372 CULTURE OF THE PLANT, 
If the plants are too dense they are thinned out. The larger 
plants are now planted out into fields well prepared for the 
purpose in rows, with about eight inches space between each 
plant, the furrows between each row being about two feet 
TRANSPLANTING. 
wide. They are again well sprinkled with liquid manure, 
also with the lees of oil at intervals of about seven days. A 
‘covering of wheat .or millet bran is now laid over the fur- 
rows. The bitter taste of the leaf is in a measure an effectual 
safeguard against the ravages of insects, but the leaves are 
nevertheless carefully tended to prevent damage from such 
cause. If the repréduction from seed is not desired the 
flowers should be cut off and the stem pruned down, other- 
wise the leaves will lose in scent and flavor. In Osumi 
exceptional attention is paid to the cultivation of the tobacco 
plant. The lees of oil, if liberally used, and stable manure 
sparsely applied, have great effect on the plant, producing a 
small leaf with an excellent flavor; while, if the opposite 
course is followed, the leaves grow to an immense size, but 
are inferior in taste. 
“When the flowers are in full bloom the ‘sand’ leaves are 
picked. After the lapse of twelve or fourteen days the leaves 
are gathered by twos. -Any leaves that may remain are 
afterwards broken off along with the stalk. Any sand adher- 
ing to the leaves is removed with a brush; the stems having 
been cut off, the leaves are rolled round, firmly pressed down 
with a thin board, and cut exactly in the centre. The two 
halves are then placed one on the top of the other in such 
manner that the edges exactly correspond, and being in this 
position firmly compressed between two boards, they are cut 
into fine strips, the degree of fineness depending on the-skill 
