HOW IT SHOULD BE GKOWN. 45 



principally the potash, lime, and magnesia in the 

 soil, while the phosphoric, sulphuric, and silicic 

 acids will go on increasing in amount. If now a 

 crop of grain be taken from the same soil these 

 acids will be used up, whilst potash and lime 

 will be accumulated, thus restoring to the soil 

 the conditions for growing tobacco." 



Sowing the seed : Having obtained a seed 

 suitable to the soil, it must be sown during the 

 months of March and April, in sheltered beds of 

 fine mould — or, far better, in hotbeds, covered 

 over during frosts and at night, either with mats 

 supported over sticks or boards, or with varnished 

 calico or glass. 



These coverings must gradually be left off 

 until the plant is hardy and the weather warm. 



The seed should be well mixed with clear wood- 

 ashes ; a tablespoonful of seed will sow ten or 

 eleven yards square, or, according to Mandis, the 

 following proportions may be used : Of fresh 

 seed, to set one acre, in cold beds, 1 to 3^ oz. 

 — according if it be large or small tobacco ; in 

 warm open beds f to 2 oz. — in hot beds |^ to If 

 oz. Of old seed rather more must be used. 



From 1 oz. to 1^ oz. will plant one acre. 



The seed must be pressed gently into the level 

 of the earth, which must have been well manured 



