13 



plants in the row 1. 1. 11 feet, respectively. In this experiment the 

 surface area per pound of cured leaf was 60.64 square feet for the 

 closest planting. 48.31: square feet for the next closest, and 4-7. 4«> 

 square feet for the widest planting. The percentage of tillers pro- 

 duced ranged from 10.19 per cent for the widest planting to 16.40 

 per cent for the closest planting. 



Close planting gave a large increase in yield and diminished the size 

 and thickness of the leaf. The difference in the size and thickness of 

 the leaf between plants grown 14- by 2± and those grown 1 by 2i feet 

 was not so marked as the difference in the yield, and this effect is con- 

 sidered as showing that planting 1 foot apart in the row was not too 

 close for Wilson Hybrid, the variety grown in this experiment. 



The experience of the Massachusetts Hatch Station 1 with regard to 

 distance of planting was that planting 3 feet 4 inches by 1 foot 8 inches 

 and 2 feet 8 inches by 2 feet gave better returns than planting 3 feet 

 by 1 foot 6 inches. The author concludes that too close planting 

 interferes with the development of the leaves, while too large spaces 

 between plants tend to produce coarse leaves. 



The Florida growers have shown the great importance of the proper 

 distance in planting in the improvement of the quality of tobacco. 

 Mr. M. L. Floyd' 2 briefly cites the methods used by the Florida 

 growers: 



In order to improve the tobacco and adapt it to the trade demands, these concerns 

 have indulged in all sorts of experiments, some of which have proved quite expen- 

 sive. However, they have met with such a degree of success as to warrant them in 

 continuing the experimental work. There were many questions to he settled. First 

 of all, what seed should he used. To settle this question seed was obtained and tried 

 from every part of the country. This point, however, was soon determined and 

 now there are only two varieties grown in the Stata — Sumatra and Cuban — the 

 Sumatra giving the style required for the wrapper and the Cuban giving the filler 

 qualities nearest the requirements of the trade. As each of these tobaccos possi ss - 

 the quality and style needed, the kind of soil best suited to each was the next point 

 to he settled; then the proper fertilizer, the quantity necessary, and the proper culti- 

 vation had to he found out by numerous experiments. At first it was thought that 

 but little fertilizer of any kind should be used. The tobacco was set out early, given 

 a distance in the drill of about 24 inches, and topped low; that is, not more than 

 twelve or fourteen leaves were allowed to each -Talk. The result was that the plants 

 produced large, coarse, undesirable leaves. The next step was to give the tobacco 

 less distance in the drill; 18 inches were tried. The result was better, hut not satis- 

 factory. From time to time changes were made until now the plant is given 14 

 inches, the fertilizer is doubled, and the tobacco is topped higher, allowing at least 

 sixteen leaves to each stalk. The result is that the leaves are of the desirable size 

 and finer in quality and appearance. 



For a long time the cultivation was continued until the time of harvesting, hut 

 this was decidedly wrong. The writer has seen ileitis of tobacco plowed that were 

 ripe and ready to be harvested, and in consequence the tobacco turned green and 



1 Massachusetts Hatch Station Bui. No. 47. 



2 Report Xo. 62, U. 8. Department of Agriculture. Cultivation of Cigar-leaf Tobacco 

 in Florida, p. 22. 



