TOBACCO CULTURE IN THE WEST INDIES 39 
planting, but if this is not practicable and the fertilizer 
must be applied immediately before planting, the best 
method is to open furrows three feet apart by plowing one 
furrow to each side with a mouldboard plow, scatter the 
fertilizer in these furrows and mix it well with the soil by 
running a cultivator back and forth three to four times. 
This will insure a perfect root system and in this way the 
plant roots are not injured, which they would be by plant- 
ing directly in the fertilizer. This 1s very important and 
we wish to especially emphasize, that in order to get the 
full benefit from a fertilizer and not injure the roots tt 
must be well mixed with the soil. 
HOW MUCH TO APPLY 
Always apply the amount that gives the best return for 
the mony invested. The standard of one arroba (25 Tbs.) 
per 1000 plants, was set by the Cuban planters years ago 
when guano was used and the price was more than double 
what it is now. That however, cannot be used as a stand- 
ard any more and there is no reason why it should because 
it has neither a practical nor a scientific foundation. 
With 20,000 plants to the acre , 25 lbs. per 100 would be 
only 500 Ibs. per acre. If this contains 3% nitrogen, 6% 
phosphoric acid and 10% potash the whole application 
would amount to 15 lbs. nitrogen, 30 lbs.phosphoric acid 
and 50 Ibs. potash, which is far short of being a full ap- 
plication as shown by analysis of the tobacco leaf and stem. 
Prof. Wagner found that 5800 lbs. of air dried leaves 
and stems contained 266 ibs. of potash and that of the 
5800 Ibs. 3200 lbs. were leaves. Showing that 266 lbs. of 
potash is necessary to produce 3200 lbs. of tobacco. 
