OTHER FARM CROPS 607 



old method of burning the seed bed has been largely abandoned, but, 

 if used, care should be taken to burn only small timber and brush. 

 A large quantity of ashes is detrimental to the growth of the young 

 plants. All trees within 30 or 35 feet should be cut down and piled 

 on the north and west sides of the seed bed for a partial protection 

 against the cold winds. 



The proper time for preparing and sowing the seed bed is from 

 February 1 to March 30. The bed should be spaded to a depth of 4 

 or 5 inches, and all roots and tufts carefully removed. The soil 

 must be thoroughly pulverized with garden hoes, hand rakes, or other 

 suitable implements. Before the last stirring an application of a 

 highly nitrogenous fertilizer should be evenly distributed over the 

 bed and thoroughly incorporated into the soil. A mixture of 50 

 pounds of nitrate of soda, 40 pounds of fine-ground bone, and 10 

 pounds of carbonate of potash, applied at the rate of 30 pounds per 

 square rod, is highly recommended. 



Sow the seed at the rate of two tablespoonfuls to the square 

 rod. It can best be uniformly distributed over the bed by mixing 

 with wood ashes or land plaster, dividing it into two equal parts, 

 and sowing half of it over the bed crosswise and the other half length- 

 wise. The sides of the bed should be from 8 to 10 inches high, and 

 wires 3 feet apart should be stretched across it. The beds can be 

 covered with light cheese-cloth or tobacco-bed cloth, after the seed 

 has been sowed. The covering serves as a protection against the 

 ravages of the flea-beetles and other insects, provided there are no 

 open spaces around the bed. All weeds and grass should be removed. 

 It is seldom necessary to water the plant beds, except in the case of 

 unusually dry weather. Water at this time is very essential. It 

 should be applied as in the northern seed beds, but less frequently, 

 it being seldom necessary to water the beds more than twice a week. 



In most cases it is advisable to replenish the plant food with a 

 top-dressing or fertilizer of the same composition as that of the first 

 application. This should be applied in liquid form, wherever it is 

 possible to wash it in thoroughly ; otherwise it is most important to 

 top-dress the beds only during hot, dry days. The top-dressing should 

 be used when the plants are from 2 to 3 inches high. Where cloth 

 ds not used for a covering, the beds must be closely guarded against 

 the attacks of the flea-beetle. When this insect first makes its appear- 

 ance the plants should be treated with Paris green at the rate of 1 

 pound to 30 pounds of land plaster. The cloth covering should be 

 removed from the beds at least a week before transplanting to pre- 

 vent the injurious effect of the radical change from the seed bed 

 to the open field. 



Maryland tobacco is transplanted from May 15 to June 15. 

 Care must be used to wet the seed 1 bed down thoroughly before draw- 

 ing the plants, thus protecting the roots from injury. The mottled 

 or mosaic tobacco, so common in Maryland tobacco fields, is fre- 

 quently due to the practice of drawing the plants when the soil is 

 not thoroughly moistened. This variety should be set in the field 

 in rows 3% feet apart and the plants 20 to 35 inches apart in the row. 



