TOBACCO AND ITS CULTURE. 143 



It is of the first importance, as affecting the profit of the 

 tobacco grower, that he have a good bed of plants near at 

 hand, and in season that he may be able to take advantage 

 of favorable weather for setting. It is poor economy to 

 neglect sowing and caring for the seed-beds, and thus be 

 obliged to go some distance, perhaps to a neighboring town, 

 for plants at the busy time of setting, and then, perhaps, 

 wait till others are through before you can get them. Se- 

 lect a warm, sheltered spot for the seed-bed, and make it 

 rich with some approved fertilizer ; horse manure may be 

 ploughed in, in the autumn previous to its being wanted. 

 It may be further dressed with some of the phosphates in 

 the early spring. Some persons use commercial fertiliz- 

 ers only because of their being free from weed seed. Some 

 quick-acting fertilizer will be necessary if the bed has not 

 been made rich for previous use. 



Peruvian guano has been a great favorite for tobacco beds. 

 The tobacco fertilizers have also given satisfaction for start- 

 ing plants. Bowker's Corn Fertilizer is also recommended 

 by some of our most successful tobacco growers, and in 

 many cases is the only fertilizer used. Early sowing of the 

 seed is essential. AVhile some men will hesitate and delay 

 because they think the ground is too cold, my own rule is to 

 sow any seed, the growing plants of which are not likely 

 to be injured by the frost, as soon as the ground can be 

 worked without packing. There is frequently such a time 

 for seed sowing quite early, after which it may be a long 

 time before the ground will be in as good condition again. 



The saying that it is of no use to put seed in the ground 

 while it is yet so cold, is very good in theory, but in prac- 

 tice will not always hold true. Every planter should plan 

 to raise two or three times as many plants as he will be likely 

 to need ; the greater abundance of plants you have the 

 better can be your selections for the transplanting, and the 

 greater number can be transplanted in a more favorable time. 

 Those you may have left, after you are through setting, will 

 be wanted by some afternoon man less fortunate. 



Shall glass be used? 



We answer, yes. Cold frames for the protection and 

 hastening forwarJ of the young plants. But it is not neces- 



