228 HOW TO MAKE THE FARM PAY. 



near a brook, for convenience in watering. Cut off all weeds, 

 grass, etc., close to the turf; pile up dry, well-seasoned wood, 

 and burn the surface thoroughly ; clear off the coals, and spade 

 in a quantity of manure about four inches deep. Eake in bone 

 manure if handv. Stir up the seed in thiree times its bulk of 

 pla.ster, and sow in a btill, damp day, or water as sown. Eake 

 the bed lightly, not to exceed half an inch in depth, then roll, 

 or tread down hard and even. Water the young plants con- 

 stantly, if dry weather succeeds, always with tepid water, and 

 never while the hot sun is shining on them, which rule applies 

 to the plant in all stages of its growth. Cover the bed with 

 brush until the plants are well out of the ground. 



The time for sowing tobacco seed, in the extreme South, is 

 from the first of February to the first of March. In the ex- 

 treme North it is two months later. 



Transplanting should be done, if possible, when the ground 

 is damp, otherwise it will be necessary to water while trans- 

 planting. Three feet apart, both ways, is a safe rule in setting 

 the plants, and the earth should be pressed firmly about the 

 roots. Great attention is necessary to the newly-set plants. 

 Some, cover them during the heat of mid-day, others water 

 them morning and evening until they get established. Many 

 will fail, and should be at once replaced. If the ground is very 

 dry, a little hole should be made for the plant, and a pint of 

 water turned in. As soon as it has disappeared, set the plant. 

 In a week or ten days after setting, cultivate and hoe. Ee- 

 peat the operation as often as once in ten days, and keep the 

 ground loose and clean till the crop is too large to be worked 

 among. 



Soon after the plant is set, the cut worm makes his appear- 

 ance, cutting off the stems of the young plants. Go through 

 the field every morning, and where a plant has been cut off, 



