147 



instance, in Cuba two neighbouring fields, which are of course under 

 the same climatic influences, produce Tobacco which diffe r in many 

 particulars. Therefore, not only must the seasons be carefully selected, 

 but the soil also require^ to be chosen with great care, a light sandy 

 loam, mixed with a fair proportion of vegetable debris, being preferred 

 to any other. Oity lands are very unsuitable. Sandy, loose-grained 

 soil, absolutely free from clav, will produce Tobacco of far better 

 quality in every respect than any other kind of soil. 



CHAPTER II. 



CULTURAL INSTRUCTIONS. 



Nursery. 



In the selection of the land lor making the Nursery attention must 

 be paid to the existing conditions of the soil, and action taken in accor- 

 dance therewith. We will therefore describe in a concise manner the 

 most convenient and the best methods of preparing it 



The best soil for making the Nursery is to be found on virgin or 

 untilled land, and it is more easily prepared. On the other hand, in 

 cleared and cultivated land the seedlings grow better and safer, but give 

 more trouble than in virgin soil. Old, abandoned dung-hills, the sides 

 along old wooden fences, hog-sties and similar places, are very good soils 

 for making Nurseries on. The Nursery may be formed into beds or 

 left level land, as appears most suitable. 



1. Virgin land is prepared by cutting down every tree on the por- 

 tion intended for the Nursery, leaving only a certain number of small 

 trees whose branches will afford sufficient shade to the tender plants 

 (these will have to be removed later on). The land should be prepared 

 long and narrow and with a North-easterlv exposure. The land should 

 now be swept with a broom made of the thin branches of trees or boughs 

 so as to remove away all rubbish, etc., from it. The soil should be 

 slightly hoed, and the rubbish arising from this hoeing swept and 

 thrown away also. The soil is now ready for sowing the seed. 



2. On cultivated soil it is preferable to select the plot as level as 

 possible, but if it should be too much on the incline it must be drained 

 by means of trenches dug at the sides of the Nursery to prevent rain 

 water from running into it and carrying away the seed. This should 

 also be done to Nurseries on newly-cleared land. The seedlings will 

 thrive much better if it should be that the land has been used the year 

 previous as a horse or sheep-pen, pig-sty. or dung-hill. The soil is 

 prepared for sowing the seed just the same as on virgin soil. 



3. Whether on virgin or on cultivated soil the seed may be sown 

 in beds. The method of procedure is as follows: — In the month of 

 May the soil is ploughed and immediately after, it is hoed, and then 

 covered with a layer of vegetable rubbish, such as dry grass, etc. A 

 few days after, when weeds have sprung up, the rubbish is burnt for 

 the purpose of destroying all insects and grubs which infest decaying 

 vegetable matter, and left in this state till weeds again spring up. 

 Another layer of vegetable rubbish is put on and burnt as before, and a 

 couple of days after this last burning the soil is hoed and the beds 



