No. 4.] TOBACCO GROWING. 271 



Cultivation. 



As soon as the plants have started cultivation begins. A 

 favorite tool for the first time is a 12-tooth cultivator, which 

 by careful handling will allow the operator to work close to the 

 row, the machine being run twice in each row. If deep cul- 

 tivation is to be practiced, the early part of the season is the 

 time to do it, before the root system has developed. Hand 

 hoeing is next in order, and from now on as long as a horse 

 can travel between the rows the land should be stirred once a 

 week or even oftener. Some growers hoe by hand three or 

 four times in a season, while others use the horse hoe. Many 

 different methods are used, but the principle is the same, 

 namely, to keep the soil well stirred so as to retain moisture 

 and to keep the plant growing all the time. 



Topping and Suckering. 



When the plant has grown large enough for the seed bud to 

 appear, the top is broken off, or the plant is "topped," the 

 idea being to throw the strength that would naturally go into 

 the small top leaves, blossom and seed into the larger leaves 

 left on the stalk. These are usually from 18 to 22 in number. 

 After the field is topped it presents a very even appearance. 

 In a week or ten days after "topping" suckers will appear, 

 starting from the base of the three or four top leaves. These 

 arepicked off, or the plant is "top suckered." After these top 

 suckers are taken off the leaves further down the stalk will 

 begin to throw out suckers, and these in turn must be picked 

 off. Usually when the bottom suckers are grown or are big 

 enough to take off the plant will be nearly or quite ripe and 

 ready to harvest. This will be about three weeks from "top- 

 ping." The crop should be allowed to get ripe, a condition 

 which is shown by the plant having a slightly wilted appear- 

 ance, especially on the bottom leaves. Light green blotches will 

 also show all over the top leaves. There can be no doubt that 

 some crops are cut too green, the result being a dark-colored 

 crop that will not bring the best prices. 



