468 FIELD CROPS 



A few days later, all dead plants should be replaced with 

 fresh ones from the plant bed. The distance between the 

 plants differs with the variety and the soil, though the usual 

 distance between the rows is from 3 to 4 feet, with the plants 

 from 18 to 24 inches apart in the row. With a planter, 3 

 acres can be set in a day, three men and a team being required 

 in its operation. 



638. Cultivation. As soon as the plants start into growth 

 after transplanting, the ground should be stirred. The earlier 

 cultivations are usually with the shovel plow, to loosen 

 the soil to a depth of several inches and admit air and heat. 

 Later, surface cultivation is given, to keep down weeds 

 and maintain a dust mulch. The soil should be worked 

 toward the plants rather than away from them, using great 

 care not to injure the roots. Every effort should be made to 

 induce steady, rapid growth. It is best to continue the 

 cultivation at intervals of a few days until the plants shade 

 the ground quite completely; after that time, the leaves are 

 likely to be broken or injured by it. Later workings are 

 usually given with a one-horse spring-tooth cultivator. 



Shade-grown tobacco generally grows taller and matures 

 thinner and more pliable leaves preferred for wrappers. The 

 shade is produced by nailing lath or extending cloth over a 

 framework. The laths are arranged to give half shade. 



639. Topping. When from ten to eighteen leaves have 

 been produced, the top of the plant is broken out to prevent 

 the production of seed and to increase the size and substance 

 of the leaves. Considerable judgment is required in this 

 work, for on it depends in large measure the uniformity 

 and yield of the crop. Slow-growing plants or those on poor 

 soil are usually allowed to develop fewer leaves than those on 

 rich soil or which are making rapid growth. Soon after the 

 top is removed, suckers will be produced from the axils of 

 the leaves. These should be removed when they reach a 

 length of about 3 inches. It is necessary to go over the field 



