184 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



ing a large number of leaves are so arranged that the leaves are 

 set closely together on the stalk, while the plants producing 

 but few leaves have long internodes of spaces between the 

 leaves. The increase in the number of desirable leaves borne 

 by the individual plants means an increase in yield of the crop 

 without increase in the cost of production. As a rule the 

 plants producing the largest number of leaves are the most 

 desirable type and quality for wrapper purposes. The shape 

 of leaves is the most variable of all the characters of the to- 

 bacco plant, and is one of the most important factors in the 

 value of the leaf for cigar wrapper purposes. The long, 

 pointed leaves do not cut as many wrappers as the rounded 

 leaves, and the pointed tip is usually accompanied by a long, 

 narrow base, which is of very little value. In every crop ob- 

 served some plants were found having leaves with round tips 

 and base, so arranged as to cut out wrappers very economically. 

 The size of leaves also varies with the dififerent plants in the 

 field, so that in a given variety plants bearing leaves of almost 

 any desired size can be found by careful observation. The 

 time of ripening of the plants is not uniform in many cases, 

 some individuals maturing their leaves several days earlier 

 than the other plants in the field. In the same way many 

 plants are late in ripening, and do not produce desirable to- 

 bacco. The number of suckers, the quality of the leaves, and 

 other characteristics vary to such an extent that the produc- 

 tion of improved strains by the selection of improved types 

 of plants is made possible, and the wide variation in tobacco is 

 a desirable basis for such selection. This variability is not con- 

 fined to any variety, but has been found to exist in all the 

 varieties grown in this country. 



THE SELECTION OF SEED PLANTS. 



The selection of seed plants must be made before the plants 

 are topped, and the most successful selections can only be made 

 after a study of the crop from the seed bed to harvest. It 

 is necessary to study the plants in all stages of growth, in 

 order to judge of their fitness for the parentage of the future 

 crop. In order to fully determine the value of the plants it 

 is advisable to follow the leaves from the separate plants 

 through the curing shed and compare the cured leaves from 

 the selected plants. This plan of examination of the product 



