164 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



in the plants. If the ground is in first class condition, little or no 

 hoeing is required. In placing tlie plant in tlie ground, the operator, 

 eitlier with a stick pointed at one end, or with his fingers, makes a 

 hole about 4 inches deep, in this he places the roots of the plant, 

 being careful not to have them doubled, he presses the soil firmly 

 round the root, leaving the surface round the stem free. Each 

 planter takes two rows tlirough the paddock, planting first on the 

 left and then on the right as he i)roceeds. Should the ground be dry, 

 each plant should be given a pint of water in the evening, and if the 

 sun be very hot or hot winds be blowing, a slight covering of grass or 

 light material should be placed over the plant, to be removed when 

 it is well established. 



A good man will plant an acre in two days, but the usual allow- 

 ance is one acre in three days. Tobacco planting machines are much 

 used in some parts of America, and have been found a saving in 

 expense and time. It is a two wheeled machine drawn by two horses, 

 it requires a man to drive and two boys to drop plants, and will set 

 from three to six acres per day ; it carries a supply of water and each 

 plant is moistened under the surAice as planted, and is said by those 

 who have used it, to do tlie work, in well prepared land, better than 

 hand labor. After the first planting is over, it will be necessary to 

 replace those that do not take, of which there will always be a 

 proportion, according to the season and the state of the ground. 

 Cut worms also attack the young plants, but they should not be 

 numerous if the ground has been well worked during the winter, and 

 the weeds kept down. 



When the ])lants are well established, the horse-hoe should be 

 freely used between the rows, and the soil immediately round the 

 plant gently loosened with a light hoe or knife. 



