jQr: 



6b 



early aud late ripening and the regular and irregular 

 ripening of tobacco. 



Tobacco plants ripen later on soils rich in organic matter, 

 except in the case of sandy soils, where the organic matter 

 decomposes rapidly. Heavy applications of nitrogenous 

 manures retard ripening. Tobacco richly manured with 

 liquid manure, night soil, barnyard man lire, or nitrate of 

 soda, ripens late. 



If the plants are set late on the fields so manured, or those 

 rich in organic matter, the leaves may not have time to 

 ripen, and a greenish leaf will result, which, in burning, 

 gives an unpleasant odor and bitter taste, and bitter taste 

 in chewing also. 



Formulas for Fertilizing for Tobacco. — The following 

 formulas for fertilizing tobacco are recommended : 



Formula No. 1. — From 900 to 1250 pounds of wood ashes, 

 or 350 pounds of potassium sulphate per acre, the appli- 

 cations being made to deep soils late in the fall, or to shal- 

 low soils before the first plowing. In the spring before 

 setting the plants 135 to 180 pounds of nitrate of soda may 

 be applied when the land is not heavily manured. In rainy 

 seasons, when the plants lose their dark green color, and 

 fail to grow well, 90 to 135 of nitrate of soda per acre may 

 be applied while the plants are small. 



Formula No. 2. — Two hundred and seventy-five (275) 

 pounds of low grade sulphate of potash, 250 pounds of acid 

 phosphate (12 per cent.) and 100 pounds of sulphate of am- 

 monia (a by-product of gas liquor) or 280 pounds of cotton 

 seed meal. Sulphate of ammonia, is one of the most con- 

 centrated forms in which ammonia can be applied to the 

 soil, and is, at the same time, one of the most active and 

 readily available forms, being decidedly quicker in its ac- 

 tion than au}^ form of organic-nitrogenous matter. 



Magnesium carbonate, a new, product of the Stassfurt in- 

 dustry, of Prussia, Germany, containing 18.5 per cent, of 

 potash, is said to possess good properties in improving the 

 quality of tobacco. In the Connecticut valley, where fine 



