34 



and patted down, so that they shall be somewhat round- 

 ing, and about twenty inches broad near the base. The 

 ground may be left until a proper day comes for plant- 

 ing — cloudy weather, with indications of rain is the best ; 

 if not, as soon after the rain as the ground is in suitable 

 working order. 



As good a plan as any, if the weather is dry, is to 

 make a hole in each hill, and pour therein about a pint 

 of water, and set the plant as soon as it has soaked 

 away, drawing the dryer earth about it, which may be 

 done very quickly by having one hand to water, while 

 another sets the plants. If the hills have become weedy 

 between the fitting and the planting- of the land, they 

 should be scraped before planting, by making quick, 

 shallow cuts with a hoe, just beneath the surface. In 

 extensive cultivation, a division of labor of this kind 

 w^U save a large expense, in the crop. 



If the weather continues dry and hot, they should be 

 slightly watered about nine o'clock in the morning, and 

 again about three P. M., if they show a disposition to 

 wilt. Eeset immediately if the plants are destroyed by 

 worms. Considerable care is sometimes necessary in 

 order to get a good stand. Setting the plants is per- 

 formed, by thrusting the left hand deep into the soil, and 

 placing the plant properly with the right, and pressing 

 the dirt pretty firmly about it." 



VI -CULTIVATION MD PROTECTION FROM TESTS. 



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

 Repeat 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. During the early part of this time 

 keep a sharp look out for the cut-worm ; he must he killed. 

 As soon as the tobacco worms show themselves, they 

 must be killed " double quick," or your labor will have 

 been lost, for they eat tobacco faster than a pot-house 

 politician. The pruning and topping must be attended 

 to, and the suckering is necessary, in order to throw the 



