42 TOBACCO CULTURE IN THE WEST INDIES 
often transported long distances and not planted for several 
days after removing from the seed-bed. The conse- 
quence is that the plants become dormant and do not start 
growth for a week or ten days after setting out and many 
are lost entirely. This is largely overcome by having seed- 
beds close to the field from which the plants may be taken 
up with some soil adhering to the roots. 
‘Cultivation is usually done with the hoe although some 
of the more progressive planters use cultivators. While 
the plants are small, cultivation should certainly be done 
by machinery. It takes but little time to teach a mule to 
walk between the rows without injuring the plants and the 
work is very much cheaper as well as more satisfactory. 
Hoeing only destroys the weeds while cultivating also loos- 
ens the soil and conserves the soil moisture. The land 
should be kept free from grass while the plants are small 
so as not to necessitate working after the leaves are well 
developed, as every injury to the leaf reduces its value. 
TOPPING AND SUCKERING 
Topping consists of pinching off the extreme top bud 
which arrests the growth of the plant in an upward direc- 
tion and throws all the strength into the leaves already 
developed. No explicit directions can be given for top- 
ping, because not all plants should be topped at the same 
height. A strong vigorous plant may be able to develop 
from two to three pairs of leaves more than one less vig- 
orous, but in all cases plants should be topped before flow- 
er buds expand because the formation of flowers and 
seeds is detrimental to leaf growth. The flower bud should 
preferably be removed as soon as discernible by pinching 
