196 CHAPTER XIT 



The Union Department of Agriculture recommends the 

 following application per acre every fourth year, viz. : — Sodium 

 nitrate, 160 pounds; dried blood, 200 pounds; potassium sul- 

 phate, 200 pounds; and superphosphate (37 per cent.), 320 

 pounds. This should be broadcasted just before transplanting. 



Kraal manure must be thoroughly rotted before use, as 

 fresh manure produces coarse, heavy tobacco, which has a dis- 

 agreeable flavour and aroma. It should be spread over the land 

 a few months before transplanting and before ploughing. 



If a leguminous green manure is used in rotation, tobacco 

 should not be grown the following year, unless dark, heavy leaf 

 is wanted. Non-legumes are most suitable on many soils, as 

 the humus content is maintained without accumulating an 

 excess of nitrogen. 



Varieties. — (a) For heavy or dark leaf : — Improved Clarks- 

 ville, Boyd, Genuine Pryor, Tennessee Eed and Joiner. These 

 should be grown on heavy soil, heavily fertilised. 



(b) For medium-bright or light red leaf : — Joiner, Yellow 

 Pryor, Sterling, Hester, Bullion, Blue Pryor, and White 

 Burley. These should be grown on sandy loams, with 

 moderate applications of fertilisers. 



(c) For bright leaf. — The same varieties as in (6), but 

 they should be grown on sandy loams or black turf soils, with 

 very light applications of fertiliser. 



Transplanting. — Virginia tobacco should be transplanted 

 during October, November, or December. The early plantings 

 give the best yields and quality of leaf. If the nights are cool 

 at maturity, a satisfactory yellowing does not take place. 



The transplants should be 4 to 6 inches in height, and 

 should be put in the sides of furrows just irrigated. To firm 

 the soil round the plants water should be run down the furrows 

 immediately after planting out. The rows should be 3 feet 

 apart, and the plants 2^ to 3 feet in the row. 



If the tobacco is to be flue-cured, about 10 to 15 acres 

 should be transplanted at a time, in order that there may be 

 sufficient leaf of uniform ripeness and even texture to fill a 

 curing barn properly at each harvesting. 



Cultivation. — The transplanting furrows should be filled 

 up by cultivators, and after this irrigation water should be 

 applied between the rows. Cultivation should cease by the time 

 topping is necessary. 



Topping and Suckering. — The operation of removing the 

 terminal bud, to prevent seed development, is called " top- 

 ping." This should take place when the inflorescence appears, 



