TOBACCO CULTURE. 6l 



dropped a mixture of cobalt and honey. It is quite necessary 

 that the tobacco be thoroughly hand wormed just previous 

 to harvesting. Otherwise, the worms will be conveyed to 

 the barn, where their depredations continue so long as the 

 tobacco remains green. A few toads harbored and protected 

 in the tobacco barn will destroy many of the worms which 

 have escaped from the field to the barn in this way. The 

 green worm, as well as grasshoppers, crickets, and other pests 

 living on the growing leaves, may be destroyed by the use 

 of Paris green, either in dry mixture, or in water by sprink- 

 ling or spraying the crop in the same \vay that protection is 

 secured against the ravages of the potato bug. 



DISEASES OF TOBACCO, 



This crop is not subject to many serious diseases, yet a 

 few require mention. 



Rust or Fire Blight is the most common disease of the 

 growing plant. This disease is one which the grower can 

 control, by avoiding the use of too large a quantity of veg- 

 etable manure, the heating or decomposition of which, if 

 followed by dry weather, has an injurious influence upon 

 the crop. Havana tobacco is very subject to this trouble, 

 especially during the hot rainy weather of August. A good 

 preventive is a heavy mulching of the. soil after the last cul- 

 tivation. Fine straw makes an excellent mulch, and is eas- 

 ily raked up and applied. Wherever used in sufficient bulk 

 it always proves a success. 



Spotted Leaf , or, as it is commonly called, Calico Leaf, 



