OF AGRICULTURE 131 



CHAP TEE XVII. 



CULTIVATION OF CUBA TOBACCO. 



The soil for the Cuba tobacco ought to be of a rich 

 sandy loam, neither too high nor too low that is, 

 ground capable of retaining moisture. The more 

 level, the better, and, if possible, well protected by 

 margins. For raising plants, preparing and culti- 

 vating the land, a similar process may be adopted as 

 that described in the preceding chapter for the com- 

 mon tobacco crop of this country. When the plants 

 have acquired twelve or fourteen leaves, and are 

 about knee high, we should begin to top them, by 

 nipping off the bud, with the aid of the fingers and 

 thumb-nails, taking care not to destroy the small 

 leaves immediately 'near the bud; for, if the land is 

 good and the season favorable, those very small top 

 leaves will, in a short time, be nearly as large, and 

 ripen quite as soon as the lower ones, whereby two 

 or four more leaves may be saved, thus obtaining 

 from sixteen to eighteen leaves, in the place of twelve 

 or fourteen, which is the general average. 



The topping of the tobacco plant is absolutely 

 essential in order to promote the growth and to 

 equalize the ripening of the leaves ; it should be com- 

 menced the instant the bud of the plant shows a 

 disposition to go to seed, and be immediately followed 

 by removing the suckers which it will now put out 

 at every leaf. The suckers must be kept down. 



The Cuba tobacco plant ought never to be cut 

 before it comes to full maturity, which is known by 

 the leaves becoming mottled, coarse, of a thick texture 



