18 
EXPERIMENTS WITH TOBACCO. 
Connecticut Seed-Leaf —This is a standard variety, 
similar in habit to the Burley and others. It proved to 
be vigorous and of a desirable habit of growth. Used 
for cigar wrappers. 
Wilson’s Prolific —Of this variety we had hut a few 
plants. Its habit of growth and shape of leaf is similar 
to the Broad Leaf. It did not ripen so early as some 
others, because the plants were quite small when set out. 
Fiji Oronoco —This variety of the Orinocos has a 
long and quite pointed leaf, very early, and of good 
habit and vigor. 
SOWING SEED. 
The different varieties were sown in a moderate hot¬ 
bed March 26th, and from here transplanted to the open 
ground May 25th. It is desirable in this climate to sow 
in a moderate hot-bed. because of the drv air and brisk 
* 
winds at that time of year. Uor is it desirable to sow 
too early, because of the liability of the plants to damp 
off. Sow about April 1st, and very thinly; this will in¬ 
sure not only a roomy seed bed, but will also give stout 
plants of nearly equal vigor, and which will tend to uni¬ 
formity in ripening. If sash are used, shade the glass 
slightly during the heat of the day, and this will render 
the necessity for watering less frequent than if the soil 
were exposed to the sun’s heat. 
The soil in which the seed is to be sown should be 
quite rich ; it will push the growth of the plants. Thick 
seeding should be avoided, for two reasons : The first is, 
that weak, spindling plants is the result; and second, 
plants crowding each other in a hot-bed are very liable 
to damp oft in the night, to avoid which, refrain from 
watering the seed bed late in the afternoon. It is im¬ 
portant to observe that if plants are grown in a hot-bed, 
it is imperative that they be hardened off before setting 
out in the open air, which is attained by giving plenty of 
air, and inuring the plants to the sun’s full power before 
transplanting. 
