36 



drier weather of February and March, as the resulting slower growth 

 develops a finer aroma. If two successive crops are to be obtained 

 in the same field it is advisable to transplant early in October, so 

 that harvesting can be done in January. The field is then plowed, 

 fertilized, and harrowed, so as to have the second planting done at 

 the end of January or beginning of February. In this case irrigation 

 would be necessary. This second planting is very frequently prac- 

 ticed in Cuba with very good results. 



METHOD OF TBANSPLANTING. 



The seed beds should be thoroughly wet before attempting to I'emove 

 the plants, in order that they may be removed with the least possible 

 injury to the roots. The j'oung plants should be covered with 

 plantain leaves or a wet cloth during their transit to the field, and in 

 the process of planting the roots should be exposed to the sun as 

 little as possible. A few minutes' exposure of the roots to a bright sun 

 is often sufficient to kill the plant. The plants should be placed in the 

 holes with the roots straight and moist soil pressed flrml,y around 

 them and hilled up to the leaves, the lower ones having been removed. 

 It is well, as far as possible, to do the planting on cloudy days or morn- 

 ings and evenings, thus avoiding the hot sun of the middle of the day, 

 which is responsible for the death of many plants when the work is 

 done at that time. The necessity of resetting many plants makes the 

 fields uneven and causes ineciuality in time of maturing. As a result, 

 half-ripe, ripe, and overripe leaves are cut at the same time. 



CULTIVATION. 



Careful and thorough cultivation sliould be given tlie tobacco fields 

 during the early growth of the plants. During dry weatlier the 

 surface of the soil should be frequently stiri'ed in order to destroy 

 capillarity, thereby reducing evaporation directly from the soil and 

 conserving soil moisture for the use of the plants. Any dry blanket 

 that can be placed between atmosphere and the damp soil will check 

 this evaporation. The most practical protection is a covering of finely 

 pulverized dry soil 2 or 3 inches deep. Surface cultivation not only 

 reduces the loss of water from the soil, but also prevents an accumu- 

 lation of the soluble plant food immediately at the surface and where 

 it is out of reach of the plant roots. Cultivation should not be too 

 deep, especially near the plants, as it destroys many of the small 

 roots, thus lessening the feeding power of the plant. It also facili- 

 tates the formation of nitrates. Cultivation should not be under- 

 taken when the soil is too wet, because stirring the soil when in such 

 a condition gives to it a bad physical condition. If wet weather is 

 continuous, all weeds should be removed with as little cultivation as 

 possible. During the process of cultivation the soil should gradually 



