TOBACCO CULTURE 495 



If the muslin is used as a covering, there is little need for 

 ventilation, and the cover need only be removed for watering. 

 If glass is used, however, the bed must be ventilated during 

 the day by raising the sash, or serious loss from damping off 

 and other fungous growth is likely to result. All weeds 

 should be kept out, and the plants should be thinned if 

 necessary. 



645. Preparing the Field. As tobacco is a crop which 

 gives large returns when properly grown, it well repays much 

 care and attention in fitting the field and in cultivating the 

 crop. In fact, it is not wise to attempt to grow it without 

 giving this attention. The field should be put in the best 

 possible condition before the plants are set. Spring plowing 

 is most commonly practiced on new land and on fields where 

 there is a blue grass or clover sod, or where cover crops are 

 grown. It is preferable to have a cover crop on the land 

 over winter to prevent washing and leaching of the soil, but 

 early spring plowing is desirable. It is then disked and har- 

 rowed at intervals of a week or ten days till the plants are set 

 in the field. This frequent working puts the surface soil in 

 fine condition, helps to hold the moisture, and kills the weeds. 

 As the best growth of the tobacco crop requires freedom from 

 weeds, these pests should be destroyed as completely as 

 possible before the plants are set. The fertilizer is distrib- 

 uted just before the rows are marked for planting. 



646. Setting the Plants. When the danger of frost is 

 past, the plants are removed from the bed and set in the 

 field. Early setting is advisable, as a larger percentage of 

 the plants will survive and the plants will mature when con- 

 ditions for curing are best. In order to retain all the small, 

 fibrous roots and to prevent injury as much as possible in 

 removing the plants, the bed is thoroughly sprinkled before 

 the plants are pulled. They are usually taken up in the 



