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following system of a three years' rotation will be found one of the 

 best to adopt for ordinary farm operations, and is often followed 

 in the tobacco districts of the United States : First year, wheat. 

 After the wheat harvest, the land is ploughed and sown with clover, 

 constituting the second year's crop. This is either converted into 

 dry feed for cattle or, when having attained sufficient growth, is 

 grazed for some months. It is then ploughed and cross-ploughed 

 during the late months of winter and early spring, after which 

 the field is ready for the tobacco crop of the third year. 



Before planting, the land should be ridged, the distance between 

 the ridges of course depending on the kind of tobacco to be planted, 

 the larger kinds requiring more room than the smaller-leaved and 

 tall sorts, but they should be far enough apart to allow a free 

 passage between the rows of plants without injuring the leaves. 

 Generally, three feet apart between the rows, and the same 

 between the plants, will be sufficient. In some localities the 

 plough is run lightly over the field at right angles, thus forming 

 small hills on which the seedlings are planted. Planting should 

 only be attempted in the evening, or on a cloudy day. Before 

 transplanting, the seed-bed should receive a good watering, 

 so that the young plants may be lifted without injury to 

 the roots. A good plan for lifting is to take up the seed bed, earth 

 and plants together, by shovelfuls, carrying all in a mass to the 

 field, where it is broken up, and each young plant, with a little lump 

 of earth attached, placed in the position in which it is to grow. 

 The planting is not more difficult than that required for cabbages. 

 A good plan is for a boy to walk up along the line, placing the plants 

 alternately to right and left, being followed by the planters, who 

 simply dibble the seedlings in the hills or ridges. A smart boy will 

 lay enough plants to keep two men busy. The plants are usually 

 dibbled in a little hollow, for convenience made by the heel, which 

 serves as a small reservoir for water to start the young plant into 

 life. After each day's planting the ground should be well sprinkled 

 with water, particularly if the weather is dry. Tobacco is usually 

 planted in the quincunx system, as it affords more room for the 

 development of the leaves. It need hardly be mentioned that in a 

 few days any blanks which occur should be tilled up, and during 

 the whole time of growth a close watch must be kept for injurious 

 insects. When once the plants have taken root they grow very quickly, 

 and the after cultivation is simple, though requiring care. When 

 they are from six to nine inches high they require to be hilled after 

 the manner of mai/e and other crops, and if the ground is not 

 naturally rich a top dressing of manure may now be applied. One 

 or two hoeings are necessary during the growing period to keep 

 down weeds, as it must be remembered that everything that detracts 

 from the growth of the plant is detrimental to the quality of the leaf. 

 The larva- of insects may now be troublesome, and a tlnck of ducks 

 turned into the field will prove useful as scavengers or collectors. 



