37 



hand's breadth between the first leaf and the top of the 

 hill. Topping" is simply taking out the bud witli the 

 fing-er and thumb nails, leaving the necessary number of 



A plant ready to top, place for topping indicated by b. 



leaves, which in general is not more than eight, though 

 the first topping may be to nine or ten leaves to make 

 it ripen more uniformly, and bring the crop into the 

 house more together. For the same reason, the late 



/"- 



Plant after topping. 



plants are not topped to so many, falling from eight by 

 degrees, as the season expires, down to six and five. A 

 little practice, and slight attention to the manner in 

 2* 



