430 



VIRGINIA METHODS. 



hilled so as to give about 6000 hills to the acre. This will 

 be a sufficient number if the growth is likely to be large. 

 Where a ridger is used, manure can not be dropped in the 

 hill and in many respects it is well not to do so, as the plants 



A TOBACCO RIDGER. 



are liable to be blown over during a storm not standing as 

 firmly in the hills as plants when no manure is used in the 

 hills. If the hills are to be made with the hoe, avoid 

 all stones, bits of turf and grass in making them, and select 

 only the fresh earth gently patting the top of the hill with 

 the hoe. New made hills are better than old, but it will 

 make but little difference unless the soil is very dry at the 

 time of transplanting. 



The following description of the manner of preparing the 

 tobacco field in Virginia by the old planters is quite interest- 

 ing, and gives some idea of the amount of labor to be 

 performed on the tobacco plantation : 



" There are two distinct and separate methods of preparing 

 the tobacco ground : the one is applicable to the preparation 

 of new and uncultivated lands, such as are in a state of nature, 

 and require to be cleared of the heavy timber and other 

 productions with which Providence has stocked them ; and 

 the other method is designed to meliorate and revive lands 

 of good foundation, which have been heretofore cultivated, 

 and, in some measure, exhausted by the calls of agriculture 

 and evaporation. 



