17 



row into and feed upon the living tissues of the roots of the tobacco 

 plant, causing the root to swell up, rot, and decay. In the seed bed 

 there is no known remedy for nematode worms, but cultivation 

 and the drying out that follows thorough aeration, materially de- 

 creases their numbers. The only sure method of preventing these 

 pests in the seed beds is to sterilize the soil. 



The seedlings should be ready to transplant to the field in from 

 seven to ten weeks from the time the seed is sown. There is no hard 

 and fast time limit. If the season is favorable, and the seed beds 

 are located where the exposure is toward the south, or southwest, 

 . with protection from winds, and all conditions are favorable for 

 growth, the plant will be ready to set out in the field within six 

 weeks after germination. If a constant supply of seedlings is main- 

 tained by consecutive plantings, the best rule to follow will be that 

 of experience. Select only strong, vigorous, stocky plants, and do 

 not transplant any seedlings which have commenced to shoot up 

 their main stalk. A setback is unavoidable, and seedlings that have 

 begun to make a stalk do not show the same vitality in aftergrowth. 

 The plants should have the advantage of sunshine and full exposure 

 to the air for a week before planting, to harden them off. 



FIELD PREPARATION AND TRANSPLANTING. 



The tobacco plant is a strong and vigorous grower when once its 

 roots become firmly estabished. Therefore the soil must be in the 

 very best of tilth, because the qualit} T of the tobacco in the field 

 depends on having an abundance of plant food readily available 

 for its use during the entire growing period. The soil should be 

 plowed at least six months before it is ready to plant. Tobacco has 

 a taproot which goes down as deep as the soil is mellow. This tap- 

 root is an anchor. The lateral roots are all in the top 6 inches, there- 

 fore the fertilizer should not be applied until after the first plowing. 

 The first application of fertilizer should be air-slaked lime, at the 

 rate of 1 barrel (200 pounds) per acre. This need not be culti- 

 vated into the soil, as the soluble portion will be carried down 

 through and into the soil by the rains. From three to four months 

 after the first plowing the land should be cross plowed. A dressing 

 of 200 pounds of sulphate of potash and either 400 to 600 pounds 

 of fine-ground raw phosphate (floats or South Carolina rock) or 

 200 pounds of Thomas slag, should be broadcasted over the field 

 and harrowed in. The second cross plowing should be two or three 

 months before the crop is transplanted. Xo weeds should be allowed 

 to grow on the land after the first plowing, because these would 

 supply food for cutworms. Clean cultivation is the best remedy for 



