry seasons this serves to retain the 

 soil moisture by preventing excess evaporation due, to soil capillarity. 

 When the plants begin to bud, all except the individual plants saved 

 for seed purposes should be topped. No very definite rule can be given 

 for this process, but it is the usual custom to break off the top of the 

 plant just below the first seed sucker. The height of topping must be 

 largely governed by the local soil and climatic conditions. 



It is necessary to remove the suckers before they reach sufficient 

 size to seriously injure or dwarf the plant or interfere in the develop- 

 ment of the leaves. In most cases it will be found necessary to remove 

 the suckers two or three times, and more frequently if the season is 

 one which promotes rapid growth. If seed is to be saved on any of 



