The success of the production of tobacco seedlings in small clods is dependant upon a germination as even and as regular as possible. For a given type of seed, germination depends on the level of humidity in the medium, therefore it is of utmost importance that a sufficient level of humidity be maintained. Daily watering is essential to maintain humidity. Six daily mist sprayings give excellent results. Under normal spring temperatures and humidity, spraying twice daily gives quite satisfactory results. It is important never to let the surface of the soil dry out. The risks of the seedbed drying out can be limited if the seeds are covered with a plastic film or a semi-permeable film such as P17 which must be removed early. Covering the seeds with a small layer of sand improves the rate of germination and rooting of the very small plant. Physical and chemical characteristics of an even quality are strongly linked to nutrition. Nitrogen nutrition should always be limited. On out of soil culture systems, nutritive solutions of 5 to 15 meq of N/l in doses which are more or less spaced out (every 2 to 5 days) can be used. Under these conditions the plant grows steadily but its dry matter content is high (10%) and its nitrogen level weak (2%), it is tougher and tolerates transplanting better. Following this method early evenly grown tobacco can be obtained. The plants produced in small clods of earth have a dense hairy root system wrapped around the clod which in no way hinders development in the field. The plants then develop a fasiculed root system like those of plants produced by traditional methods in seedbeds.