13 



CULTIVATION. 



Few plants respond more readily to favorable soil conditions and 

 thorough culture than does tobacco, and there is certainly no other crop 

 that requires more attention in its cultivation if it is to be grown to 

 perfection. 



Owing to the variation of the seasons it is impossible to give any 

 strict rules for the cultivation of tobacco and the planters must learn from 

 practical experience the best time for cultivating the fields. 



The priiicipal reasons for cultivating tobacco are to keep the soil in 

 good physical condition, prevent the growth of weeds, give a larger feeding 

 area to the root system, and to conserve the moisture in the soil. These 

 conditions not only help to determine the quality of tobacco produced, 

 but the yield of the crop depends largely on the manner in which the 

 soil is treated during the growing period of the plants. • 



Tobacco is a lateral root feeder and the conservation of moisture is 

 one of the most important matters in its development. The moisture 

 can easily be retained in a finely pulverized soil by frequently stirring 

 the top soil with a plow. The moisture in the gi'ound does not pass 

 easily through this freshly stirred soil. If the soil is cloddy, the moisture 

 escapes very rapidly during a dry period and it is almost impossible 

 to conserve moisture under such conditions. 



Under favorable conditions the young tobacco plants will secure a 

 firm hold in their new position and start to growing in from five to 

 ten days from the time of transplanting. The first cultivation should 

 then be given by plowing deep and close to the rows in order to loosen 

 the soil and allow the roots to penetrate easily. The succeeding cultiva- 

 tions should be shallow near the rows and deeper in the center, so as 

 not to disturb the roots of the plants. The field should be cultivated 

 at least once a week throughout the entire growing season. 



Should heavy rains fall during the early growing period of the plants, 

 a deep furrow run in the middle of the rows will tend to drain the 

 excess water away from the plants. Owing to the fact that the rainy 

 season is generally over by the time the transplanting is finished, it 

 seldom happens that the plants suffer from an excess of moisture in 

 the soil. On the other hand the yield of the crop is frequently reduced 

 on account of the drouths that often occur during the growing period. 



Where the native plow is used in cultivating the tobacco field, it 

 is necessary to make several trips in the same row in order to stir the 

 soil sufficiently. A modem cultivator, which is especially adapted to 

 the cultivation of tobacco, can be obtained for about ^20, and with 

 such a cultivator the row can be thoroughly cultivated in one trip. 



