MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 643 



If irrigation is carried out, a good plan is to turn two shallow furrows 

 together with a light plough, and run the water so that the ridge i{ets a good 

 soaking some little time before transplanting. The plants should then be set 

 out on the shady side of the ridge, care being taken that the stem and leaves 

 are high enough above the water to avoid being submerged. 



As soon as possible after transplanting it is advisable to run water through 

 again to set the earth well round the bottom of the roots. After five or six 

 days the crust around the young plants should be lightly stirred and broken. 



Cultivation. 



Tobacco quickly responds to cultivation, and the grower should aim at 

 keeping his land in fine tilth, and free from all weeds up to the time the 

 plants are ripening. During dry weather, by creating a dust mulch, excessive 

 evaporation of moisture is avoided. The root system of the tobacco plant is 

 largely near the surface, and for that reason shallow cultivation must be 

 practised. As soon as a crust is formed, or the ground becomes hard, get to 

 work with the horse cultivator and hoe, and when the plants are high enough, 

 arrange the tines of the cultivator so that the earth is gradually drawn from 

 oetween the rows towards the crown of the plants. Pronounced ridging will 

 induce the drying-out of the soil, and should be avoided. Neglect of cultiva- 

 tion shows itself very clearly in the value of the tobacco, and no plant is so 

 easily affected. It may be stated generally that the crop should receive a 

 thorough cultivation every week or ten days after the plants have started 

 growing until such time as the horse cultivator cannot be used without 

 damaging the leaves of the plants owing to their size. 



Where irrigation is carried out, cultivation must take place as soon as the 

 ground begins to harden or crust. It is useless to water alone if good results 

 are expected. 



The bottom leaves are almost invariably damaged and dirty. These, 

 generally numbering from four to six, should be removed, and the sap will 

 then be taken up by the remaining leaves, which will be well off the ground. 



Topping. 

 When the flower head or inflorescence has started to develop, the top length 

 of stalk must be broken off. Plants which are strong and vigorous are topped 

 high, and those which do not present these features are topped low Experi- 

 ence and a fine judgment is necessary to determine the number of lea res that 

 should be left on a plant, but for a normal season twelve to fourteen would 

 seem so be about the number that should be left to mature. Where the entire 

 plant is to be harvested, the planter should aim at obtaining as even ripening 

 as possible to enable him to secure a good uniform cure and quality of product. 



Suckering. 



Soon after topping has taken place, and sometimes before, suckers will 

 appear at the junction of the leaves and at the bottom of the stalk. As soon 

 as they are about 2 inches long, or large enough to be conveniently grasped, 

 these must be removed. Care must be exercised that in breaking them oft 

 the remaining leaves are not torn or damaged. It will be found that early in 

 the morning is the best time to carry out this work, as during the afternoon 

 of a hot day they are tough and leathery. The operation of suckering will 

 most probably have to be repeated each week. Particular attention should 

 be paid to this work, because if suckers are allowed to go far, the quality of 

 the tobacco will be seriously impaired. 



