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HOCKINGS' GARDEN MANUAL. 



inches long, they are fit to transplant, and their 

 longer continuance in the seed bed would be injurious. 

 Plant them out at three feet apart each way. Every 

 morning and evening they require to be looked over, 

 in order to destroy a worm which sometimes invades 

 the bud. When four or five inches high they are 

 moulded up. As soon as they have eight or nine 

 leaves, and are ready to put forth a stalk, the top is 

 nipped off, in order to make the leaves longer and 

 thicker by directing all the energies of the plant to 

 them. After this the buds which sprout from the 

 joints of the leaves are all plucked, and not a day is 

 allowed to pass without examining the leaves, to 

 destroy a large caterpillar which is sometimes very 

 destructive to them. When they are fit for cutting, 

 which is known by the brittleness of the leaves, they 

 are cut with a knife close to the ground, and, after 

 lying some time, are carried to the drying shed, where 

 the plants are hung up in pairs upon lines, having a 

 space between them that they may not touch one 

 another. In this state they remain to sweat and dry. 

 When perfectly dry, the leaves are stripped from the 

 stalks, and made into small bundles tied with one of 

 the leaves. These bundles are laid in heaps and 

 covered with blankets. Care is taken not to over- 

 heat them, for which reason the heaps are laid open 

 to the air from time to time, and spread abroad. This 

 operation is repeated till no more heat is perceived in 

 the heaps, and the tobacco is then stowed in casks for 

 exportation. 



The crop is about three months coming to maturity. 

 The plants, when cut down, will throw up other shoots, 

 one of which should be preserved for a second crop. 



At three feet apart, there will be 4,840 plants 

 per acre, and the average yield on good soil is stated 

 at a quarter of a pound per plant, or about 1200 lbs, 

 per acre. The ground must be kept perfectly clear of 

 weeds. 



