TOBACCO SEED-BEDS Seed-Bed Covering 165 In order to observe what difference, if any, there would be in the germination and subsequent growth of the plants when covered with muslin and with glass, two parallel beds were selected in the experiments at Ephrata, one covered with muslin and the other with glass. The beds were sown and covered the same day. The seeds sown in the glass-covered bed germinated one day sooner than those sown in the muslin-covered bed; the subsequent growth was slightly faster in the glass-covered bed, the plants being large enough for transplanting nearly one week in advance of the plants in the muslin-covered bed. It is, however, much easier to water a muslin-covered bed, provided the muslin is not too heavy, because the water seeps through, falling like a fine mist on the plants. Watering a glass-covered bed is somewhat laborious, because every sash must be raised in the operation. Muslin is also much cheaper, and with proper care will last several seasons. Watering and Ventilation Immediately after the seeds are sown and pressed in, the beds should be watered, and the surface should be kept moist, though not wet, because the seeds need moisture in order to germinate; neglect in watering will cause failure in germination. On the other hand, when the beds are watered too much, the excessive moisture will cause the young plants to rot, and turn yellow, a condition commonly called "damping off." Failure to take off the cover occasionally for ventilation may also result in the development of this disease and other fungous diseases. Insect Remedies Insect pests sometimes cause injury to the young plants, and while steam sterilization undoubtedly kills all insects in the bed at the time of sterilizing, it cannot, of course, prevent migratory insects from injuring plants in the seed-bed later in the season. Small insects (1), such as the flea beetle, can be destroyed by the use of arsenate of lead at the rate of 1 pound of arsenate to 20 gallons of water, mixed thoroughly, and sprayed lightly over the plants. This insecticide does not injure the plants in any way, and it adheres to the foliage much better than Paris green. Snails are causing much trouble in tobacco growing. They can be destroyed by a poison bran mash made as follows: Mix I pound of Paris green with 50 pounds of bran and enough molasses to make the mass cohere; add enough water to make a crumbly mixture. Drop small quantities at different points over the bed; care should be taken to keep it from coming into contact with the plants. Conclusions Steam sterilization of seed-beds is decidedly beneficial, as it not only effectually kills all weeds and insects when properly done, but also destroys certain detrimental organisms in the soil. Tobacco seeds should not be sown on the beds until at least 24 hours after sterilization. Seed-beds should not be too heavily fertilized, but should be well supplied with nitrogen. Stable manure, cottonseed meal, acid phosphate and sulphate of potash, combined in the proportions recommended under the subject of fertilizers, on page 164 of this bulletin, make a good fertilizer mixture. The fertilizers should be applied before sterilizing. Tobacco seed should be sown without being previously forced to germinate. Seeds should not be sown too thickly, for too heavy seeding results in crowded plants with poor roots. Beds covered with muslin are cheaper and easier to water than glass-covered beds, though the latter cause faster growth. Beds should be ventilated occasionally, and kept moist but not too wet. When weather conditions permit, covers should be removed about a week before planting time, so as to allow the plants to harden. (1) The remedies here given are taken from Year Book Separate 537, entitled, "Insect Enemies of Tobacco in the United States," by A. C. Morgan, U. S. Department THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE COLLEGE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Advisory Committee of the Board of Trustees E. S. BAYARD. II. V. WHITE, Chairman, Bloomsburg, Penna. ....Pittsburgh VANCE C. McCORMICK..Harrisburg Administration EDWIN ERLE SPARKS, President of the College. R. L. Watts, Dean and Director. STAFF C. L. Goodling, Superintendent of Farms. H. Marilla Williams, Record Clerk. Agronomy F. D. Gardner, Head of Department. E. L. Worthen, Soils. C. F. Noll, Farm Crops. W. H. Darst, Farm Crops. J. W. White, Soils. R. U. Blasingame, Rural Engineering. R. S. Smith, Soils. E. L. Moffit, Soils. H. N. Cobb, Farm Crops. L. J. Obold, Farm Crops. Agricultural Education T. I. Mairs, Head of Department. W. R. White, Assistant. Agricultural Chemistry Charles W. Stoddart, Head of Department. F. P. Weaver, Soil & Fertilizer Chemistry. Agricultural Extension M. S. McDowell, Head of Department. E. K. Hibshman, State Leader of County Pearl MacDonald, Home Economics. Animal Husbandry W. H. Tomhave, Head of Department. B. O. Severson, Sheep and Beef Cattle. H. H. Havner, Horses and Swine. M. C. Kilpatrick, Poultry. P. E. Daugherty, Herdsman. F. B. Crooks, Poultry. M. F. Grimes, Beef Cattle. Botany Frank D. Kern, Head of Department J. Ben Hill, Genetics. C. R. Orton, Plant Pathology. R. A. Waldron, Plant Pathology. J. F. Adams, Plant Pathology. Dairy Husbandry C. W. Larson, Ilead of Department. E. L. Anthony, Dairy Buttermaking and S. I. Bechdel, Milk Production. F. P. Knoll, Superintendent of Creamery. Experimental Agricultural Chemistry William Frear, Vice-Director and Head of *Guy C. Given, First Assistant Chemist. Experimental Pomology J. P. Stewart, Head of Department. Forestry John A. Ferguson, Head of Department. R. R. Chaffee, Lumbering. George R. Green, Wood Technology. Clarence Anderson, Forest Management. Horticulture M. G. Kains, Head of Department. Arthur W. Cowell, Landscape Gardening Earl I. Wilde, Floriculture. J. R. Bechtel, Vegetable Gardening. A. F. Mason, Pomology. The bulletins of the Station will be mailed regularly, free of charge, to all_residents of the State who request it. College, Center County, Pa. Address Director of Experiment Station, State |