22 TOBACCO CULTURE. 



PROTECTION. 



The beds are generally protected from birds, insects and 

 cold by being covered with a layer of brush. Muslin cloth, 

 however, is now extensively used for this purpose, being 

 stretched over the bed from side to side and tacked to logs or 

 planks, thereby raising it high enough above the bed to clear 

 the growing plants. The cloth cover must be taken off occas- 

 ionly for weeding or fertilizing the bed when the plants 

 are ready for the field. Not only insects and other enemies 

 of the plant are thus prevented from attacking the young 

 plants, but the additional warmth secured to the bed by the 

 radiation of the soil heat hastens the growth, and makes 

 earlier transplanting possible. It is not necessary to remove 

 the muslin cover of the bed to water it, as it can be thor- 

 oughly watered by using a sprinkler. The advantage of 

 watering through the muslin is that the moisture of the 

 cloth helps to keep the bed moist longer than if the cloth 

 were removed, and replaced immediately after watering. 



THE CROP. 



The location, the climate, and the soil in which the 

 crop is to grow will decide the class of tobacco to be culti- 

 vated. The type or variety, however, is dependent on these 

 conditions, and also more or less on individual notions or 

 desire of the planter, knowledge of the kind grown, facilities 

 for working the soil, etc. Thus the Florida grower has the 

 option of growing either Sumatra, Cuban, or Florida Spec- 

 kled Leaf, while in the Connecticut Valley, it may be either 

 Seed leaf or Havana seed. 



