151 



be done with seedlings brought from a far distance, the greatest care 

 should be observed in transporting and preserving them, for otherwise 

 many will die when transplanted. The best manner is to take out the 

 seedlings early in the morning and place them on the river bank (if 

 there be any near) and under the shade of a tree so as to keep them 

 altogether out of reach of the rays of the sun. After six in the evening 

 of the same day or before dawn of the next they should be put up in 

 small bund \pss, and before starting for their destination they should be 

 sprinkled with cold water. , As soon as they arrive at their destination 

 they should be placed in the cool, under the shade of a tree. Every 

 bundle should be undone and the seedlings separated widely apart and 

 water again sprinkled on all so that when planting time arrives they 

 are quite cool. If planted whilst warm very few seedlings will live. 



If there is no rain when planting begins and the soil is very dry, 

 sufficient water must be poured into each hole, and planting ought not 

 to be performed till the following day, when the soil is moist. The 

 newly-planted seedlings should be watered twice daily, before sun- rise 

 and after sunset, for two or more days successively until it is seen that 

 they have taken root. After the young plants are transplanted in the 

 field those which have died must be replaced, and the operation repeated 

 it necessary to insure a good crop. 



Planting on Virgin Land. — For planting no trees or shade of any 

 kind should be used, and therefore every one should be taken away on 

 the land intended for a Tobacco field. Newly cleared land cannot be 

 ploughed on account of the stumps and roots of the trees cut down. 

 The roots, could of course, be dug out, but the expense attending this 

 operation would be great. They may, however, be gradually dug out 

 until in a few years none be left on the land. 



When the soil suited for planting has been newly cleared and can- 

 not for the reasons given be ploughed, holing must be adopted, which is 

 done by means of a pointed pole or an iron implement made in the 

 shape of a lance. After driving the instrument used with some force 

 into the soil, turn it in several directions so as to break up the earth 

 thoroughly, keeping a distance of eighteen inches from each hole and 

 three feet from each row of holes. To give a regular and symmetrical 

 appearance to the field we use a long, strong, single cord with pieces of 

 coloured rags, or any other material fastened in at the distance apart 

 which has been mentioned, namely, eighteen inches. The cord is 

 kept stretched out by means of a stake driven in the ground at each 

 end of the cord. In forming the rows of holes with this line the 

 stakes tied at the end of it are placed at a distance of three feet from 



the preceding row. 



CHAPTER IV. 



AFTER CULTIVATION. 

 About eight or ten days after planting, if the soil is not too wet, 

 the furrows are closed up by hoeing up the earth carefully around the 

 plants and again performing the same operation at intervals of about 

 fifteen days. This operation should be done if it does not rain. As a 

 general rule it may be said that this operation of hoeing, or as it is com- 

 monly called, " moulding" should be performed as often as necessary 

 to keep the soil loose and free from weeds. Moulding exerts a benefi- 



