474 FIELD CROPS 



being grown. The market value of the crop can be niat(n-ially 

 increased by care in the selection of the seed plants. As 

 soon as the flower stalks appear, but before any flowers open, 

 the head should be covered with a 12-pound manila paper 

 bag, for experiments have shown that self-fertilized seed 

 produces much more uniform plants than that which is open- 

 fertilized. After a few days, the bag is taken off temporarilj^ 

 and all superfluous leaves and blossoms removed, leaving 

 from forty to eighty seed pods. It is then put back, 

 and taken off at intervals of a few days to remove new flower 

 buds which may have formed. After three or four weeks, 

 the bag is taken off permanently, care still being given to 

 remove all flower buds which develop afterwards. When 

 the pods turn brown, the stem is cut off and hung in a dry, 

 airy place for curing. The seed should be stored in a dry 

 place and safe from the attacks of mice and insects, for on 

 it depends largely the value of the succeeding crop. 



LABORATORY AND FIELD EXERCISES 



1. Examine the different kinds of leaves used for different pur- 

 poses. What are the characteristics of each? 



2. Grow a few tobacco plants with different fertihzers and with- 

 out fertilizer, and note results. Also grow some plants under shade, 

 and note what differences may appear. 



3. Visit fields and barns, if possible, and observe methods of plant- 

 ing, growing, and curing. , 



REFERENCES 



Cyclopedia of American Agriculture, Vol. II, Bailey. 



Tobacco, Its History, Culture, and Varieties, Billings. 



Farm Crops, Burkett. 



Southern Field Crops, Duggar. 



Tobacco Leaf, Killebrew and Myrick. 



Productive Farm Crops, Montgomery. 



Farmers' Bulletins: 



416. Production of Cigar Leaf Tobacco. 



523. Tobacco Curing. 



57 L Tobacco Culture. 



