256 TOBACCO PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES. 







CHAPTER XX. 



GENERAL INFORMATION NOT SPECIALLY GIVEN IN THE REPORTS ON 

 THE CULTURE AND CURING OF TOBACCO IN THE SEVERAL STATES. 



SEEDBEDS. 



lu Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and in other southern tobacco-growing states, the methods of preparation 

 are substantially the same, such variations from the general plan as do exist depending altogether upon local 

 conditions. 



The site for a plant-bed most usually preferred is that having a southern or southeastern exposure, that it may 

 have the genial and fructifying warmth of the sun in early spring, so that the pHnts may be set out before the hot 

 weather of summer. If the bed can be located near a stream, fogs will quicken the germination of the seed and the 

 growth of the plants. Probably the best possible location is on a gently-sloping hill on the north side of a running 

 stream, but sufficiently elevated to be above any danger from overflows. In such situations plants are often two 

 weeks in advance of those in beds prepared on level laud. The timber growth may be of any kind that denotes 

 fertility of soil. 



In Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee a dark-colored, almost a black, soil is preferred, because it is more 

 readily warmed by the rays of the sun, and retains the heat much longer than light-colored soils. For tfce 

 same reason a slight intermixture of gravel will be of advantage. In North Carolina, although many planters prefer 

 a black soil, free from sand or gravel, the majority of fine-tobacco growers choose a sandy soil, such as that in 

 which the plant is to be grown to maturity. 



In Virginia, except where wood for the purpose is scarce, in North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, 

 and in many tobacco districts in other states, the practice of burning over the seed-beds is general. The burning is 

 not slight, as in the Connecticut valley, where this appears to be done simplyto destroy the seeds of weeds and grass, 

 but the soil is burnt until it shows a reddish tinge. Several methods of burning are practiced. In all cases the 

 wild growth is first cut off with an ax and not dug up. Leaves and trash are carefully raked off from the bed 

 space. If the intention is to burn with logs, skids or poles are laid down four feet apart and a layer of logs and 

 smaller wood, four or five feet wide, is built upon the skids, the object being to keep the wood from resting on the 

 ground, so that the heat may have full play upon the surface of the soil. The fires being set, they are kept burning 

 for two hours or more, when the whole layer is moved forward by hooks, so as to cover another space of the intended 

 seed-bed ; and this is kept up until a plat is burned as large as desired. Another method is to lay down brush and 

 bits of wood at one end of the bed space until the pile is five or six feet high. Against this pile brush from tree- 

 tops is placed in a position nearly vertical, inclining against the foundation sufficiently to prevent its falling back 

 on the bed ; and this is continued until the full space intended for the plant-bed is covered. A platform of wood is 

 then put on top of the brush, and the fire set on the windward side. Still another plan is sometimes adopted, which 

 saves the hard labor of covering the brush with heavy wood. After a width of eight feet of the bed space has been 

 covered with brush placed in a nearly vertical position, logs or sticks of wood eight feet long are set on end, 

 leaning against the brush. Eight feet more of brush is followed by another layer of wood, and soon until the whole 

 space is covered. When fired the brush burns out quickly, but not before it has set the wood on fire, which, falling 

 all an one direction, covers the whole surface with hotly-burning wood. Old broken rails, thrown aside in resetting 

 fences, and old logs from dilapidated buildings are preferred, because they are thoroughly seasoned and burn 

 freely. 



When the bed has cooled off it is generally dug up with grub hoes or worked lightly and closely with a colter 

 plow. The ashes should be left on the bed, and in working the soil it should be reversed as little as possible. All 

 grubs, roots, and large stones should be removed, and the surface soil should be worked several times with hoes or 

 rakes until it is perfectly light and mellow. When in proper condition, marks are made four feet apart to regulate 

 the sowing of the seed. About one large heaping tablespoonful is enough to sow one hundred square yards. The 

 seed is mixed with ashes or plaster, one half of the mixture being sown as evenly as possible over the entire bed, 

 when the other half is sown in the same way. This is in order to secure a more equal distribution of the seed. The 

 bed is then tramped or rolled, and finally covered with light brush the smaller branches of dogwood, oak, gum, or 

 sassafras not thick enough to exclude the sunlight, but sufficient to protect the plants from frosts and the chilling 

 and drying effects of the March winds. The brush also serves to keep the bed moist. Some care is required to put 

 the brush upon the bed properly. The butt ends of the first layer should be laid on the ground outside the bed, 

 the soft brush resting upon the bed, those of the second layer resting upon the bushy part of the first, and so 

 on until the bed is covered by successive layers. In this way the thick, heavy ends, which would interfere seriously 

 with the growth of the young plants, are kept above the surface of the bed. A covering of this kind will protect 

 the plants against very, hard freezing. In Wisconsin and in northern Illinois marsh or prairie hay is used, just 

 enough to mitigate the severity of the rays of the sun and prevent the drying of the surface by winds until the 

 plants start to grow, which requires a period of two or three weeks, when the hay is removed. 

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