CULTUEE OF CIGAE LEAF. 417 



the chances of success greater, and the plant has already 

 had a better growth. In some cases, Havana is toppled 

 over so that it does not show badly at first and will soon 

 hold up its head, but neglect, even in such cases, results 

 in crooked stalks, which do not hang so well on the 

 poles and by contact increase liability to pole sweat. 

 Beside, such leaf will not strip as well, or sell as well, 

 as if it had been promptly straightened up. Usually, 

 this trouble occurs before or about the time of topping ; 

 after the plant has been topped, it stands up firmer. 

 Should any plant have its center bud broken, or eaten 

 off, early in the season, it will come up with several 

 suckers, or sprouts, and will not amount to much ; such 

 plants should be replaced, if not too late. 



Priming. This consists in pulling off the bottom 

 leaves, to the number of four or five. Any plant, large 

 enough to top, ought to be primed first, and a general 

 rule is not to prime until the plant is ready to top 

 also. Many good growers "omit this process altogether, 

 although by that plan they increase the class called 

 "lugs," and lighten the weight of the better leaves. 



Topping. As to when and how much to top (see 

 Fig. 86, Page 294), there is a large difference of opinion 

 and practice. Some begin as soon as a majority of the 

 plants in a field have budded, and thus go over the 

 ground a second time. Others make it a rule to wait 

 until a majority of the plants have blossomed, with the 

 idea of finishing the job at one time as far as possible. 

 A feeble plant will do better if topped low, so that it 

 will have comparatively few leaves mature. But whether 

 cigar -leaf plants in general should be topped high, or 

 low, is a disputed point. Those who advocate low top- 

 ping claim they get lower leaves thereby ; on the other 

 hand, the high toppers say the leaves thus obtained, 

 although large, are coarse ; immense in quantity, but 

 not superior in quality. With high topping, it is 

 27 



