THE CULTURE OF FLUE-CURED TOBACCO. 15 
manure to be found desirable and advantageous. The way in which 
the manure is used is also an important factor in determining its 
effect on the quality of the crop. If well rotted and applied some 
months before the tobacco is planted, it can generally be used in mod- 
erate quantities with decided benefit, except, as already indicated, on 
lands already abnormally rich in ammonia. Where possible, it 
should be applied the fall before planting the tobacco, and certainly 
not later than the first of March. When used.at the rate of 2 or 3 
tons to the acre 1t can be applied in the row. When used in larger 
quantities (5 or 6 tons per acre is about as heavy as it is generally 
advisable to use manure for bright tobacco as a direct application), 
it should be broadcasted over the land and either harrowed or plowed 
in. Only fine, well-rotted manure should be used in the row, and 
it should be applied as much as two months before planting if pos- 
sible. In using manure in this way the rows may be laid off in 
February or early in March and the manure put out and covered with 
the turning plow. Just before planting time these rows may be 
reopened’ with a single-shovel plow, the additional fertilizer apphed, 
and the land rebedded in preparation for setting the tobacco. 
Where tobacco succeeds herd’s-grass in the rotation, an excellent 
method is to apply the manure to the grass during the winter before 
the last season the field is to stand in grass. This would greatly help 
the hay crop and give the manure time to become thoroughly decom- 
posed and incorporated with the soil. 
THE USE OF LIME ON FLUE-CURED TOBACCO SOILS. 
Most flue-cured tobacco soils contain sufficient lime to fill direct 
plant-food requirements, but not enough generally to keep them from 
becoming rather acid. Their general crop-producing power through 
enhanced bacterial efficiency would usually be improved if they 
were occasionally limed. The grass especially would yield much 
better if lime were occasionally used. The direct effect of lime on the 
tobacco, however, may be somewhat injurious to the quality. By 
- hastening the decay of the vegetable matter in the soil it increases 
the ammonia supply, and on soils already tending to be overrich the 
lime will tend still further to make the tobacco dark and coarse, the 
same as if an increased supply of ammonia were rendered available 
in any other way. 
On some very poor soils, however, ime might result in both a 
larger yield and better quality because of the increased food supply 
rendered available. 
It is somewhat a matter of controversy, also, whether lime does 
‘not tend to injure the burning quality of tobacco. When lime is 
used in the tobacco rotation it seems wisest, therefore, to use it 1mme- 
diately after the tobacco comes off and before the wheat or oats are 
