18 



cutworms. If, however, the weeds have been allowed to grow, the 

 poison-bran mixture recommended above should be broadcasted over 

 the field at least twice within the last month, the last application 

 from three to five clays before transplanting. The land should be 

 given a final harrowing within a week before the plants are set in 

 the field. 



The first operation of transplanting is to line the field. The lines 

 should be as nearly as possible on contours, so that the wash will be 

 at right angles to the rows across the field. The rows should be 

 42 inches apart for Cuban and Sumatra, and 48 inches for seed-leaf, 

 manufacturing, or any other domestic tobaccos. At the time of trans- 

 planting apply 200 pounds of high-grade fertilizer of approximate 

 composition of phosphoric acid 7, potash 10, and nitrogen 7 per cent; 

 half of the nitrogen in the form of nitrate of soda and half as dried 

 blood or cotton-seed meal. The phosphoric acid should be in soluble 

 form, preferably superphosphate. The potash should not be in 

 chlorid form as chlorin is very detrimental to the burning qualities 

 of tobacco. 



The preliminary application of low-grade potash and phosphoric 

 acid would not need to be repeated until several crops had been 

 grown on the same land, but the application of high-grade fertilizer 

 in the row should be applied to every crop. 



The tobacco plants should be transplanted on cloudy days or during 

 light rains, or, if no cloudy weather prevails, late in the afternoon. 

 The first cultivations can be done by machinery and horse labor, 

 but after the plant is well established the danger from leaf breakage 

 and disturbance of the surface roots forbids any other cultivation 

 than shallow hoeing. Set the plants level with the surface of the 

 soil and hill up afterwards. Both the Cuban and Sumatra types 

 should be set about 15 inches apart in the row ; the seed-leaf, manu- 

 facturing, and other domestic types, 24 inches in the row. Replant- 

 ing should be carried on within thirty clays, and every effort made to 

 obtain a full stand. Transplanting can be successfully done with 

 machinery, but replanting must be done by hand. A modern trans- 

 planting machine, with a team, driver, and two men, will set and 

 water from 2 to 6 acres of tobacco plants a day. Cultivation should 

 cease within sixty days after the plants are set in the field. The 

 general rule is to discontinue cultivation at topping time. If ma- 

 chinery is not available for setting the plants it will require from 5 

 to 7 laborers to transplant an acre of tobacco a day. A full stand, 

 at the distance provided for — that is, 42 by 15 inches — will be about 

 10,000 plants per acre. 



