368 



TOBACCO 



weeks elapse between spring plowing and the setting of the plants, 

 the field should be harrowed several times to warm and air the 

 soil and kill as many weed seeds as possible by the sprouting 

 system. The fertilizer to be used should be mixed at home and 

 applied to the field about planting time. 



Plants should be set as soon as the weather conditions are 

 favorable and all danger of frost is past. On all large plantations 

 transplanting machines are used (Fig. 255). They are similar to 

 the machines described for the transplanting of sweet potatoes. 



FIG. 255. Machine at work setting tobacco plants in the open field. The hoys behind 

 place tho plants in the planting pocket one at a time. The machine opens the furrow, waters 

 the plants, and presses in the soil around them. (U. S. D. A.) 



Fio. 256. Tobacco in Maryland. 



Topped plants, bagged seed plants and tobacco barn- 

 (U. S. D. A.) 



