PESTS OF TOBACCO. 261 



organized for this special purpose. Such insurance is 

 usually cheap, and is limited to the actual loss incurred. 

 After a hail or wind storm, it is well to go through 

 the field and prop up all plants that have been beaten 

 down, removing the leaves that are most badly cut and 

 stained with earth. Make the most of a bad situation 

 and save all that can be saved. 



Wind whipped tobacco is much injured. It can 

 only be insured against as just stated. But where 

 severe wind storms are common, a hedge, or some tall 

 and close crop, to break the wind's force, is advisable 

 next to the tobacco field. 



Early Frost. Since the perfect quality of the to- 

 bacco depends upon curing it at proper maturity, and 

 since such maturity may not be reached until danger of 

 frost, it is highly important to guard against this con- 

 tingency. Even the slightest frost will destroy the 

 intrinsic quality and market value of an otherwise per- 

 fect crop. The more valuable the crop and the greater 

 the risk of frost, the more effort and expense may be 

 safely put into means of protecting against frosts. A 

 famous California orange grove is equipped with a sys- 

 tem of iron pipes, through which water is conducted to 

 nozzles at frequent intervals, the idea being that the 

 spray will ward off light frosts. Barrels of tar and rub- 

 bish, in different parts of the orchard, are available for 

 making a smudge of smoke, which is the most practica- 

 ble means yet devised. In the case of a freeze, neither 

 of these methods is of much avail. Smoke is good 

 against all light frosts, and is easily obtained. Strawy 

 manure, leaves, rubbish, etc., should be piled in the 

 lowest places and about the sides, and covered with hay 

 caps, or ducking (previously painted with two coats of 

 linseed oil, and dried), so as to be always dry. Have a 

 barrel of kerosene oil handy, some cans, and torches. 

 When frost threatens, set a night watch to inspect 



