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cut off when the plant has fifteen leaves, 

 If the tobacco is intended to be a little 

 ftronger than ufual, this is done when it has 

 only thirteen; and fometimes, when it is 

 chofen to be remarkably powerful, eleven 

 or twelve leaves only are allowed to expand. 

 On the contrary, if the planter is defirous 

 to have his crop very mild, he fuffers it to 

 put forth eighteen or twenty : but in this 

 calculation the three or four lower leaves 

 next the ground, which do not grow fo large 

 and fine as the others, are not to be reck- 

 oned. 



This is denominated " topping the to- 

 bacco," and is much better done by the fin- 

 ger and thumb, than with any inftrument, 

 becaufe the former clofe, at the fame time, 

 the pores of the plant; whereas, when it is 

 done with the latter, the juices are in fome 

 degree exhaufted. And though this might 

 appear unimportant, yet every method that 

 tends to give vigour to the leaves fhould be 

 carefully purfued. 



For 



