No. 98.| 151 
common in this country, all of which seem to belong to the species JV. 
tabacum. The leaves of the former species are much smaller than 
those of our varieties, are .produced on long petioles, and are deeper 
colored, more glossy, thicker and more succulent. The flowers are 
numerous, greenish-yellow, and nearly entire on the borders ; the seed 
vessels are smaller and more nearly round than those of our common 
varieties. The Turkish tobacco is much earlier than our common 
sorts. It blossomed twelve days earlier than any other variety, and 
the seeds were nearly ripe before some kinds had opened their flowers. 
While it possesses no qualities that would recommend it for cultivation 
where the Connecticut seed-leaf can be grown, it has been suggested 
that earlier varieties of the latter might be produced by hybridizing 
with it. An attempt was made to hybridize the two species, but out 
of about fifty attempts only one hybridized flower produced a seed ves- 
sel. The seed from this will be planted and the result noted another 
season. 
In starting plants, three experiments were made: 
1st. A seed-bed was prepared by placing a layer of pulverized 
sphagnum (swamp moss) three-fourths of an inch below the surface, 
the soil above and below being fine, rich mold. The roots of plants 
grown in a bed thus prepared appeared no different from those of 
others grown in the ordinary manner, nor could it be seen that such 
plants endured transplanting any better. 
2d. The seeds were covered with a thin layer of pulverized sphag- 
num. ‘This was found to be beneficial. Boxes covered in this way 
produced a larger proportion of good plants from the same amount of 
seed than others not so treated. The moss apparently retarded evapo- 
ration and sheltered the young plants from the direct rays of the sun. 
It would seem that this method might be practiced with profit by the 
tobacco grower. 
3d. A few hundred plants were “pricked out” ‘when the leaves 
were about the size of the thumb nail, as practiced by market garden- 
ers with cabbage, tomato and other plants. ‘These very soon recovered 
from the effects of the removal, and made fine, stocky plants. They 
were transplanted to the field June 14 and 15, with others of the same 
sowing that had not been pricked out. Soaking rains followed, and 
after a few days no difference could be seen in the plants treated by 
the two methods. 
A second trial, under less favorable conditions, showed some advan- 
tage in favor of the “pricked out” plants, though less than was ex- 
ected. 
: he variety grown for the experiments in cultivation, etc., was the 
* Brand,” a Jocal name applied in Southern New York, to a very pro- 
lific strain of the Connecticut seed-leaf, found in cultivation in Lan- 
caster county, Pa., by the late John Brand, of Elmira, N. Y. We 
have been able to gather nothing authentic concerning its original 
name or history. It is characterized by long, broad, pointed leaves, 
of a deep green color, and somewhat drooping while growing; when 
cured, rather thick, but oily, and of excellent quality. 
The following experiment was made, to ascertain whether barn-yard 
manure is more beneficial on the surface than when plowed under, the 
assumption being that tobacco, which by nature is a tropical plant, 
