K1V 



AGRICULTURE 



well over the hills. Then most planters give one deep 

 cultivation. After this, continue light cultivation until 

 the tobacco is topped arid the leaves begin to fill the rows. 

 If much grass appears later in the season, it is better to 

 destroy it with hoes than with cultivating implements. 

 Topping 1 . Topping or removing the upper growing part 



t of the plant, is done 



at such a height as 

 to retain usually 8 to 

 13 good leaves on 

 the plant. Very high 

 topping causes late 

 maturity and thin 

 leaves. On the other 

 hand, if topped too 

 low, the tobacco will 

 be coarse and heavy, 

 and will not com- 

 mand a good price. 

 The leaves of to- 

 bacco are arranged 

 on the stalk in 

 whorls or spirals of 

 eight, so that after 

 the inferior bottom 

 leaves are removed the ninth leaf will be directly over the 

 remaining bottom one. Hence, the plant can be topped to 

 a certain number of leaves without counting. (Fig. 225). 

 When suckers, or shoots form, they must be removed by 

 pinching. 



Seed selection. The best plants should not be topped, 

 but allowed to produce seed. (Fig. 224). The flower 



FIG. 224. SEED PLANT TOBACCO. 



