9 
served in the same length of time as much as 1.325 grams at 40° C, 
(107.6° I’.)—that is, more than five times as much.! 
Soil, climate, rich and uniform manuring, careful curing and proper 
fermenting must be combined in order to yield a commercial product of 
superior quality. The value of tobacco depends probably more largely 
upon its quality than is the case with any other farm product. 
The tobacco seed seems somewhat neglected by nature, since the 
amount of reserve material to support the young plant in its first stage 
is exceedingly minute. It takes 21 seeds to weigh 1 milligram; conse- 
quently the initial growth is but slow and much in disproportion to the 
later energetic development, the tobacco after being planted in the 
field often reaching its full development in forty-five days in Florida. 
The reserve material of the endosperm of the seed consists, according 
to Harz, essentially of fat and protein matter, and is, like the 0.6 mm. 
long embryo, devoid of starch. The young delicate plant soon con- 
sumes this small amount of reserve material and is forced to prepare 
its own organic matter in a much earlier stage than is for instance a 
corn, barley, or bean plant. Unusual care is required in the seed bed, 
which if too moist will favor fungous diseases among the young plants. 
A moderately dry soil, occasionally sprinkled, is preferable. 
Much has been written about the proper manuring of the tobacco 
field. General experience indicates that barnyard manure is here 
superior to all other fertilizers. An addition, however, of some super- 
phosphate of lime, and carbonate or silicate”? of potash (5 parts per 
1,000 of barnyard manure), and Chile saltpeter (not over 15 parts per 
1,000 of the barnyard manure) the last mentioned to be applied in the 
spring and the other materials in the autumn, is recommended by some. 
The advantage of the barnyard manure consists in loosening the soil, 
increasing its absorptive power by formation of humus and yielding 
up its insoluble nourishing compounds gradually in a soluble condition. 
It makes, in short, a uniform nutrition of the plant during the entire 
Season more easily possible than a mere mixture of mineral fertilizers 
can do.’ The tobacco thus grown is of the best quality and least sub- 
ject to the mosaic disease. 
1Sand leaves, which are generally poorer in respiration material, produced only 
0.568 grains at 42° C. 
2Sulphate and chlorid are to be avoided. 
3Of other materials that have been applied with great advantage should be men- 
tioned cotton-seed meal and castor pomace with cotton-hull ashes. The amountof 
fertilizers applied per acre of a tobacco field varies from 200 pounds toa ton. Nitrog- 
enous manures applied in very large quantities increase the percentage of nicotine 
and protein and also, naturally, the total yield, but the quality may be injured. 
Thick ribs and a poor burn have been observed in such cases. 
Behrens (Landw. Vers. Stat. 52, 242) calls attention to the fact that the increase 
of easily soluble salts in the soil, as is the case when merely mineral manures are 
applied, leads to the formation of thicker leaves. This modified anatomical struc- 
ture also caused by very dry seasons, decreases the amount of transpiration from 
the leaves. Such thick leaves require a longer time to cure, and thus the danger of 
pate burn and other fungous diseases is increased. 
