TOBACCO. ine 571 
Jower leaves (made worthless by constant whipping on the ground) serve 
only as a harbor for worms, which are the more difficult to find because 
of the increased burden of stooping. Moreover, if the bottom leaves be 
saved on the cut stalk, as most likely they will be, there is always the 
temptation to put them on the market; and against a sacrilege like this 
we are firmly sei, let others say and think what they may. : 
Yet another advantage to be gained by the removal of these botton 
leaves, Which is what the planter terms “priming,” is the increased cir- 
culation of air and distribution of light thereby afforded, both essential 
factors, the merest tyro knows, to the full development of plant life. 
“Topping” (the pinching off with the finger-nail the bud at the top of 
the plant) is an operation requiring considerable skill and judgment. 
Let it be performed only by hands having these prerequisites. 
That as many plants as possible may ripen at the same time (a desid- 
eratum not to be undervalued in aiming, as all should, at a uniform 
crop) wait until a large number of plants begin to button before com- 
mencing to top. Going about through the crop, topping a plant here 
and there because it may chance to have buttoned before its fellows, is 
a damaging process not to be tolerated. 
No inflexible rule can be given for the number of leaves that should 
be left ona plant. All depends upon the variety of tobacco, the strength 
of the soil, the promise of the particular plant, the probable seasons and 
time left for ripening, &c. 
One of the most successful growers of heavy dark tobacco we have 
ever known once stated to us his conviction, after years of observation 
and practice, that one year with another, taking the seasons as they 
come, eight leaves would give a better result than any other number. 
Our own experience has tended to confirm this judgment. 
IX. See to it that the suckers are promptly removed. It is work 
quickly done, and with worming may constitute a single operation. 
X. We come now to consider the last operation in the field, “cutting” 
the crop. In this, as in topping, 2 man of judgment, experience, and 
fidelity is needed. An inexperienced hand, one without judgment, and 
particularly one who is indifferent to the interests of his: employer, will 
slash away, right and left, not knowing or not caring whether the tobacco 
he cuts be ripe or green, doing more damage in a few hours than his 
whole year’s wages would compensate for, even could they be garnisheed. 
Therefore, be on hand to see for yourself, and do not delegate the duty 
to any less interested party, that a crop managed well, it may be, so far, 
from the initial plant-bed, shall not be spoiled in the closing work by 
an incompetent or unfaithful cutter. 
Be there, too, to see, in this supreme hour, that injury from sunbura 
is warded off by the timely removal, to the shade, of the piants that have 
been cut, or by a proper covering, where they lie, against the scorching 
rays of the sun. ‘The neglect of this precaution has played havoe with 
many a crop when brought under the auctioneer’s hammer. 
XI. We should have no space to describe the different methods of 
“curing” tobacco, as, for instance, “sun-curing,” “air-curing,” ‘“ flue-- 
curing,” “ open-fire-curing,” &c., even though the whole subject had not 
been gone over again and again in previous reports of this Depart- 
ment. We can only say of this operation, as of all others connected with 
the production of tobacco, that much depends on its proper doing and 
that, as much as possible, it should have the personal superintendence 
of the owner. , 
But the crop may have been brought along successfully even to the 
