222 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



take a leaf between the thumb and finger and give a jerk, a 

 piece will break out. If you pull the plant up instead, it shows 

 that it is not well planted, and would be almost sure to die if 

 dry weather follows. As soon as possible replace missing plants 

 so as to have a perfect stand. 



The first enemy that will give you trouble is the cut-worm, 

 and the remedy generally recommended is to go over and kill 

 the worms by hand and reset. Some claim that ashes or a 

 spoonful of salt and plaster scattered round the plants will save 

 them, but whatever is done must be done promptly. The cul- 

 tivation must be thorough. It seems useless to give detailed 

 directions, but it will certainly pay to keep a crop clean and 

 growing, that costs in labor and manure as much as a tobacco 

 crop does. Continue the cultivation till the plants spread, so 

 that you can not work them without breaking the leaves. 



WORMING. By the time the leaves are as large as a man's 

 hand, you must begin to look for the green worms. They usu- 

 ally stay on the lower side of the leaf, and if you see a hole in 

 a leaf, no matter how small, turn it up and you will be pretty 

 sure to find the worm. This work must be done thoroughly, for 

 if you miss one or two worms, before you know it the plant 

 will be nearly eaten up. It will usually be necessary to go over 

 the field and kill the worms twice a week from about the middle 

 of July till cutting begins. While killing the worms, keep a 

 lookout for the eggs, and also destroy as many of the moths as 

 possible. The latter are about half as large as a humming-bird, 

 and can be seen about sundown flying from plant to plant. The 

 worms, although repulsive in appearance, are perfectly harmless 

 and are usually killed with thumb and finger by a pinch and twist. 



PRIMING. What is called priming, is the breaking off of 

 the bottom leaves which grow so near the ground as to lie flat, 

 and rot or get dirty, and this work should be done as early as 

 the plant will admit of it. The distance from the ground that the 

 leaves should be removed varies with different varieties from four 

 to six inches. Some growers omit it and sort out the lower leaves 

 after the crop is cut, and sell them for about half price. Those who 

 <lo not prime, generally top lower than those who do. In taking 



