418 TOBACCO LEAF. 



claimed the grower secures not only more wrappers, but 

 more total weight. Every grower must decide, from the 

 condition of the growing crop, how high or low to top. 



Suckering. The natural inclination of the plant to 

 propagate itself through the formation of the seed, is 

 intercepted by topping, but the plant at once attempts 

 to repair the damage. In a few days, say five or seven, 

 suckers, or shoots, begin to appear at the junction of the 

 leaf with the parent stem. When three or four inches 

 long, they must be pinched off. As in topping, this 

 must be done with thumb and fingers, to prevent the 

 too copious exudation of the sap. Cigar-leaf tobacco 

 usually requires suckering but twice ; at first, about half 

 way down, and the second time clean from top to bot- 

 tom. Unless removed when young and tender, they 

 grow hard and fibrous and must be removed with a 

 knife, which results in severe bleeding. In suckering, 

 as in topping, the utmost care must be taken not to 

 break or injure the leaves. If the leaves are found 

 turned up by the wind, or any other cause, they should 

 be put into their natural position, for the sun has a bad 

 effect upon the underside, often scorching, or blister- 

 ing it. Many otherwise careful growers neglect to 

 properly "sucker," especially in Pennsylvania and Wis- 

 consin, to the serious detriment of the crop. 



Ripening. In the course of two or three weeks 

 after topping, the plants will begin to ripen, which may 

 be known by the change in the color of the leaf. It will 

 look spotted with spots of a lighter, yellowish green. 

 When fully ripe, the leaf may be folded and consider- 

 ably pressed without breaking. This is the time to har- 

 vest. It is well to let the crop stand, if not fully ripe, 

 as long as it can safely be done, for the cool nights have 

 a tendency to thicken the leaf, or give it more "body," 

 without interfering with its quality in other respects. 

 Many, however, prefer to cut as soon as ripe, and get it 



