44 TOBACCO. 



" Whoever is in possession of a hot-bed can raise the 

 plants much easier ; he can sow later and have plants 

 earlier and with more certainty. But even the common 

 hed may be made into a kind of hot-bed. The burned and 

 hoed surface soil is removed and put on one side, then one 

 foot of fresh horse-dung is laid on the subsoil, and the 

 surface soil put back again. Boards may be placed 

 around, cross-pieces laid over them, and the straw cover- 

 ing put on these. 



" The earlier the young plants are ready for transplant- 

 ing the surer the tobacco crop will be. March is the latest 

 to make the seed-bed in the open air, and June the latest 

 for transplanting. Some time may be gained by keeping 

 the seed in damp earth in the room, and sow it in the 

 seed-bed just before it commences to sprout." 



Having selected a suitable location, says White, a Con- 

 necticut grower, "next consider how large a bed you will 

 need. That depends on the surface you intend to plant 

 out. A bed 2 rods long, by 12 feet wide, will produce a 

 sufiScient number of good plants to set an acre. On such 

 a bed you should spread a heavy coat of good, fine, well- 

 rotted manure, at least 2 inches thick ; let it be free 

 from straw or other litter. Then, with a good strong 

 back, and long-handled spade (or other as you prefer), 

 spade up the bed, mixing in the manure very fine. Have 

 ready some fine dry brush, or the like, and spread over the 

 whole surface ; set it on fire and burn to ashes. A small 

 quantity will answer better than a very large one, for if 

 very much is burned, it is apt to do injury by burning 

 the soil. The less quantity will tend to destroy any 

 foreign seed turned up, and warm the ground. Having 



