Turkish tobacco culture, curing, and marketing by Clarke Warren T. (Warren Thompson) 1863-1929

Author:Clarke, Warren T. (Warren Thompson), 1863-1929
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Tobacco, Tobacco curing
Publisher: Berkeley, Cal. : Agricultural Experiment Station
Published: 1923-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

HOT BEZO, CROSS 3ECTJ0N

Fig. 8.—Hot bed showing detail of construction

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volume. This medium for carrying the seed is very satisfactory as its color affords a ready index as to the evenness of seed distribution, and though the amount of gypsum is minute it seems to have a stimulating effect on the seedlings. After the seed has been broadcasted it should be lightly brushed in and the soil somewhat compacted with a board. The bed should be sprinkled with water, not drenched, and the moisture supply should be kept at the surface until the plants start.

Much care must be exercised at this time both in the matter of watering and in that of ventilating the bed. With too much humidity and warmth the young plants may be killed in great numbers by "damping off," a fungous disease that attacks them at or about the ground surface. On the other hand, if the bed is overventi-lated and kept too cool germination may be seriously delayed. Some

growers as a precautionary measure dust the beds lightly with finely powdered sulfur and no doubt this to some degree overcomes danger of ''damping off."

The germination of tobacco seed is usually slow and in some cases the seed may not start at all. It is decidedly a good plan to have the seed tested for germination. 6

In three trial tests made to determine the germination power of Turkish tobacco seed grown in California and purchased in the open market the results were as follows: (The length of test with each lot was 15 days.)

Lot 1 Germination 82.5 per cent Lot 2 84.0

Lot 3 84.5

These may be considered good tests and such seed can be safely used.

TRANSPLANTING

All having gone well with the seed bed and the young plants having attained a height of from two to four inches, transplanting to the field should begin. Ordinarily transplanting occurs from the middle to the last of April though the exact time will depend on the advance of the season. A careful study of the work of many growers shows that a two-to-four-inch seedling is preferred as it seems to take hold better than the larger plants when planted out in the field. The seed bed should be loosened up carefully with a spading fork and the plants gently drawn and bunched, roots to roots. This work should be done preferably on a cloudy day, and in any case the young drawn plants should be kept moist and in the shade from the time they are drawn until they are planted in the field. If cloudy weather does not occur at planting time then the work should be done in the late afternoon and evening.

From the seed beds, the plants are taken to the field in boxes covered with wet sacks. Planting may be done by hand or with a horse drawn planter. Greater success has been reported from the eastern tobacco plantations when mechanical planters were used than when the work was done by hand. If the work is done by hand the operator should be provided with a wooden dibble or with a narrow bladed trowel.

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