MAKVLAND SMDKlNcJ TOUACCO. 31 



MARYLAND SMOKINC TOHACt'O. 



The seed bed should l)e located on a dai'k, friable, loamy soil with 

 a southern exposure. The plants may b(^ easily watered if the seed 

 bed l)e located near a l)rook. The old method of buniino- the seed 

 bed has ))een laro-ely abandoned, but, if used, care should be taken to 

 l)urn only small timl)er and brush. A lari*-!^ ([uantityof ashes is detri- 

 mental to the growth of the young plants. All trees within 3o or 35 

 feet should l)e cut down and piled on the north and west sides of the 

 seed bed for a partial protection against the cold winds. 



The proper time for preparing and sowing the seed bed is from 

 February 1 to March H(». The bed should be spaded to a depth of 4 

 or 5 inches, and all roots and tufts carefully removed. The soil 

 must be thoroughly pulverized with garden hoes, hand rakes, or other 

 suitable implements. Before the last stirring an application of a highly 

 iiitrooenous fertilizer should be evenly distrilnited oyer the bed and 

 thoroughly incorporated into the soil. A mixture of 50 pounds of 

 nitrate of soda, 40 pounds of line-ground bone, and 10 i)ounds of car- 

 bonate of potash, applied at the rate of SO pounds per square rod, is 

 highl}^ reconmiended. 



Sow the seed at the rate of two tablespoonfuls to the scjuare rod. 

 It can best be uniformly distri})uted over the bed l)y mixing with 

 wood ashes or land })laster, dividing it into two equal parts, and sow- 

 ing half of it oyer the bed crosswise and the other half lengthwise. 

 The sides of the bed should be from 8 to 10 inches high, and wires 

 3 feet apart should be stretched across it. The beds can be covered 

 with light cheese cloth or tobacco-bed cloth, after the seed has been 

 sowed. The covering serves as a protection against the ravages of the 

 flea-beetles and other insects, provided there are no open spaces around 

 the bed. All weeds and grass should be removed. It is seldom 

 necessary to water the plant beds, except in the case of unusually dry 

 weather. Water at this time is very essential. It should be applied 

 as in the northern seed beds, but less frequentl}', it being seldom 

 necessary to water the beds more than twice a week. 



In most cases it is advisable to replenish the plant food with a top- 

 dressing or fertilizer of the same composition as that of the first appli- 

 cation. This should be applied in liquid form, wherever it is possible' 

 to wash it in thoroughly; otherwise it is most important to top-dress 

 the beds only during hot, dry days. The top-dressing should be used 

 when the plants are from 2 to 3 inches high. Where cloth is not used 

 for a covering, the beds must be closely guarded against the attacks of 

 the flea-beetle. When this insect first makes its appearance the plants 

 should be treated with Paris green at the rate of 1 pound to 30 pounds 

 of land plaster. The cloth covering should be removed from the beds 



