156 
Some Minor Farm Crops . 
No farmyard manure was used nor, contrary to the general 
practice, any green manuring. In the writer’s opinion a rich 
soil produces too large a percentage of nicotine in the leaves 
for a smoking tobacco. For seed beds Mr. Keller’s pamphlets 
advise six frames 6 ft. by 4 ft. per acre, but the writer found 
that six champagne cases sawn in half, thus making twelve 
shallow trays, each tray having a surface of roughly two square 
feet, was sufficient for one acre. This necessitates pricking 
out later at the cost of Is. 3 d. per 1,000. The advantage of 
growing in trays is that the plants are stronger and better 
rooted, and much time is saved in watching and watering. 
The trays are sown at the end of February, and the seedlings 
are pricked out in April. Care should be taken to protect the 
seedlings when in the trays from sun and frost. The trays are 
kept under glass, but a fortnight before pricking out the 
seedlings should be gradually hardened. Leaf mould makes 
the best soil for the trays, as the seedlings can be most easily 
lifted for pricking out. The pricking-out beds should be well 
sheltered from sun and frost, a covering of canvas being often 
used. 
By about the third week in May the plants should be 4 in. 
high, and it is now time to plant out. This is done in rows 
3 ft. apart, the plants being 20 in. from each other. Most 
growers “ hill ” their land, but at Methwold this is impossible 
owing to the “ blow-away sand.” Any plants dying should be 
replaced at once to ensure an even crop. The bottom leaves 
should be pulled off when the plant reaches 18 in. in height 
as this helps the plants by giving them air, and intertillage 
becomes easier. A good soil mulch should be kept throughout 
the growing period by hoeing, which will also keep down 
weeds — a most important point. All flower-buds should be 
removed as they appear, great care being taken only to remove 
the bud and not to nip any of the small leaves. 
“ Suckering ” is the next operation, and this consists of 
removing “ suckers ” or side shoots. These grow so quickly 
that they require constant attention. 
“ Topping ” is also important, and consists, as usually carried 
out,iin breaking the plant ten or twelve leaves from the bottom, 
but the writer favours leaving fourteen leaves on each plant till 
a later date when he reduces them to nine or twelve. The 
reason for this is that through suckering and hoeing some of 
thedeaves are bound to be injured. 
Harvest comes about three and half months after planting 
out. Indications of ripening are “ toughening ” of the leaf, its 
corrugated appearance and change of colour. When ripe the 
plants are split to within 4 in. to 6 in. from the bottom. Then 
they are cut close to the ground, laid gently down, and left for 
