494 COVERING PLANT BED, 
around the tobacco beds, opposite one another, and into 
COVERING PLANT BED. 
these forks thin twigs are laid, which are covered with 
palm-leaves in such a way as to form a slight roof.” 
' In Syria the tobacco seed is sown in ground free from 
stones, well manured with goats dung, and strewn over with 
prickly bushes to protect the young plants from birds. The 
plants are watered daily till they reach the height of eight or 
ten inches, when they are transplanted. In Persia where the 
celebrated Shiraz tobacco is cultivated, the seed is planted 
in a dark soil slightly manured ; the ground is covered with 
light thorny bushes to keep it warm, and these are removed 
when the plants are a few inches high. The ground is 
regularly watered if required, and when the plants are six to 
eight inches high are transplanted. In Turkey “the tobacco 
seed is sown =n in the spring, in small beds carefully pre- 
pared for the early growth of the young plants. In afew 
weeks the plants appear thick; then begins the occupation of 
the farmer’s wife, and their numerous children, whose little 
fingers are engaged day by day in thinning the beds, care 
being taken to leave the most healthy looking plants. The 
husband is engaged either in carrying water from the nearest 
well by the aid of his mule, or in preparing the land for the 
reception of the plants. The beds are well watered before. 
sunrise and after sundown.” 
“The Hungarian peasantry always make their tobacco 
beds against the south ends of their houses. These beds are 
enclosed by hurdles two feet high, at the bottom of which 
stones are laid, and on the outside of these, thorns are thickly: 
