294 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



per acre at this rate would be one thousand four hundred and fifty pounds 

 in round numbers, and at twenty-three cents per pound, would give over 

 three hundred dollars. 



The expense of preparing the soil is not quite as much as for potatoes, 

 and the cultivation is very simple. 



The land on which this experiment was made was in the very best possi- 

 ble condition, and of course, it is not to be supposed that on ordinary soil, 

 the yield would be as large ; but still, at even half this quantity per acre 

 tobacco would be far more profitable than corn or wheat. 



Prof. Mapes. — The general directions for raising tobacco, do not differ 

 materially from those usually given for cabbages. The plants well raised 

 in hotbeds and transplanted somewhat earlier than the dates given above, 

 leaves a longer season for growth and curing. 



A correspondent, residing at Agawam, Massachusetts, gives the follow- 

 ing mode of preparing the ground for the plants, and for cutting and cur- 

 ing the leaves: 



PREPARING THE GROUND FOR THE PLANTS. 



Now the fitting of the land for setting out the plants demands our atten- 

 tion. The land must be made very rich ; there is no danger of excess on 

 this point. A crop that grows and comes to maturity in so short a time 

 must have a powerful stimulus from which it can draw its sustenance. 

 Land on which corn and potatoes grew the year previous, or some other 

 crop, so that it is mellow, is to be preferred. As soon as the land is dry 

 enough in the spring, the manure should be drawn upon it and plowed in 

 at the depth of seven or eight inches. There should be at least fifty loads 

 to the acre. After the land is plowed, it should lie for two or three weeks, 

 and then be harrowed well, for the purpose of hastening the decomposition 

 of the manure, and thus throwing its strength into the land, which m^y 

 now be left till the time of setting out the tobacco, which is from the tenth 

 to the twenty-fifth of June ; but the best time is from the fifteenth to the 

 twenty-fifth. It is proper to remark that the later it is set out, if it comes 

 to maturity before the frosts come, the heavier it will be ; but as a gen- 

 eral rule, it is not safe to delay beyond the last named time. 



SETTING OUT THE PLANTS. 



The land must be thoroughly fitted for setting out the plants by plowing 

 and harrowing, when it is dry, and consequently in good condition to work 

 up, and thus be made mellow. The rows should be made three and one- 

 half feet in width, and the hills two and one-half feet apart. If the land is 

 very rich, the rows may be at the first named distance. A compost of 

 guano and plaster, or hen manure and plaster, or ashes and plaster, and 

 night-soil thoroughly mixed and decomposed with muck, may be dropped 

 into the hill. The soil should be hoed to suflScient depth to protect from 

 injurious effects of dry weather. The plants must be set when it rains, so 

 that the ground is wet enough to adhere to the roots. The mode of set- 

 ting is by a stick about one-half of an inch in diameter; sharpened at 

 one end, and of convenient length, with which a hole should be made in 

 the center of the hills, into which the roots of the plant should be intro- 

 duced, and special care must be taken to press the dirt tightly around the 





