CULTIVATION. 13 



importance. It is said that some Rhenish-Bavarian soils 

 contain as much as 15 per cent, of organic matter, yet the 

 cultivator considers it necessary to heavily manure each 

 tobacco crop. Dutch growers apply to the rich alluvial 

 soil as much as 25 tons an acre of well-rotted cattle- 

 manure. In America, it is reported that the heaviest 

 crops are obtained on soil newly taken up, and very rich 

 in vegetable mould. It is considered nearly everywhere 

 that tobacco will pay best when heavily manured. The 

 first care of even the poorest peasant in the tobacco 

 districts of Germany, Holland, &c., as soon as he sells his 

 tobacco, is to purchase the manure which he considers 

 essential to his success. 



The amount of any special manure which can be 

 applied without injury to the plants depends very much 

 on the solubility of the stuff, and the manner of applying 

 it. Highly soluble salts, such as soda or potash nitrate, 

 should be applied in smaller quantities than salts which 

 dissolve slowly. With regard to the manner of applying 

 concentrated manures, it is evident that, when a salt is 

 applied in close proximity to the plant, less will be 

 required than when strewn over the whole field. When 

 applied in solution, not more than 300 Ib. of nitrate per 

 acre should be used at one time. The amount to be 

 applied varies also with the soil ; a sandy soil, which has 

 little absorptive power, should receive less than a clay. 

 Salts easily disintegrating should not be applied before 

 tobacco has been planted, especially not before heavy 

 rains which would carry off the salt. To supply the 

 potash required by the tobacco plant, 200 Ib. of good salt- 

 petre per acre would be sufficient in most cases. Lime, 



