Tobacco. 9
  and 2 inches deep alongside of the furnace is shoveled into the
hopper. It is roasted for about an hour, during which time it _
should be turned over two or three times with a long-handled
shovel. The roasted soil is then shoveled out of the hopper back
into the hole from which it was taken. This same operation is
repeated with the soil on the other side of the furnace. By
the time this second. block of soil is roasted the soil covered by
the furnace is likewise sufficiently heated. Hence, at each set-
ting, a space of 9 feet by 9 feet is burned. Reference to the '
illustration (Figure 1) will give a good idea of how the fur-
nace is constructed. »
Under ordinary circumstances, 45 to 50 square yards of
ground can be burned with this furnace in a day. lf a stiff
wet clay is being dealt with more time will be consumed in
burning and the area covered in a day will be correspondingly
lessened. The principal advantages of the furnace are that
the ground can be burned while wet without fear of baking
(unless it is in the area directly beneath the furnace), a more
uniform and thorough burning may be secured. more weed i
seeds are destroyed and less wood is required. The furnace is
{ made of sheet iron throughout, costs about $:35 and is service-
able for several years. This type of furnace has been in use
for four or tive years. but has not come into use by a ma_iority ‘
of the farmers.
The bed may be burned at any time from Novnnibcr to the
last of hlarcli. .\ tew farmers burn in the t'all. a desirable prac-
tice in many respects. The weed seeds are then on top of the
ground, and the soil is likely to contain less moisture, so that
. much less fuel is required. lllost beds are burned by the open-
tire method during lTel>ruary and alarch. as weather condi-
tions are t`avorablc at that time. lt is prct`erable tn have the
soil as dry as possible in order to avoid baking in burning and
to economizc time and fuel. lt much water has to be evap-
orated from the soil unnecessary delay is experienced.
;\ few farmers sterilize their beds with steam. ln this case
a steam box of the desired dimensions is construete·l and
placed over a part of the selected spot. An engine is used for
supplying the steam. Sufficient pressure to destroy all weed
seeds can be easily maintained. Beginning with l2O pounds
jg of steam it will be reduced to about 90 pounds in a single opera"