33 



strength of the pLant into the leaves. Here again we 

 quote from practical men, as to when, and how these 

 operations are to be performed. 

 Hon. George Geddes says : 



" When the blossoms appear, break off the stalk, leav- 

 ing about fifteen leaves, taking off about seven leaves. 



After topping, break off the all the suckers. In about 

 another week, go over again, breaking off suckers and 

 killing worms. In another week repeat the operation." 



Mr. J. Pcriam in the Prairie Farmer for January IT, 

 1863, says : 



" After the first of July look out for worms upon the 

 leaf, and from this time until harvested, great care will 

 be necessary, in keeping them down, and removing the 

 suckers as fast as they appear. When the plant has 

 begun to form buds, it should be topped as represented 

 in the cut, at h, leaving from nine to fifteen leaves, ac- 

 cording to the strength of plant — the latter number is 

 not too many for strong healthy plants. 



From this time until the crop is ready to cut, it will 

 be necessary to go over it as often as once a week, and 

 remove suckers, as they appear, keeping a sharp look 

 out all the time for worms, killing them as fast as they 

 appear, by throwing them on the ground and scraping 

 them with the foot. They are a large green worm such 

 as often appear on tomato plants, and are more destruc- 

 tive to the crop than anything else. If the directions 

 have been properly attended to, by the middle of xlugust 

 the crop will have entirely covered the ground ; here- 

 after the utmost care must be used not to break the 

 leaves in passing among the plants, and in consequence, 

 some people neglect the suckering and worming, to do 

 which would be fatal to the crop. The plant with 

 suckers growing is shown in the cut. 



Turkeys are sometimes used for picking off the worms 

 by calling them to the field with corn, but think the better 

 way is to keep help enough in the field to get over the crop 

 about once a week, which will enable them to look for 



