REMARKS ON TOBACCO. 
219 
maybe subjected to a degree of temperature somewhat elevated 
above the temperate point. The seeds being very minute, 
they may in sowing be thinly scattered over the uneven sur¬ 
face of the soil; and in this way, if kept shaded, they will 
vegetate more readily than if covered with soil. Until this 
process of vegetation is completed, they require only the or¬ 
dinary attention required by seeds; but when they have formed 
two or three leaves, they may be separately potted into small 
pots, and then by gradual steps be exposed so as to become 
inured to the ordinary atmosphere; they will probably require 
repotting, which should be done when found to be requisite. 
All this treatment is very common-place, but of course on the 
degree of skill with which it is performed will depend much of 
the success. 
About the latter end of May, or at least as soon as the pro¬ 
bability of their being injured by frost is past, they may be 
planted out. The kind of soil best suited to them would be one 
of a light open texture, rather abundantly furnished with fer¬ 
tilising agents; the ashes of alkaline plants, such as artichokes, 
kidney-beans, fern, beech, buckwheat, &c. are said to be fa¬ 
vourable manures. Where space is not an object, the plants 
should be planted out at about four feet apart; this will enable 
them to attain to a great degree of vigour in consequence of a 
free admission and circulation of air amongst them, as well as 
an exposure to the influence of that life-giving and life-sustain¬ 
ing principle—light. When the plants have risen to the height 
of two feet, they commonly begin to throw out lateral branches 
on which the floral organs are subsequently developed ; but as 
this kind of development, if not repressed, would deprive the 
leaves, which are the most important parts, of a great portion 
of nutriment, it becomes a matter of necessity to take away the 
extremity of the shoots in order to prevent this expenditure of 
the energies of the plants, and thus to divert the invigorating 
sap to the expansion and increase of the leaves. This principle 
must also be subsequently kept in view, as the production of 
blossoms or the maturation of seeds would at any time operate 
directly against the increase of produce in the leaves, and tend to 
prevent their attaining that degree of succulency which is re¬ 
quisite to insure a good article when prepared. No other special 
care is requisite in the culture of this plant; the operations 
