CULTIVATION. 11 



In the United States, several rows of pole beans, i. e. 

 scarlet runners, a few steps apart, are sometimes planted 

 as a wind-screen. 



Manure. In its natural state, the soil will rarely possess 

 the elements of plant food in such a form as is most con- 

 ducive to the production of a fine tobacco-leaf. Any 

 deficiency must be supplied in the shape of suitable 

 manure. Schlosing found that a bad burning tobacco was 

 produced on a soil containing little potash, on unmanured 

 soil, on soil manured with flesh, humus, calcium chloride, 

 magnesium chloride, and potassium chloride. A good 

 burning tobacco was produced on a soil manured with 

 potassium carbonate, saltpetre, and potassium sulphate. 

 More recent experiments carried out by other investigators 

 tend to corroborate these conclusions. It is generally 

 assumed that a soil rich in nitrogenous organic matter 

 produces a strong tobacco that burns badly. 



The results of Nessler's experiments clearly show that 

 it is not sufficient to apply the element most needed by 

 the plant potash in any form, but that, to produce a 

 good tobacco, it is necessary to apply it in a particular 

 combination. It was found that potash carbonate applied 

 as manure produced the best tobacco : it burned for the 

 longest time, and its ash contained most potash carbonate ; 

 whereas potash chloride produced a much inferior tobacco. 

 The assertion of other experimenters that chlorides pro- 

 duce a bad tobacco is thus confirmed. Potash sulphate 

 and lime sulphate produced a good tobacco. It may be 

 noticed here that tobacco which was manured with gypsum 

 contained a great amount of potash carbonate in the ash, 

 probably due to the fact that gypsum is a solvent for the 



