OF AGRICULTURE. 125 



the flower bud is nipped with the thumb and finger. 

 If a plant is large enough, it may be topped before 

 the " button " makes its appearance by nipping out 

 the leaf bud. There is a great difference of opinion 

 as to the proper height of topping. From eight to 

 twenty leaves are recommended the latter for manu- 

 facturing. If the tobacco is pretty forward, and the 

 land rich at first, prime off just enough leaves to 

 hill up the tobacco well, and top to twelve or fourteen 

 leaves. Continue to top to twelve leaves until the 

 1st of August, then top to ten leaves until the middle 

 of August, and from that time until the 1st of 

 September top to eight, and afterwards to six. Soon 

 after the topping and priming is done, then comes 

 the " suckering " and "worming;" the buds at the 

 base of the leaves begin to grow rapidly, if left alone, 

 would form branches of the main stalk. They are 

 called " suckers," and must be broken out as soon as 

 they are large enough to be caught with the thumb 

 and forefinger. This process is repeated from time 

 to time, as the new suckers make their appearance. 

 Meantime the tobacco or green worm will have com- 

 menced its ravages, and must be carefully picked off 

 and destroyed, otherwise it will greatly disfigure 

 and greatly injure the crop. The philosophy of 

 priming, topping and suckering is easily understood. 

 All parts of the plant are designed to aid and mature 

 its growth for the production of seed. As the period 

 approaches for maturing the seeds, nearly all the 

 vital energy seems to be directed toward and 



O/ 



. expended upon them. If the " button " is removed 

 all the vigor of the plant is thrown into the leaves and 

 suckers, and the suckers being removed, the vigor of 



