S3 



over the bed until the plants appear, which will be in 

 two or three weeks ; after tliey are up and started, the 

 glass will be required only at night, and in cold days. 

 Tlie bed should be kept moist and free from .weeds. 

 When the plants are three inches high they are large 

 enough to set." 



As the growing of the plants, so as to have them of 

 good size, and vigorous, in time for transplanting, is a 

 point of much importance, we quote other authorities, 

 with the hope, thatj as they come from different sections, 

 they will prove instructive to a greater number of 

 readgrs, than would the sugestions of any one person, 

 drawn from a comparatively limited practice and obser- 

 vation. 



The following are Mr. Minor's directions for the seed- 

 bed : 



" A rich virgin loam with a slight mixture of sand is 

 ascertained to be the best soil for raising tobacco plants. 

 vSuch spots are indicated by the growth of alder and 

 hazel bushes in bottoms, and on the margin of small 

 streams, and if the situation^ has the command of water, 

 for irrigation, it is on that account to be preferred — the 

 spot being selected, the first operation is to burn it with 

 a strong fire. For this purpose the growth of ever kind 

 is cut off (not grubbed up), and the whole surface raked 

 very clean; the burning should be done before Christmas, 

 or as soon after as the weather will permit — and if done 

 thus early it cannot be well too heavy, even bringing 

 the soil to a hard cake, 



"The wonderful fertility imparted to soil by fire, has 

 of late years been clearly proved and developed by 

 various experiments in this and other countries, but 

 judging from long-established practice, we suppose it is 

 a fact that has been long known to tobacco planters, 

 that this fertility is imparted by the fire, and no ways 

 dependent upon the ashes left by the process, is clearly 



