THE SEED BED FOR TOBACCO 491 



tobacco is grown in the fertile limestone clay loam district 

 in the central part of Kentucky, known as the "blue grass 

 region." The darker, heavier types of the western part of 

 the state and the surrounding region are grown on soils of 

 a silty loam nature. 



While there is a wide variation in the adaptability of soil 

 types to tobacco production, the crop grows better on all soils 

 that are fertile and moist. The growth must be rapid and 

 without check from drouth or other causes, else the leaf will 

 be small and of poor texture. The fertilizer which is used 

 depends largely on the soil and the type of tobacco which is 

 grown, but horse manure is quite commonly used when it is 

 available, and commercial fertilizers are also frequently 

 applied. The fertilizer, however, should be well balanced, or 

 the quality of the crop will be injured. An excess of phos- 

 phoric acid affects the color of the ash in cigar tobacco, while 

 excessive nitrogen produces a thick, heavy leaf not suited to 

 cigar use. Some of the cheaper forms of potash, particularly 

 those which contain chlorin, are injurious to the burning 

 quality of cigars. The fertilizers which are most commonly 

 used with good results are cotton-seed meal, high-grade 

 sulfate of potash, and acid phosphate. The fertilizer is 

 usually broadcasted or drilled in before the plants are set, 

 the application varying from 200 pounds to a ton to the 

 acre. 



643. Preparing the Seed Bed. Unlike most of our other 

 field crops, tobacco is sown first in a plant bed from which 

 the plants are later transplanted to the field. This is 

 because of the minute nature of the seeds and the slow growth 

 of the young plants, and also because these beds can be pro- 

 tected from late frosts and the seed therefore sown much 

 earlier than would otherwise be possible. It is always 

 desirable to use virgin soil for the plant bed, as it contains 



