28 SUCKERS. 



plant has been topped, when they come forward rapidly and 

 in a short time develop into strong, vigorous shoots. Tatham 

 describing the sucker says : 



" The sucker is a superfluous sprout which is wont to make 

 its appearance and shoot forth from the stem or stalk, near 

 to the junction of the leaves with the stems, and about the 

 root of the plant, and if allowed to grow, injuring the market- 

 able quality of the tobacco by compelling a division of its 

 nutriment during the act of maturation. The planter is 

 therefore careful to destroy these intruders with the thumb 

 nail, as in the act of topping. This superfluity of vegetation, 

 like that of the top, has been often the subject of legislative 

 care ; and the policy of supporting the good name of the 

 Virginia produce has dictated the wisdom of penal laws to 

 maintain her good faith against imposition upon strangers 

 who trade with her." 



The ripening of the suckers not only proves injurious to 

 the quality of the leaf but retards their size and maturity 

 and if allowed to continue, prevents them from attaining 

 their largest possible growth. 



On large, strong, growing plants the growth of suckers is 



SUCKERS. 



very rank after attaining a length of from six to ten inches, 

 and when fully grown bearing flowers like the parent stalk. 

 After growing for a length of time they become tough and 

 attached so firmly to the stem of the leaf and stalk that they 



