40 



till it is cut. Topping and priming are next to be at- 

 tended to. The latter consists in breaking" oif the leaves 

 next to the ground, which, to the number of four or five, 

 are of no value. The number of leaves to which tobacco 

 should be topped varies, according to the kind of tobac- 

 co raised and the season of topping. The first topping 

 will always admit of a greater number of leaves being 

 left ; and, in proportion as the season advances, 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 

 of tobacco are topped to a greater number of leaves. 

 The above rule is only applicable to a rich soil. If the 

 soil is light, the topping should be regulated accordingly, 

 and fewer leaves left,"^ 



Suckering is a much more tedious operation. Every 

 plant requires to be twice suckered before it is ready 

 for cutting. The first suckers are of quick growth, and 

 should be removed before they become larger, otherwise 

 they will not only injure the growth of the plants, but 

 will sometimes break off the leaves in removing them. 



Tobacco is usually planted from the middle of May to 

 the last of June. And the cutting season commonly 

 commences about the middle of August. A little prac- 

 tice will enable the planter to distinguish, very readily, 

 the ripe from the gn-een plants. At the first cutting the 

 former must be selected and cut, leaving the others to 

 become riper. When tobacco is ripe the leaves become 

 spotted, with a greenish yellow color, and the leaves are 

 so thick and ridged that, by folding and pressing gently 

 between the thumb and finger, they will break or crack. 

 But a little experience will enable the planter to deter- 

 mine which plants are ripe by sight alone." 



Tobacco is liable to injury, like many other plants, by 

 the cut-worm. The horn-worm, spoken of by Judge 



^ Light tobacco, for segar wrappers, such as Roundleaf, Burleigh, 

 aivl Summerville, should be i^lauted three by two feet, and topped 

 to sixteen or eighteen leaves. 



