172 TOBACCO. 



"Preparation of Soil. — Tobacco land should be well- 

 drained upland which has lain fallow some time or that 

 has had some light crop in it ; this land should be well 

 manured with well-rotted manure. We plough our lands 

 twice monthly. Just before the time for transplanting the 

 soil is ploughed up and well pulverized by a henger or 

 beam of wood drawn by bullocks over the upturned soil 

 so as to bend it and to break up any lumps of earth. The 

 soil should be sufficiently dry for this purpose so as not to 

 cake and harden. 



" Seed-beds. — These should be made up in a suitable 

 situation, that is, protected from the afternoon sun, having 

 some building or grove of trees on the west side. The 

 seed-beds should be raised some six inches off the ground 

 and have trenches dug all round so as to carry off any 

 superfluous moisture, the beds should be well worked with 

 a kodalie and good, rotted manure well worked in. After 

 pulverizing the soil and levelling it, pick off any stones 

 or other rubbish and it will be ready for sowing the seed. 

 The size of the bed should be about 4 feet by 15 feet : this 

 is more convenient than square beds, as it enables the 

 plants to be attended to without risk of destroying them 

 by trampling on them. 



" Sowing the Seed. — The seed is sown broadcast with the 

 hand, mixed with some sand or ashes so as to sow evenly ; 

 care should be taken not to sow too thickly. About one 

 chittak of seed ought to be found sufficient for one of these 

 beds which would furnish enough plants for one beegah 

 of land. After having sown and if there is a hot sun, it 

 would be advisable to cover the beds with light mats. 

 This seed should germinate in seven or ten days at least. 



