64 TOBACCO. 



From the latter part of May to the middle of July, 

 as observed above, is the proper period for planting. 

 The plants should be about three inches broad ; strong 

 and healthy. They should be set out in hills, some- 

 thing in the manner of transplanting cabbages. Like 

 these the tobacco plants should be worked, but much 

 oftener with the hoe or plough. 



TOPPING. 



This operation takes place in common about the 

 middle of August, and some of the crop later. The 

 necessity for this is known, or the ripeness of the to- 

 bacco is pointed out by its buttoning and blossoming. 

 All cultivation now ceases, and the culturist proceeds 

 to topping or breaking off the blossoms to a leaf that 

 will ripen as soon as the bottom leaves. The top- 

 ping and priming should, according to my experience, 

 be done high ; for then more leaves will be turned 

 out, the number of which should not be less than six- 

 teen. The leaves will of course be smaller, but at 

 the same time they will be richer and of a finer tex- 

 ture. There is another advantage in high topping; 

 the leaves will be higher from the ground, and of 

 course more clean, more free from dirt. The leaves, 

 though smaller, will be greater in number ; being long- 

 er growing, they will be richer, and the smaller size 

 of the leaves will give them greater advantages from 

 the light and air. 



