manure or tobacco stems. In the Connecticut valley nearly
all kinds of Domestic, Commercial, and Special fertilizers are used.
Of domestic fertilizers, horse manure is considered the best, as it
produces the finest and lightest colored leaf of any known fertilizer.
Of commercial fertilizers, Peruvian guano is doubtless one of the
best--imparting both color and fineness to the leaf. Of special
manures, tobacco stems are perhaps the best, at least the most
frequently used. Of the other special fertilizers, such as cotton seed
meal, castor pomace, ground bone, damaged grain, tobacco waste and
saltpetre waste, much may be said both in praise and dispraise. Cotton
seed meal, when used with domestic manure is an excellent and powerful
manure.

If domestic manures are applied, use about twelve cords to the acre,
composting before plowing under. As soon as spread, plow the field and
see that all of the manure is covered. If tobacco stems are used, plow
in from three to five tons to the acre, all of them at once, or a part
in the fall and the remainder in the spring. If Peruvian guano is
applied, sow on about three hundred pounds to the acre in connection
with the domestic manure. Fish guano should be composted before
sowing, either with loam or manure, and when used on light soil is a
very good fertilizer, producing a light, thin leaf. After the tobacco
field is harrowed it is ready for the ridger, which makes the hills
and gathers together all of the loose manure on the surface, and
collects it in the ridges. Where a ridger is not used, work off the
rows from three and one half to four feet apart, or even wider than
this. In the Connecticut valley the field is marked and hilled so as
to give about 6000 hills to the acre. This will be a sufficient number
if the growth is likely to be large. Where a ridger is used, manure
can not be dropped in the hill and in many respects it is well not to
do so, as the plants are liable to be blown over during a storm--not
standing as firmly in the hills as plants when no manure is used in
the hills. If the hills are to be made with the hoe, avoid all stones,
bits of turf and grass in making them, and select only the fresh
earth--gently patting the top of the hill with the hoe. New made hills
are better than old, but it will make but little difference unless the
soil is very dry at the time of transplanting.

[Illustration: A tobacco ridger.]

The following description of the manner of prep