MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 223 



off these leaves, care must be taken not to injure the plant; for 

 if torn downward, the plant would often be wounded so that it 

 would take more strength to heal it than to perfect the leaves. 



TOPPING. This is done to prevent blossoming and to throw 

 the strength to the leaves which would otherwise go to make 

 seed. This must be done as soon as the seed-buds show, and 

 often earlier, and sometimes it is necessary to take off one or 

 more leaves. In determining when to top and how much to 

 take off, good judgment is required. The planter should ask 

 first, " Is there time enough to ripen the upper leaves fully ?" 

 and, second, "Is there strength enough in the plant and soil to 

 mature all the leaves?" If he can answer "yes," to both ques- 

 tions, only the flower-stalk need be removed ; but if " no," he 

 tops to from eight to sixteen leaves, according to his judgment. 

 Here will be seen the importance of starting the plants early, as 

 the yield may often be increased one-half by it. 



SUCKERING. This is for the same purpose as the topping 

 to concentrate the strength of the plant in the leaf. The suck- 

 ers start where the stem of the leaf joins the stalk. They draw 

 off the nutriment, and do not grow to be of any value, and so, 

 must be removed. This is one of the most tedious operations 

 in tobacco culture, for the suckers do not all appear at once, 

 coming first on the lower leaves, later on the middle, and last at 

 the top, and sometimes will even start a second time where they 

 were first removed. None of these operations priming, top- 

 ping, or suckering should be done when the plant is wet, 

 either with rain or dew; for, if handled when wet, rust-spots 

 will appear on the leaves, which will increase in size till they 

 destroy them. 



HARVESTING. Tobacco, as it ripens, changes color, assuming 

 a piebald or spotted appearance, and the leaves feel sticky, and 

 when bent, break off short. These appearances indicate that it 

 is ready to cut. The dry-house should be in order, and sticks 

 provided. The plants are cut close to the ground and allowed to 

 wilt, so as to toughen them, when they are taken to the dry-house. 

 All the handling must be done with the utmost care, so as not 

 to bruise or break the leaves. Some growers practice splitting 



