CHAPTER VII. 



THE SEED BED RAISING SEED. 



No step in the culture of tobacco is more important 

 than proper care in the preparation and the sowing 

 of the seed beds. This work cannot be neglected in 

 manner or season without running the risk of making a 

 partial, or total, failure of the crop. To make good 

 beds is a laborious task, and requires ripe judgment, 

 both in the selection of the location, the soil, and in the 

 preparation of the land. To have plenty of good, 

 strong, healthy plants is the surest foundation for a good 

 crop of tobacco, provided they are from seed true to the 

 desired standard. 



1. As to Location, The land selected should have 

 a slightly southern exposure, if possible, to get the full 

 benefit of the warm rays of the sun in early spring, so 

 as to hasten the growth of the plants, in order that they 

 may be transplanted before the hot summer weather sets 

 in. A southeastern exposure is next to be preferred, 

 then a western. The worst of all is a northern slope. 

 All trees standing within thirty feet of the bed should 

 be cut down. Protection on the north and west sides by 

 a skirt of woods is desirable, inasmuch as the young 

 plants are thus sheltered from the cold blasts of early 

 spring. The best possible situation is on a sloping hill 

 on the north side of a running stream, but sufficiently 

 elevated to be above any danger from overflows. In 

 such a situation the fogs will quicken the germination 

 of the seeds and accelerate the growth of the plants, 

 bringing them forward from ten days to two weeks 

 earlier than on level land. 



150 



