12 



'Ounce for an acre. The bed ought to be covered with a 



• covering of cheese cloth, or tine brush, or short leaf pine 



M straw. This not only protects the plants from the cold, 



sudden freezes, which are common in the early spring in 



this latitude about the time germination commences, but 



checks too rapid evaporation from the earth, keeping the 



surface moist. When the young plants first appear above 



the surface they are very tender; theyj require frequent 



watering of weak liquid manure and top dressing with 



fertilizers. All weeds must be carefully removed and the 



■flea beetles which often destroy all the young plants in a 



rfew days must be watched for and insect remedies applied. 



•In from five to six weeks the plants will be ready for 



V transplanting. 



V. Field Culture. 



Land on which it is intended to grow tobacco 



■ should be well ploughed; on compact soils the 

 ploughing should be deep. An intelligent rotation of 



. crops carried out with an intelligent knowledge of the 

 needs of the tobacco crop will be the aim of the practical 

 farmer. Before transplanting the young plants from the 



: seed-bed the land should be ridged, the distance between 

 the ridges depending on the kind of tobacco to be planted 



. — the larger kinds requiring more room than the smaller- 

 leaved and tall sorts; but they should be far enough apart 

 to allow a free passage between the rows of plants without 

 injuring the plants. Generally from three to three and a 



.half feet apart between the rows, and the same between the 

 plants will be suiRcient. Where the surface is level the 

 plough may be run lightly over the field at right angles, 



. thus forming small hills on which the plants are planted. 



Choice of Soil. — The growers of the plant in A^irginia are 



very particular in the selection of soil for the plant. The 



.lands which they find best adapted are the light red or 



