TOBACCO 249 



Character of Lands. 



In Virginia planters formerly did not plant tobacco 

 on old lands, and kept moving their tobacco field to 

 new soils. A dark-coloured loam was selected for dark 

 tobacco, and if a light-coloured wrapper were desired, a 

 light loam was selected. In Connecticut a light, moist 

 loam was most desired, and in Maryland a light, pliable, 

 sandy loam was generally selected. 



Tobacco in many districts of Virginia, North Carolina 

 and South Carolina is planted on a sandy or sandy loam 

 soil, with a yellow or red clay subsoil. Where a bright 

 yellow tobacco is specially desired, the yellow clay sub- 

 soil is preferred. 



Preparation and Fertilising of the Seed Bed. 



The time of preparing the tobacco seed bed varies 

 from February, in South Carolina, to April, in New 

 England. Without doubt, every step in the preparation 

 of the soil is of importance. The seed ground should 

 be well sheltered, weed seeds should be avoided, and 

 the more level the ground the better. When the soil 

 is prepared in drying weather it should be done quickly 

 to prevent its setting like cement. Overworking is bad, 

 for it frequently reduces some soils to a paste into which 

 the roots of the tobacco plants penetrate only with diffi- 

 culty. However, the soil must be well drained and worked 

 to a fine tilth to a good depth. The plants should not 

 be subjected to too much watering, especially in the 

 earlier stages, for its evaporation would chill the ground 

 too rapidly. 



It was frequently customary in the early days to burn 

 off a piece of forest land for a seed bed. The sterilization 

 of the ground by heating aided in promoting a healthy 

 growth, but this practice has been almost completely 

 abandoned. 



A pint of corn meal and a pint of land plaster for 

 each square rod were formerly used to advantage to help 

 start the plants. If the bed is not too broad, the neces- 

 sary weeding can be done by hand without damaging 

 the plants. Generally 5,000 to 6 r ooo plants per acre are 



