TOBACCO CULTURE. 



Virginia, resemble in texture the finest satins and silks. This 

 result has been reached, not by the sacrifice of the strength 

 of the leaf, but by the most careful culture and improved 

 methods of curing. 



The first labor to be performed in connection with the 

 growth of a crop of tobacco, is the selection of a site for, and 

 the making of, the " plant bed " or " plant patch." These 

 beds for the early growth of the plants until large enough to 

 transplant, are made in various ways and at different times, 

 according to the method of tilling adopted and the climate. 

 In California the tobacco bed is made in January, in the 

 Southern States, Syria, Turkey, and Holland, in March. In 

 New England in April. In Mexico and Java in June, and 

 in Persia in December. In the Connecticut valley the 

 jmanner of making the 



PLANT BED, 



as given by a Massachusetts tobacco-grower, is as follows : 

 " No rigid rules can be given for any process in tobacco 

 culture, which depends much upon weather and season, but 

 certain advantages may be obtained by skillful adaptation of 

 general principles to circumstances. This is especially true 

 of raising tobacco plants, which occupy an extremely slight 

 depth of ground for weeks after sowing, making it necessary 

 to prepare the whole soil with reference to the state of this 

 thin surface. Any slight mistake of treatment may make in 

 the end a difference of several days ; consequently each item 

 is of importance. While every tobacco-raiser wants early 

 plants, and appreciates the value of a good location for grow- 

 ing them, many naturally sheltered spots of ground, protected 

 from northerly winds by buildings, trees, or hills, remain 

 unappreciated. Tighfe board fences are no protection worth 

 mentioning. 



" A heavily manured crop of tobacco would fit such places 

 for tobacco beds, and leave them freer from weeds than any 

 other cultivation ; and a subsequent use of some commercial 

 fertilizer would avoid the introduction of weed seed. "With 

 these precautions, and a careful destruction of all neighboring 

 weeds, a tolerably clean bed may be expected. To prepare 

 the ground, plow or loosen deeply with a large cultivator ; 

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