icient for an acre
of land. If preferred, the plants may be raised in drills eight inches
apart, slightly covering the seeds, and pressing the earth firmly over
them, as above directed. When the seedlings are four or five inches
high, they are ready for transplanting.

_Soil and Cultivation._--Tobacco requires a warm, rich soil, not too dry
or wet; and, though it will succeed well on recently turned sward or
clover-turf, it gives a greater yield on land that has been cultivated
the year previous, as it is less liable to be infested by worms, which
sometimes destroy the plants in the early stages of their growth. The
land should be twice ploughed in the spring; first as soon as the frost
will permit, and again just previous to setting. Pulverize the surface
thoroughly by repeated harrowing and rolling, and it will be ready to
receive the young plants. The time for transplanting is from the 1st to
the 20th of June; taking advantage of a damp day, or setting them
immediately after a rain. If the ground is not moist at the time of
transplanting, it will be necessary to water the plants as they are set.

"The ground should be marked in straight rows three feet apart, and
slight hills made on these marks two feet and a half apart; then set the
plants, taking care to press the earth firmly around the roots. As soon
as they are well established, and have commenced growing, run a
cultivator or horse-hoe between the rows, and follow with the hand-hoe;
resetting where the plants are missing. The crop should be hoed at least
three times, at proper intervals; taking care to stir the soil all over.

"When the plants begin to flower, the flower-stem should be broken or
cut off; removing also the suckers, if any appear; leaving from twelve
to sixteen leaves to be matured."

_Harvesting and Curing._--In ordinary seasons, the crop will be ready
for harvesting about the beginning of September; and should all be
secured by the 20th of the month, or before the occurrence of frost. The
stalks must be cut at the surface of the ground, and exposed long enough
to the sun to wilt them sufficiently to prevent breaking in handling.
They should then be suspended in a dry, airy shed or building, on poles,
in such a manner as to keep each plant entirely separate from the
others, to prevent mouldiness, and to facilitate the drying by
permitting a free circulation of the air. Thirty or forty plants may be
allowed to each twelve feet of pole. The pol