CULTIVATION. 37 



than most any other variety, cures and colours better, 

 and commands the highest price in the market. The 

 Pennsylvania seed-leaf outstrips the Connecticut in size 

 and weight, but owing to its requiring a longer time to 

 mature in, is not so well adapted to climates north of 41 

 or 42." 



An experienced Missouri grower, named Pursley, re- 

 marks that there " are more than twenty distinct varieties, 

 of which I will only mention the most valuable : The 

 Yellow Prior, Blue Prior, Orinoco, Little Frederic, Big 

 Frederic, Cuba, and Spanish tobacco. These are con- 

 sidered the most valuable in this State. The Yellow Prior 

 and Orinoco are the most profitable. 



" I prefer the Yellow Prior, as it is the easiest cultivated 

 and is the most fine and smooth of the many varieties. 

 Some growers prefer the Orinoco, on account of it being 

 the heaviest. I do not for various reasons : it has large 

 stiff fibres and rufHed stalks, which afford hiding-places 

 for insects; it moulds easier, is harder to cure, and 

 generally does not bring as good a price as the Yellow 

 Prior." 



Seed. The best and strongest plants are selected for 

 affording seed. These are not " topped " like the re- 

 mainder of the crop, and are left standing when the crop 

 is gathered. All suckers are carefully removed from the 

 stems, and sometimes from the leaves also. When the 

 crop is cut, the seed-stalks should be staked, to prevent 

 their destruction by the wind. As soon as the seed-pods 

 blacken, the seed is ripe ; the heads are then cut off below 

 the forks of the plant, and are hung in a dry and safe 

 place to cure. Care must be taken to gather them before 



