8‘ Bulletin N0. 139. _ `
the same bed for several consecutive years. In such cases an ’.
application of barnyard manure, tobacco stems, or stalks should
be made in the fall. During the winter the soluble elements
are removed by leaching and carried into the soil. When the
time for burning has arrived, this matter is raked off and
heaps of waste wood and brush are piled on the bed and burned. -
In case the barnya1·d manure, tobacco stems or stalks have
not been previously applied, an application of high-grade com-
mercial fertilizer, one containing, say, 10 per cent of potash, 4
per cent of nitrogen, and 10 per cent of phosphoric acid, all in
an available form, will give good results. It should be ap-
plied at the rate of 100 pounds for every 1,500 square yards.
(Zommcrcial fertilizers are not extensively used. The farmers
as a rule depend entirely upon the natural fertility of tl1e soil
to produce the desired growth in the young plants before trans-
planting.
'l`hc preparation of the seed bed is of such importance that
neither time nor labor should be spared in making all of the
conditions tirst class. Failure to have plenty of good plants
may cause the enrtailment or complete failure of a crop.
'l`he main objeet in burning the bed, so far as the writers can "ffi
see, is the destruction of weed seeds which would otherwise
produee weeds to interfere with the growth of the young plants.
Most ot the weed seeds are lodged in the upper two inches of
the soil, and their vitality is readily destroyed bv burning or
heating the bed. Home mineral plant foods, sueh as potash
salts. are rendered more available by burning, which adds to
the store of available potash in soils. On the other hand, or-
ganic matter is largely destroyed by the burning, which is detri-
mental to the extent that it liberates some of the nitrogen, thus
reducing the amount available for plant food. and also reduces
the moistnre-holding capacity of the soil by destrtiying a part
of the ltutnus.
'l`ln· seareity of wood has eansed the advent of the Yliyatt
'l`ol·at-eo lled llurner, which is a patent movable device espe-
cially designed for burning plant beds. The furnaee is il feet
wide and 9 feet long and is arranged with a pan on which the
soil is placed and roasted for about an hour. 'l`he tire is fed
under one end. similar to the way an evaporating pan is heated '_
in malaiug molasses. i\ block of soil 9 feet long. 3 feet wide, '