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SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



in the New England states, while less pretentious ones are to be found in 

 the Carolinas. The object, however, is the same, that is, to produce a 

 supply of good, healthy, vigorous plants; for a failure of the seed-bed means 

 a failure of the crop. 



In Connecticut and Massachusetts the young plants are grown under 

 glass in steam-heated beds, and the tobacco seed is sprouted before being 

 sown in order to produce plants by the time danger of frost is over. It is 

 only in the Northern states that it is necessary to go to this expense and 

 trouble. In most of the heavy tobacco-growing districts, as well as in the 



TOBACCO PLANT-BED, OR TOBACCO SEED-BED. 



South Atlantic and Gulf states, the open seed-bed is used, the only covering 

 being a thin cheesecloth to keep out the cold and conserve the heat and 

 moisture in the bed. 



In locating a good seed-bed for any type of tobacco the prospective 

 grower should select a piece of ground near to water, having a southern 

 exposure and protected on the north either by buildings or timber. The 

 best plan is to select a piece of woodland near a small stream having the 

 desired exposure. The timber should be cut off the land in the fall of the 

 year, split into desired lengths and sizes and stacked to dry. January is the 

 best time to burn a seed-bed, excepting in the Northern states. In these 

 states this form of bed is not used. The first operation is to rake from the 

 bed all leaves and trash, then lay across the bed skids of green pine poles, 

 upon which the cut timber with a good supply of small brush is placed. 

 This pile of wood and brush should extend clear across the bed, but not over 



