There are various operations necessary dur- 

 ing the growth of the plant. The most import- 

 ant of these for our purpose are those known 

 as "priming' or "thinning out" and "cutting." 

 Priming is usually done when the plant is well 

 advanced in growth, but the time varies with 

 different growers and according to the species. 

 It consists in removing the lower or imperfect 

 leaves from the plant, or these which have in 

 any way become injured from insect or other 

 harmful agencies. As a general rule the larger 

 the number of leaves there is on a plant the 

 lower is the quality of the subsequently cured 

 leaf. An average of about 10 leaves to each 

 plant is what is favored by most growers, and 

 the plants are usually thinned to this extent. 

 Seed buds are removed also at the same time 

 and for the same reason. If the plants are 

 "thinned" late and when they are approaching 

 full growth the leaves removed are not des- 

 troyed, but are cured separately and sold as 

 inferior quality and are usually called "prim- 

 ings" or "planters lugs." 



In the Southern American States the time 

 allowed for the growth and maturing of the 

 plant is somewhat longer than in the eastern 

 and more northerly states where the soil, owing 

 to richer fertilization, favors the rapid growth. 

 Moreover, a stronger quality of tobacco is 



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