EXPERIMENTS WITH TOBACCO. 
26 
3. That of the varieties tested, the most desirable 
and valuable for Colorado are the forms of Havanna seed- 
leaf; our soil and climate producing a quality of leaf 
not equalled by that of any tobacco-growing State in the 
Union. 
4. That usually one irrigation, with good cultiva¬ 
tion, will be sufficient to mature the crop. If the plants 
are irrigated late in the season, the leaf will not ripen 
before frost. 
5. That in raising plants, thin seeding is expedient, 
as this will give strong plants, resulting in the early and 
uniform maturity of the leaf. 
6. That the plants should be raised in a moderate 
hot-bed in this climate, sowing the seed last week in 
March, observing that previous to transplanting the last 
week in May, that the plants have been thoroughly ex¬ 
posed to the open air in the hot-bed. 
7. That the cutting and wilting of the plants should 
be effected either quite early or late in the day, as the 
leaf is much more easilv scorched here than at a lower 
altitude and in a moister climate. 
8. That in curing Havanna, or other thin-leaved 
tobaccos, in this climate, it is necessary to lay the plants, 
after cutting, in thin layers on the ground, and cover 
with straw or burlaps for twenty-four to forty-eight hours, 
until the leaf has partially colored, observing not to allow 
the plants to heat, or the leaf will be ruined. After¬ 
wards remove to a close, dark shed, or barn, and keep 
close in a damp atmosphere until the leaf is fully colored. 
The philosophy of this treatment is to prevent the too 
rapid drying of the leaf, and thus facilitate and assure 
its uniform coloring. 
