Is TOBACCO CULTURE IN THE WEST INDIES 
long, spindling and too soft for transplanting. A high pot- 
ash content makes the plants stoecky and hardy for trans- 
planting. The nitrogen should be in a readily available 
form. 
COVERING 
For protection against heavy rains and hot sun the fol- 
lowing method of covering is practicable and quite satis- 
factory: Drive stakes in the edges of the bed, about 20 
feet apart, leave the stakes ten inches out of the ground 
and stretch a wire and clamp it to the top of the stakes. 
Also drive stakes into the middle of the bed leaving them 
36 inches out of the ground. Over these wires stretch two 
layers of ordinary plant cloth, old cloth will do, and secure 
the edges to lower wires with small nails, used like pins. 
If this is stretched well, it will shed most of the water in 
heavy showers and still let enough water through when 
sprinkling with a hose or watering pot. This covering 
should be partly removed in the morning and evening and 
during cloudy wet weather to prevent the plants from grow- 
ing too spindling and it should be entirely removed as 
soon as the plants are large enough to withstand heavy 
rains. 
STERILIZING 
This is a process entirely new to most planters although 
it is nothing more than what is done in the old method of 
seed-bed making when burning wood on the surface. It is 
not always necessary but it is absolutely the only way in 
which the planter can be sure of obtaining,a suply of 
plants. 
