TOBACCO. 119 



weeds after the plants have been removed is a perni- 

 cious practice in any line of vegetable growing. If 

 the seeds are sown in drills, a machine may be used in 

 cultivating and in sowing. Where watering is done 

 by sprinkling from a pot or bucket, the plants are 

 very irregular in growing. In watering a tobacco- 

 bed, it should be done thoroughly and at proper times. 

 The bed must not be allowed to become dry after the 

 seed has been sown. Under the proper conditions, the 

 seed produces an abundance ot" plants even after it is 

 two years old. 



It is a common practice to make tobacco beds in a 

 low, moist place ; these have had a moderate degree of 

 success, but they are a pioneer method, and must be 

 abandoned for a more certain one if we wish to come 

 out ahead in the competition. It is exceedingly diffi- 

 cult to have enough plants of one size on hand to 

 plant a field by this method of preparing a plant bed. 

 There seems to be no end of disappointments and fail- 

 ures in the pioneer plant- bed. 



If the seed is sown in drills these should be about six 

 inches apart; the plants may be left about one half 

 inch apart or even less in the row. If the seed is sown 

 broadcast, the seedlings should be thinned so they will 

 have about a square inch each. When the cold frame 

 is well made and the protecting cloth is used, it is not 

 necessary to cover the seed, but simply keep the bed 

 moist and covered with a cloth until the plants are 

 quite well developed. This way is rather risky un- 

 less one can look after the bed three or four times a 

 day. The protecting cloth is left over the cold frame 

 except during the time of watering. As soon as the 

 little seedlings show a decided green in their seed 

 leaves the protecting cloth can be left off for an hour 

 or so, beginning at sun- rise, if the morning is warm, 



