40 TOBACCO. 



covered only slightly, best done by strewing a little fine 

 compost manure over it. Ants, which often destroy the 

 seeds, may be kept off by sprinkling some ashes over the 

 bed. Finally cut straw may be scattered over the surface. 

 In India, to protect the nursery from the sun and rain, 

 the whole is covered with a roof made of straw, leaves, or 

 cloth, supported by poles, at only a few feet above the 

 ground. The soil must be kept constantly moist, but not 

 wet ; weak liquid manure may be used for watering. 

 Much time is saved by starting the seed in a warm room 

 before sowing. 



The plants, which will appear about a week after sowing, 

 are very tender during the first stage of their growth, and 

 require frequent watering through a fine rose. The straw 

 will now prevent the water falling with any force immedi- 

 ately on the plants, and its tendency to wash the soil from 

 the fine rootlets. If the plants spring up thickly, they 

 are thinned out, when about a week or two old, leaving 

 about 1 sq. in. for each. Those taken out may be used to 

 fill blanks in the nursery bed, or, if more plants are taken 

 out than are required for this purpose, they should be 

 planted in a separate bed. It is universally acknowledged 

 that plants transplanted when very young develop more 

 roots, grow more vigorously, and become more hardy 

 afterwards, than when not transplanted at this stage. 

 When the plants are about two weeks old, they require 

 less attention, and should be watered less frequently, to 

 harden them before transplanting. Any weeds appearing 

 must be removed, and injurious insects must be killed. 

 In about 7-8 weeks after sowing, the plants will be fit 

 for transplanting. 



