TOBACCO. 203 



scarcely attainable, unless by first mixing with 3 or 4 times 

 its bulk of tine mold. This should be done sufficiently early 

 to secure proper maturity to the plants in time for transplant- 

 ing, (say by the last of February or early in March south of 

 the Ohio, and about the first of April north of it,) covering 

 lightly and completely rolling or treading down the earth. 

 The plant appears in 15 or 20 days and will be fit for trans- 

 planting in six or eight weeks. This should be done in damp 

 weather, and the plants set singly, at a distance of 2 i to 3 

 feet each way. The after culture is like that of corn, and 

 consists in frequently stiring the ground, with the plow or 

 cultivator and hoe, and keeping down weeds. The places of 

 such plants as fail, or are blighted, should be at once filled 

 up, and all worms destroyed. 



THE PRIMING, TOPPING AND SUCKERING are necessary 

 operations. The first consists in breaking off four or five of 

 the leaves next the ground which are valueless ; the second 

 is taking off the top to prevent the seed stalk from develop, 

 ing, and is regulated by the kind of tobacco. "The first 

 topping will always admit of a greater number of leaves be- 

 ing left ; and in proportion as the season advances, fewer 

 leaves should be left. The heavier kinds of tobacco are gen- 

 erally topped early in the season, to twelve leaves, then to ten 

 and still later to eight. The lighter kinds are topped to a 

 greater number of leaves. If the soil is light, fewer leaves 

 should be left," (Beatty.) Suckering consists in breaking off 

 the young side shoots which should be done immediately after 

 they make their appearance. 



HARVESTING may be commenced with such plants as have 

 become sufficiently ripe, which is indicated by greenish yel- 

 low spots on the leaves. This will generally occur in August 

 at the south, and in September at the north. The stem of the 

 plant is cut near the ground, and allowed to wilt, but not ex- 

 posed to a hot sun. If there is danger of this, it should be 

 cut only in the morning or evening, when properly wilted, 

 which will be in a few hours, it may be carefully carried to 

 the drying house, where it should be hung up by twine tied 

 to the butt end of the stalk, and suspended over poles, at dry- 

 ing distances, with the head downwards. The circulation of 

 air is necessary in the dry houses, but there must be entire 

 safety against storms or winds, as the leaves are liable to 

 break by agitation, and rain seriously injures them. When 

 the stem in the leaf has become hard, it is suffiently dried. 

 This takes place in good weather, in two or three months. 



