310 TOBACCO LEAF. 



som and mature seed. These subsidiary plants (Fig. 87) 

 are called "suckers," and must be diligently removed, 

 not only from the axils of the leaves, but from the base 

 of the stalk, otherwise the crop leaves will be dwarfed 

 and robbed of all substance and good qualities. 



Worming. Even before the topping of the plant, 

 the Sphinx moths, or horn worms, begin to feed upon 

 the plant, and until the frosts come they are always 

 present in a greater or less force. See Chapter XI, on 

 Pests of Tobacco. The suckering and worming are car- 

 ried on at the same time. If the suckers are allowed to 

 grow long, every one becomes a shelter and hiding place 

 for the worms, which find their way back to the plant 

 from the suckers after the latter have been pulled off 

 and thrown on the ground. They thus continue their 

 depredations until the planter goes over his crop again. 



Cutting and Housing Tobacco. From six to eight 

 weeks, in the heavy-tobacco districts, usually elapse 

 from the time of topping until a sufficient number of 

 plants are ripe enough to make the first cutting. This 

 usually occurs from the 1st to the 10th of September. 

 The maturity of the plant is indicated by its general 

 appearance. The leaves droop, the tails of the top 

 leaves sometimes almost touching the ground. They 

 become heavy and thick, mottled with yellowish spots, 

 crisp and tender, breaking easily, especially when the 

 dew is on them. They have an oily, granulated appear- 

 ance, and their upper surfaces are thick with a gummy 

 substance which is secreted most abundantly during cool 

 nights with heavy dews. Cut when fully matured, the 

 tobacco plant reaches its maximum in weight and in 

 those qualities that commend it to the shippers. If the 

 cutting be deferred too long, round, brown spots will 

 begin to appear on the leaves, which are signals of decay 

 and deterioration. It rarely occurs that all the plants 

 in the field will ripen at once. Several conditions are 



