424 COVERING PLANT BED. 



around the tobacco beds, opposite one another, and info 



COVERING PLANT BED. 



these forks thin twigs are laid, which are covered wltlt 

 palm-leaves in such a way as to form a slight roof." 



In Syria the tobacco seed is sown in ground free fr6rti 

 stones, well manured with goats dung, and strewn over with 

 prickly bushes to protect the young plants from birds. The 

 plants are watered daily till they reach the height of eighf or 

 ten inches, when they are transplanted. In Persia where the 

 celebrated Shiraz tobacco is cultivated, the seed is planted 

 in a dark soil slightly manured ; the ground is coveted with 

 light thorny bushes to keep it warm, and these are removed 

 when the plants are a lew inches high. The ground is 

 regularly watered if required, and when the plants are six tor 

 eight inches high are transplanted. In Turkey " the tobacco 

 seed is sown early in the spring, in small beds carefully pre- 

 pared for the early growth of the young plants. In a few 

 weeks the plants appear thick ; then begins the occupation of 

 the farmer's wife, and their numerous children, whose little 

 fingers are engaged day by day in thinning the beds, card 

 being taken to leave the most healthy looking plants. Thef 

 husband is engaged either in carrying water from the* nearest 

 well by the aid of his mule, or in preparing the land for the 

 reception of the plants. The beds are well watered before 

 Bunrise and after sundown." 



"The Hungarian peasantry always make their tobacco 

 beds against the south ends of their houses; These beds are 

 enclosed by hurdles two feet high, at the bottom of whiefa 

 stones are laid, and on the outside; of these, thotns- are thickly 



