CULTIVATION. 41 



Bowie, a Maryland planter, gives Ms experience in the 

 following words : " After a thorough burning of brush, 

 dig deep, and continue to dig, rake, .and chop until every 

 clod, root, and stone be removed ; then level and pulverize 

 nicely with a rake. As to the variety to plant, I think 

 the Cuba is a very good kind for our climate. The 

 Connecticut seed-leaf is the best, but culture has more 

 than anything else to do with the quality. Mix 1 gill 

 of seed for every 10 square yards with a quart of plaster 

 or sifted ashes, and sow it regularly in the same manner 

 that gardeners sow small seeds, only with a heavier 

 hand ; roll with a hand-roller or tramp it with the feet. 

 If the bed is sown early, it ought to be covered with 

 brush free from leaves ; but it is not necessary to cover 

 it after the middle of March. Tobacco-beds may be sown 

 at any time during the winter if the ground be not too 

 wet or frozen. The best time for sowing is from the 

 10th to the 20th of March, though it is safest to sow at 

 intervals, whenever the land is in fine order for working. 

 Never sow unless the land is in good order, for the work 

 will be thrown away if the land be too moist or be not 

 perfectly prepared. The beds must be kept free from 

 grass or weeds, which must be picked out one at a time 

 by the fingers. It is a tedious and troublesome operation, 

 therefore you should be very careful not to use any 

 manures on your beds which have grass or weed-seeds in 

 them. After the plants are up, they should receive a 

 slight top-dressing of manure once a week, sown broadcast 

 by the hand. This manure should be composed of J bushel of 

 unleached ashes (or 1 bushel of burnt turf), 1 bushel of 

 fresh virgin woods-earth, 1 gallon of plaster, J gallon of 



