TOBACCO. 223 



If not newly cleared, the beds ought to be burned with a 

 heavy coating of brush. 



Cultivation, Pulverize the beds finely, and sow the seed 

 at the rate of a table spoonful to every two square rods. 

 The seeds are so minute, that sowing evenly is scarcely 

 attainable, unless by first mixing with three or four times 

 their bulk of fine mold. This should be done sufficiently early, 

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

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

 of the Ohio, and about the first of April north of it), cover- 

 ing lightly and completely rolling or treading down the 

 earth. The plant appears in 15 or 20 days, and will be fit 

 for transplanting in six or eight weeks. This should be 

 done in damp weather, and the plants set singly, at a dis- 

 tance of two and a half to three feet each way. The after 

 culture is like that of corn, and consists in frequently stirring 

 the ground with the plow or cultivator and hoe, and keep- 

 ing down weeds. The places of such plants as fail, or are 

 blighted, should be at once fiHed up, and all worms de- 

 stroyed. 



The priming, topping, suckering and worming are 

 necessary operations. The first consists in breaking off 

 four or five of the leaves next the ground which are value- 

 less ; the second is taking off the top to prevent the seed 

 stalk from developing, and is regulated by the kind of tobac- 

 co. " The first topping will always admit of a greater num- 

 ber of leaves being left ; and in proportion as the season ad- 

 vances, fewer leaves should be left. The heavier kinds of 

 tobacco are generally 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. 

 "Worms of very large size and peculiarly destructive to the 

 finer qualities of tobacco, abound during a part of the sea- 

 son. These can only be removed by repeatedly picking off 

 by hand. 



Harvesting may be commenced with such plants as have 

 matured, which is indicated by greenish yellow 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 surface and allowed to wilt on the ground, but 

 not exposed to a hot sun. If there is danger of this, cut 



