152 [ ASSEMBLY 
roots chiefly on the warmer soil near the surface: Three adjoining 
plats of equal size were selected. No. 1 was manured on the sur- 
face after the ground was prepared for setting, at the rate of fifteen 
large wagon-loads of barn-yard manure per acre. No. 2 was manured 
with the same amount before the ground was plowed, and No. 3 was 
left unmanured. The plant in plat No. 1 averaged in weight (green), 
38-42 ounces; in No, 2, 31-42 ounces, and in No. 3, 38-02 ounces. 
No attempt is made to reconcile the apparent inconsistency that plat 
2, with a liberal dressing of well-rotted manure plowed under, should 
produce lighter crop than plat 3, which received no manure. It is an ex- 
ample of the difficulties that are constantly encountered in plat work. 
A lack of vigor was noticed in No, 2 quite early in the season, which 
became more apparent as the crop approached maturity, ‘To ascertain 
whether the manure beneath the surface in plat No. 2 had the effect 
to entice the roots downward into the cooler soil, and thus retarding 
growth, the roots of the plant in each of the three plats were washed 
out, with the help of a garden engine, and examined. In depth, no 
difference could be seen. In plat No. 2 the roots were almost entirely 
above the manure. In all cases they were very shallow, seeming to be 
more in search of warmth than moisture. 
To ascertain the effect of extremes in cultivation, three rows were 
grown without cultivation except such as was necessary to keep down 
weeds, and three adjoining rows were cultivated severely, forking the 
soil between the rows deeply and often. Where no cultivation was 
given the plants averaged in weight (green), 37- 11 ozs., and where the 
excessive cultivation was given 32-2 ozs. 
Strange to say, the soi! where the excessive culbivalal was given 
was found to be filled throughout with a dense network of fibrous 
roots, while that left without cultivation contained but few fibrous 
roots, and these were found chiefly in the center of the spaces between 
the rows where the soil wAs exposed to the sunlight. lt was noticed 
also where the ordinary cultivation was given that the fibrous roots 
were more numerous in the open spaces between the rows. ‘hese ob- 
servations suggest two deductions: that stirring the soil stimulates 
rather than retards the growth of fibrous roots, and that these roots 
are more attracted by warmth than fertility. The latter also suggests 
the advisability of planting tobacco in rows running north and south 
rather than east and west, to allow the largest opportunity for the sun 
to shine upon the soil between the plants. 
It may be added that the excessive cultivation did not seem to has- 
ten the development of the flower stalk ; also that the deepest root of 
the tobacco plant could be traced but twenty-two inches below the 
surface, a depth materially less than that reached by the deepest roots 
of corn, wheat, oats, barley or potatoes. 
To ascertain the effect of different distances in planting tobacco, on 
the yield and quality, five rows were planted as follows: No.1 was 
five teet from its neighbors, and the plants three feet apart in the row ; 
No. 2 was four and a half feet from its neighbors, with the plants two 
and a half feet apart in the row; No. 3 four feet distant with the 
plants two feet apart; No. 4 three and a half feet distant with the 
plants one and a half feet apart; No. 5 three feet distant with the 
plants one foot apart. The plants j in No. 1 averaged in weight (green) 
51-12 ozs., No. 2, 50-9 ozs., No. 3, 48-74 ozs., No. 4, 43- 21 ozs., No. 
