HEAVY SHIPPING TOBACCO. 307 



to the plant by a turning plow. The advantage of the 

 last method is that the plants are not so easily blown 

 down during heavy rains, should such rains be accom- 

 panied with wind. On the other hand, level culture is 

 the best for dry weather. The truth seems to be that 

 the one or the other is to be preferred, as the season 

 may be dry or wet. A practice recently introduced, 

 which partakes of both, is to run a narrow harrow across 

 the ridges, leaving a square bank of earth about each 

 plant. 



In some portions of the heavy-tobacco district in 

 Virginia, no hills are made to receive the plants. After 

 the land has been pulverized by deep harrowing, it is 

 rolled, then checked and planted. The after culture is 

 all level, with but little work with the hoe. On high, 

 rolling, porous lands, this method is probably the best, 

 for level culture retains the moisture and prevents, in 

 some degree, the washing away of the soils in times of 

 excessive rains. In the preparation of the soil, in the 

 planting of the crop, or in the after cultivation of the 

 crop, one caution must be emphasized, that clayey lands 

 must never be stirred when wet. The baking of the 

 soil, which results, often proves disastrous to the healthy 

 growth of the plant. 



Topping, Worming and Sucker ing Tobacco. Top- 

 ping, Fig. 86, is not a difficult task, but it requires some 

 skill and practice, and is highly important that it be 

 performed at the proper time. Six weeks from the time 

 the plant is set in new ground, and eight weeks after it 

 is set in old ground, the seed bud should appear in a 

 majority of plants, after good cultivation and seasonable 

 weather. These seed, or terminal buds, are called 

 "buttons." Topping is performed by pinching out 

 these terminal buds, leaving eight, ten or twelve leaves 

 to the plant, as the judgment of the planter may deter- 

 mine. Topping should mot be deferred until the plants 



