HEAVY SHIPPING TOBACCO. 311 



required, for this to happen a remarkable uniformity 

 in the fertility of the soil ; precisely similar surface ex- 

 posures ; the setting of all the plants of equal hardiness 

 the same day, and the topping of all the plants at the 

 same time, with an equal number of leaves on each. 

 Newly cleared lands will ripen the plants from six to 

 ten days earlier than old land, both originally of the 



same character. A southern exposure, a rocky soil, 

 stimulating manure, an early suspension of the work of 

 cultivation, will all hasten the period of maturity. 



As a general thing, the planter is fortunate if one- 

 half the plants in a field are ready for the knife at the 

 first cutting. As the season advances and the danger 

 from frosts begins, the field is cut clean, although there 



