n of Cuba tobacco, which I
subjoin. These remarks apply principally to America, but most of the
advice and information will be found generally applicable to other
localities:--

The first thing to be considered in this, as in every other culture,
is the soil, which for this kind of tobacco (_N. repanda_) ought to
be a rich, sandy, loam, neither too high nor too low--that is,
ground capable of retaining moisture, the more level the better,
and, if possible, well protected by margins. The next should be the
selection of a spot of ground to make the necessary beds. It would
be preferable to make those on land newly cleared, or, at all
events, when the land has not been seeded with grass; for grass
seeds springing up together with the tobacco would injure it
materially, as the grass cannot be removed without disturbing the
tobacco plants. In preparing the ground for the nurseries, break it
up properly, grub up all the small stumps, dig out the roots, and
carefully remove them with the hand. This being done, make the beds
from three to four inches high, of a reasonable length, and from
three to three and a-half feet broad, so as to enable the hand, at
arm's length, to weed out the tender young plants with the fingers
from both sides of the bed, and keep them perfectly clean.

The months of December and January are the most proper for sowing
the seed in Florida. Some persons speak of planting it as early as
the month of November, I am, however, of opinion, that about the
latter part of December is the best time to sow tobacco seed; any
sooner would expose the plants to suffer from the inclemency of the
most severe part of the winter season. Before the seed is sown take
some dry trash and burn it off upon the nursery beds, to destroy
insects and grass seeds; then take one ounce of tobacco seed and mix
it with about a quart of dry ashes, so as to separate the seed as
much; as possible, and sow it broadcast. After the seed has been
thus sown, the surface of the bed ought to be raked over slightly,
and trodden upon by the foot, carrying the weight of the body with
it, that the ground may at once adhere closely to the seed, and then
water it. Should the nursery-beds apparently become dry from
blighting winds or other causes, watering will be absolutely
necessary, for the ground ought to be kept in a