TOBACCO CULTURE. 4! 



As above mentioned, Muriate of potash or K.-iinit should not 

 be used on account of the chlorine which they contain. 



TRANSPLANTING. 



The soil having been prepared for the growth of tobacco 

 by the incorporation of the fertilizing material, the first 

 step towards the field growth of the crop is, the transfer of 

 the young plants from the seed-bed to the open field. 

 Strong, vigorous plants only should be selected for trans- 

 planting. For a day or two previous to removal, the seed- 

 bed should not be watered, in order that the young plants 

 may be somewhat hardened for their transfer to the open 

 ground. However, just before removal, the portion of the 

 bed from which the plants are to be taken should be thor- 

 oughly watered. This is done to moisten the soil so that it 

 will adhere to the roots of the plants removed, forming a 

 ball of earth which will greatly aid a rapid recovery from 

 the shock of transplanting. It is best to remove the plants 

 early in the morning, while they are still moist with dew. 

 The removed plants should be packed closely in boxes or 

 baskets in which condition, if kept covered in the shade, or 

 in a cool place, they may remain for sever.il days without 

 injury before being set out. Meantime, the plants should 

 under no circumstances be watered or laid in a horizontal 

 position, as such practice leads to injury through heating, 

 or rotting, or "crooking" of the stems of the plant. 



The method of transplanting is controlled almost en- 

 tirelv by the character of tobacco. With all varieties except 



