OTHER FARM CROPS 593 



rate of growth. The Little Orinoco type has a long, narrow, taper- 

 ing leaf, and is the sweetest variety grown. The Yellow Mammoth 

 is largely exported for Swiss trade, and its culture is mainly con- 

 fined to Tennessee. The Orinoco type is grown in Virginia, North 

 Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Missouri. 



Virginia Types (Blue Pry or, Sun-Cured, and White Stem.) 

 Adapted to sandy soil, underlaid with red or yellow clay subsoils. 

 These types have very broad, large, fine leaves, of fine, silky texture, 

 with rather tough fibers and usually have bright, fine colors. Some 

 of the best grades are used for cigar wrappers and others for smok- 

 ing purposes. Grown in Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Ten- 

 nessee, Missouri, and Indiana. 



DIRECTIONS FOR CULTURE. 



Sumatra Tobacco. The location selected for the seed bed 

 should have a slightly southern exposure in order to get the full 

 benefit of the warm rays of the sun in the early spring. The slope 

 should be sufficient to insure perfect drainage at all times. It is de- 

 sirable that the seed bed be surrounded by board walls and covered 

 with regular tobacco tenting cloth. The cover will protect the ten- 

 der plants from the cold north winds and produce more uniform 

 and favorable conditions, insuring early, rapid growth. The loca- 

 tion should be permanent, abundantly fertilized every spring, and 

 kept free from weeds and grass at all times. The soil becomes bet- 

 ter adapted to plant-bed purposes each succeeding year if this method 

 is followed. The most desirable soil seems to be a rich, friable sandy 

 loam. Deep plowing or spading should be avoided in the prepara- 

 tion of the soil, the usual depth being 4 or 5 inches. The ground 

 should be harrowed and stirred with hand rakes until thoroughly 

 pulverized, and all roots, tufts, and clods of earth should be carefully 

 removed. 



After this preparation a liberal application of fertilizer rich in 

 nitrogen and potash should be evenly distributed over the bed. A 

 fertilizer containing 10 per cent of ammonia, 8 per cent of avail- 

 able phosphoric acid, and 12 per cent of soluble potash is highly 

 recommended. Chlorin in any form must be avoided. After ap- 

 plying this fertilizer the bed should be thoroughly stirred again arid 

 left very smooth, in which condition it is ready for the seed. It is 

 customary to sow the seed at the rate of about 1 tablespopnful to 100 

 square yards of seed bed. It is impracticable to sow this seed alone 

 and it should be thoroughly mixed with wood ashes, corn meal, land 

 plaster, or commercial fertilizer. In order to obtain a uniform 

 stand of plants it is advisable to sow half of the seed lengthwise of 

 the bed and the remainder crosswise. 



The proper time for sowing the seed is from February 1 to 

 March 1. Wherever practicable it is best to prepare the land and 

 apply the fertilizer from one to two weeks before sowing the seed. 

 After sowing, a light roller should be run over the bed, or some 

 other means used to get the soil in a firm, compact condition, in 

 which state it will retain its moisture, thus giving more favorable 

 conditions for the germination of seed and the growth of the young 



