204 TOBACCO PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES. 



convenient to water. When necessary to do this, a sharpened stake, 3 or 4 feet long and 2 inches in diameter, is 

 thrust into the hill 3 or 4 inches deep. Two or three quarts of water are poured into each hole, and as soon as the 

 water settles the plant is stuck, the earth closed around the roots, and the plant shaded with leaves, grass, weeds, 

 or by a clod. This is a tedious and costly work. 



CULTIVATION OP TOBACCO. 



As soon as the plants are well established the work of cultivation is begun, and the usual method is to run a 

 light furrow with a small turn-plow or light shovel on each side of the row, throwing the earth from the plants. 

 The hills are then scraped down or " skimmed" with the hoe, this being followed immediately by a close, deep plowing 

 with a colter and slight hilling with the hoe. The middles of the rows are then thrown out with a one-horse 

 turn-plow, and the hills again dressed by pulling up a little more earth about the plant, these operations being so 

 timed as to keep ahead of the grass. One deep plowing about the time the leaves are as large as the hand is 

 considered of prime importance, especially upon old and rather heavy lands. 



In some localities in the valley of the upper James river the land is not ridged or "listed " merely harrowed and 

 leveled. The field is then rolled, marked, and planted, the after culture being level, with little need for hand work. 

 This method is not admissible except on dry, porous soils. The tobacco-plant is impatient of an excess of moisture 

 about the roots, and is quickly injured thereby. 



When tobacco has been planted on the check system the cultivation is as follows : First, run cultivators each 

 way as soon as plants are rooted, chopping around the plants with hand-hoes; second, run shovel-plow three times 

 in the row, the last furrow in the middle, following with hoes, and putting a small hill to the plant ; third, run turning- 

 plows two furrows to the row, throwing earth toward the plants, finishing with a shovel furrow in the middle, and 

 again hill up plants with hoes. Usually three plowings and as many workings with the hand-hoe complete the 

 cultivation, and when the work is done at the proper time and in a thorough manner this is quite enough; but the 

 labor is often much increased by suffering the grass and weeds to get the start of cultivation. 



Old lands require more cultivation than new with both the plow and the hoe, and the shipping more than the 

 manufacturing types. 



TOPPING, PRIMING, AND SUCKEEING OP TOBACCO. 



Tobacco planted from the 20th of May to the 10th of June usually grows off promptly, and is ready for topping 

 in from 35 to 50 days after transplanting, according to soil. Planted very early or very late, the intervening time 

 is longer from 40 to 60 days. 



At each hand-working the "baby leaves", as the plant-bed leaves are called, and all other poor bottom leaves, 

 are taken off. The final priming is done when the plant has formed at least eight thrifty leaves. Then the small 

 bottom leaves are primed off, and the terminal bud, or "button", is broken out. In Hanover county the best 

 farmers top to eight leaves, suckering beginning immediately after topping, and being continued until the tobacco 

 is ripe. 



In Amelia, Appomattox, and other south-side counties priming is commenced as soon as the plant will allow 

 the ground leaves to be pulled off, so as to strip the stalk six or eight inches above the top of the hill or bed; then 

 it is topped to eight, ten, or twelve leaves, according to strength of soil. If topped late, fewer leaves are left on the 

 plant. It is the usual practice to top to ten leaves up to the 15th of July ; after that date to eight leaves for shipping 

 tobacco. Por yellow manufacturing the plants are not topped until the "buttons" make their appearance, the 

 custom being to prime high and top to twelve or fourteen leaves early, lessening the number as the season advances 

 down to six leaves on very late plants. 



It is a good rule not to commence topping in a field of tobacco until enough can be topped on the same day to 

 fill a barn when ripe for harvesting. 



In some parts of south-side Virginia, in Pittsylvania county particularly, some good planters do not prime, 

 claiming that the lower and inferior leaves protect the crop leaves and secure a larger out-turn of cleaner and 

 more salable tobacco. 



Aside from the advantage of increased product (for it must be admitted tLat unprimed plants make greater 

 weight), the advanced price paid for a clean staple of the best grade, made from the upper leaves, appears to decide 

 this question in favor of those who do not prime. 



In Piedmont priming and topping are usually done at the same time ; but occasionally the topping is deferred 

 a few days until the requisite number of leaves can be obtained, the number left on the plant differing with the 

 type of tobacco to be produced a greater number being left for bright manufacturing and a less number for 

 shipping. 



In priming, topping, and suckering great care is necessary to avoid bruising or breaking the leaves, especially 

 those at the top of the plant. 

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