28 SUCKERS. 
plant has been topped, when they come forward rapidly and 
in a short time develop into strong, vigorous shoots. Tatham 
describing the sucker says: 
“ The sucker is a superfluous sprout which is wont to make 
its appearance and shoot forth from the stem or stalk, near 
to the junction of the leaves with the stems, and about the 
root of the plant, and if allowed to grow, injuring the market- 
able quality of the tobacco by compelling a division of its 
nutriment during the act of maturation. The planter is 
therefore careful to destroy these intruders with the thumb 
nail, as in the act of topping. This superfluity of vegetation, 
like that of the top, has been often the subject of legislative 
care; and the policy of supporting the good name of the 
Virginia produce has dictated the wisdom of penal laws to 
maintain her good faith against imposition upon strangers 
who trade with her.” 
The ripening of the suckers not only proves injurious to 
the quality of the leaf but retards their size and maturity 
and if allowed to continue, prevents them from attaining 
their largest possible growth. 
On large, strong, growing plants the growth of suckers is 
SUCKERS. 
very rank after attaining a length of from six to ten inches, 
and when fully grown bearing flowers like the parent stalk. 
After growing for a length of time they become tough and 
attached so firmly to the stem of the leaf and stalk that they 
