1851. 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



107 



the wheat straw in the manure is amply sufficient, 

 and the best covering it can have. I then apply 

 plaster at the rate of one bushel per acre, and when 

 securly fenced in, either with a rail or hedge fence, 

 the bed is completed. Brush should never be used as 

 a covering, as it certainly from my knowledge gained 

 by experience, retards the plants at least three weeks, 

 and moreover renders them more liable to be de- 

 stroyed by the fly, particularly when taken off. The 

 straw should not be removed at all. It is no injury 

 to the plants, on the contrary, a constant benefit. It 

 keeps off the frost, and is a great protection against 

 the fly. When the plants generally are up, I would 

 top dress with drawn ashes,* hen manure, and plaster, 

 mixed in the following proportions : — 1 bushel drawn 

 ashes, half a bushel of hen manure, 1 gallon of plas- 

 ter, which will be sufficient for 400 sq, yds., to be 

 repeated whenever washed off by the rain, unless the 

 plants should indicate from their growth the absence 

 of any necessity for further use. If the fly is bad, 

 the mixture should bo used whenever washed off, but 

 always applied when the plants are dry — about noon 

 is the best tin>e. If a long drouth should come on, 

 an occasional application of half the above compound, 

 say twice a week, is the best preventive against its 

 effects. Liquids should never be used except to pro- 

 mote the growth of plants in damp weather, and then 

 are not necessary if the above mixture is used, as it 

 will accelerate their growth as much as is desirable. 

 I omitted to state as indispensable, that the bed should 

 be ivell drained, and kept at all times free from 

 lueeds and grass. I have succeeded in raising plants 

 in the mode above indicated for twelve years, with- 

 out a failure. I work two farms, and one bed at 

 each, the size being regulated according to the pro- 

 posed crop, has been all that I have found it neces- 

 sary to prepare within that time. No bed has been 

 injured by the worm since I have adopted the above 

 plan ; before I have had them entirely destroyed 

 when the plants were fit to set out, when the manure 

 was incorporated with the soil. I would caution all 

 who may adopt these suggestions, not to rake the 

 bed after the manure is applied, as it will most cer- 

 tainly ruin it. Would any profit by the above, I 

 would remind them that personal attention is the best 

 security against failure. 



" The Time and Mode of sowing the Seed. — 

 The time must depend in a great measure upon the 

 season ; if wet, the bed can not be properly prepared. 

 1 have had good beds which were sown the 10th of 

 January, and others as late as the 25th of March. 

 The first good weather in February, say, (if it hap- 

 pen on,) the 20th, I would prefer, but as the weather 

 is uncertain, the first opportunity that may offer be- 

 tween the middle of January and the last of March 

 should be embraced, and that the time may not find 

 us at fault, it would be well to have the brush or 

 wood hauled in place, ready lor use. 



" I usually mix the seed with drawn ashes, a table 

 spoonful, (the quantity for 100 sq. yds.) to a half 

 gallon of ashes, and sow them with the hand, and that 

 they may be as equally distributed as possible, make 

 two sowings, one lengthwise, and the other crosswise 

 the bed. 



"The maimer of protecting the young plants, as 

 well from frost as from insects, I have indicated 

 above in the application of stable manure with the 

 wheat straw, upon the surface before seeding ; it is 



• " Drawn ashes" are leached ashes. 



a.i effectual protection against frost, and a great secu- 

 rity against insects, and with the top dressing recom- 

 mended above, to wit : 1 bushel of drawn ashes, ^ 

 bushel hen manure, 1 gallon of plaster, mixed to- 

 gether, and put on 400 sq. yds. and repeated as 

 often as circumstances may indicate, will prove as 

 efiectual a remedy against fly as can be devised. 

 Soot added, would be an improvement perhaps, say 1 

 gallon. 



"I have no doubt guano would be an excellent Top 

 dressing put on when the plants are dry, say at the 

 rate of 100 lbs. to the acre, with plaster. I have 

 never used it for that purpose, and therefore do not 

 feel at liberty to do more than express an opinion of 

 the probable good effects it might produce. 



The Period and Method of setting out Plants. 

 — Much depends upon the care and attention bestow- 

 ed upon tlie bed as to the time when they will be fit 

 to plant. I have usually had them fit to plant by the 

 15th of May, sometimes by the 1st of May, and then 

 they require moist weather to transplant them, other- 

 wise many would perish. The usual season for plant- 

 ing is from the 15th of May to the 1st of July ; the 

 first is considered early planting, the latter late plant- 

 ing, and in danger of an early frost. 



The Method. They are drawn from the bed by 

 the hand, and conveyed to the soil prepared for them, 

 where they are transplanted one in each hill, a hole 

 being made (by a planting stick, about 8 inches long, 

 and 1^ inches in diameter) to receive the roots which 

 are compressed by the hand with the surrounding 

 earth. If planted in hills, about 5 or 6 thousand to 

 the acre, if in drills, from 7 to 8 thousand, according 

 to the views of the planter ; the usual distance in hills 

 is 30 inches, in drills about 20 inches, by 30 inches 

 the wide way — I would prefer 36 inches. If it is 

 desired to make large tobacco, planting in hills at 3 

 feet distance each way is best ; if fine tobacco, closer 

 planting must be resorted to, either in hills or drills. 

 Much depends upon the locality, as to which is the 

 best mode of planting — there are various opinions — I 

 have planted both ways this year. I plant in hills, 

 and I am satisfied with the crop, as it is as good as 

 any I ha<-.> seen; 



" The soil best adapted to the growth of tobacco is 

 a light bright brittle soil — newly cleared land produ- 

 ces the finest and best tobacco, but the quantity is 

 usually less per acre, than upon land of similar tex- 

 ture well manured. Land intended for tobacco as for 

 all other cultivated crops, should be freed from water 

 by thorough draining. Wet land causes it to french, 

 as we call it, and renders it unfit for use. The leaves 

 present the appearance of being frozen, and cannot 

 be restored by any eflTorts again to healthfulness. 

 Lands gently undulating are best suited to its growth, 

 as they wash off any excess of moisture so injurious 

 to the plants. Of all the manures I have ever tried, 

 stable manure is to be preferred ; it causes a quick 

 growth, which is very desirable, if not absolutely ne- 

 cessary to the production of a good article. The 

 quantity of stable manure generally raised on a farm 

 being insufficient to manure a large field, the mixture 

 of virgin soil taken from the woods, headlands, and 

 ditches, with the stable manure, would much increase 

 the planter's available means of manuring his grounds, 

 and amply compensate him for the labor expended. 

 Ashes are a valuable and lasting manure, but in dry 

 seasons apt to fire the tobacco, unless plaster is used, 

 which keeps it green and makes it coarse." 

 (To be cunt'mued.) 



II. 



