EXPERIMENTS. 



all thought of a second growth, and sometimes give small 

 hopes of even the first. 



In Virginia and North Carolina the experiment has been 

 tried of covering the stumps or trunk of the plants with 

 straw, followed by plowing on both sides of the rows, thereby 

 covering them to a depth of several inches, in which condition 

 they are left until spring, when the covering is removed and 

 the suckers or sprouts shoot forth and grow with great 

 rapidity. This novel experiment may succeed so far as the 

 growth and maturing of the plants is concerned, but will 

 hardly add to the reputation of " Virginia's kingly plant " or 

 to the profit of the growers, as the product must necessarily 

 be small if the labor of transplanting is avoided. 



Beyond all question, experiments with the growth and 

 culture of the tobacco plant are among the most interesting 

 and valuable, and afford the planter the most pleasure and 

 instruction of all similar trials with the products of the 

 vegetable kingdom. These experiments at once develop 

 not only the rare qualities of the plant, but its various forms 

 and habit of growth. They show as well as its adaptation to 

 all countries and climes, and the preservation of its qualities 

 when grown in regions far remote from its native home. 

 The florist finds no more pleasure in the cultivation of the 

 rarest exotic than the tobacco planter in testing some new 

 variety of tobacco, and noting its varied qualities and adap- 

 tation to his fields. By trying new varieties, some of the 

 finest qualities of the plant have been developed, and many 

 other of its excellences still further advanced. In the United 

 States numerous trials and experiments are constantly being 

 made to still further perfect the various kinds already culti- 

 vated, as well as to test other varieties and note their qualities 

 and adaptation to the soil. Already far advanced, the 

 culture of the plant has not yet reached its highest point. 

 The adaptation, soil, and fertilizers, are now attracting much 

 attention, and further study of these elements promises to 

 " bring out " qualities of leaf hitherto overlooked, or at least 

 but partially developed. 



