RAISING SEED. 155 



retains the moisture in the ground, which materially as- 

 sists in the growth of the seed and tiny plants. 



A frequent mistake is made in using too much seed. 

 It is better to err in using too little. In the latter case, 

 the plants will be large, healthy, low and stocky, and 

 will withstand a very hot sun, and may be set with very 

 little moisture in the soil. When plants are crowded in 

 the bed the stems are small, delicate, white and crisp. 

 They have such a weakness of constitution that hun- 

 dreds of them perish after being transplanted, and even 

 if they survive this shock, their vitality is so feeble that 

 several weeks must elapse before they show a healthy 

 growth. In the meantime, they are preyed upon by cut- 

 worms, grasshoppers and other enemies, so that a good 

 stand is almost impossible to be secured with such 

 plants. In consequence, the tobacco field is of uneven 

 growth, which entails much unnecessary work upon the 

 farmer and seriously impairs the value of his crop. 

 Trenches should be dug on the upper end of the bed and 

 on both sides, so as to keep any floods of water from run- 

 ning over the bed. In Germany this is done as shown 

 in Fig. 13. 



Sprouting the Seed, which is not practiced in the 

 South, is frequently resorted to by northern growers in 

 order to hasten the growth of the plants. In Wisconsin, 

 the seed is mixed with finely pulverized, rotten wood, 

 taken from the hollow of an old stump or log, and 

 placed in a pan or dish in a warm place, where it is kept 

 moderately damp by sprinkling with tepid water. 

 Under such conditions, the seed will germinate in about 

 two weeks, and is sown as soon as the danger of frost is 

 passed. Another plan is to sprinkle the seed thinly 

 upon a piece of dampened cotton cloth and cover it with 

 another cloth made of wool. The two are rolled 

 together, the woolen cloth on the outside. This roll is 

 kept in a warm place, or under a stove, and dipped in 



