CULTIVATION IN VIRGINIA. 



make fine wrapping leaves or show a good color. Where 

 the growth is rapid the plants will be more brittle than if of 

 slower growth, and must therefore be handled with care in 

 passing through the rows to worm, top, and sucker the 

 plants. 



A century ago the Virginia planters cultivated their tobacco 

 fields in the following manner : 



" Hoeing commences with the first growth of the tobacco 

 after transplantation, and never ceases until the plant is nearly 

 ripe, and ready to be laid by, as they term the last weeding 

 with the hoe ; for he who would have a good crop of tobacco, 

 or of maize, must not be sparing of his labor, but must keep 

 the ground constantly stirring during the whole growth of 

 the crop. And it is a rare instance to see the plough intro- 

 duced as an assistant, unless it be the slook plough, for the 

 purpose of introducing a sowing of wheat for the following 

 year, even while the present crop is growing ; and this is 

 frequently practiced in fields of maize, and sometimes in 

 fields of tobacco, which may be ranked amongst the best 

 fallow crops, as it leaves the ground perfectly clean and 



naked, permitting 

 neither grass, weed, 

 nor vegetable to re- 

 main standing in the 

 space which it has 

 occupied." 



The next operation 

 to be performed in 

 the tobacco field is 

 known by the name 

 of 



TOPPING, 



and is simply break- 

 ing or cutting off the 

 top of the stalk, pre- 



TOPPING. venting the plant 



from running up to 



flower and seed. By so doing the growth of the leaves is 

 secured, and they at once develop to the largest possible size. 



