SPECIAL CROPS. 229 



dig open the hill and destroy the worm. This is the only- 

 method we know of as being effectual. A few bushels of salt 

 per acre will keep away many of them. These cut worms have 

 no sooner been destroyed, than a greater enemy appears, in the 

 tobacco worm, or " horn worm^'' a large green worm, which, if 

 loft to itself, would destroy every leaf. The first preventive of 

 their ravages is to destroy the moths, by fires and torches, dur- 

 ing the last of May, as directed in Cotton Culture. The second 

 is, to examine the under side of the leaves for the eggs, and 

 destroy them. They are small, of a lignt transparent green. 

 As soon as the worms begin to appear, get over the field every 

 week and pick off and kill every worm, large and small. 

 '•' Topping," consists in breaking off' the stalk about the time 

 the blossoms appear. One third of the leaves should usually 

 be topped off. After topping, break off all the suckers. Eepeat 

 this last operation three times, at intervals of a week. 



Good practice differs so widely in regard to harvesting this 

 crop, that it is useless to give more than the main points lo be 

 kept in view. AVhen the leaves bend over to the ground, and 

 are dotted with yellow spots, lose their fur, and look glossv, 

 they are supposed to be ripe enough to harvest. The crop is 

 greatly improved in quality by letting it stand two weeks 

 longer ; but the risks are so great, that most think it wise to 

 begin harvesting as soon as it will do. Hail, winds, frost.s, 

 worms, and suckers, are only to be insured against by early 

 harvesting. To cut so as to save handling is a great object. 

 To cut two rows and lay them over together, is good practice. 

 A hatchet or a cleaver which will sever the stem at one stroke 

 is desirable. If handled before it is wilted, the leaves get 

 broken and bruised , if left to wilt in the hot sun, they get sun- 

 burnt. On this account, cutting is often delayed until the mid- 

 dle of the afternoon, and left over night. Great care should be 



