442, CULTIVATION IN VIRGINIA. 
make fine wrapping leaves or show a good color. Where 
the growth is rapid the plants will be more brittle than if of 
slower growth, and must therefore be handled with care in 
passing through the rows to worm, top, and sucker the 
plants. 
A century ago the Virginia planters cultivated their tobacco 
fields in the following manner :— 
“ Hoeing commences. with the first growth of the tobacco 
after transplantation, and never ceases until the plant is nearly 
ripe, and ready to be laid by, as they term the last weeding 
with the hoe; for he who would have a good crop of tobacco, 
or of maize, must not be sparing of his labor, but must keep 
the ground constantly stirring during the whole growth of 
the crop. And it is a rare instance to see the plough intro- 
duced as an assistant, unless it be the slook plough, for the 
purpose of introducing a sowing of wheat for the following 
year, even while the present crop is growing; and this is 
frequently practiced in fields of maize, and sometimes in 
fields of tobacco, which may be ranked amongst the best 
fallow crops, as it leaves the ground perfectly clean and 
naked, permitting 
neither grass, weed, 
nor vegetable to re- 
main standing in the 
space which it has 
occupied.” 
The next operation 
to be performed in 
the tobacco field is 
known by the name 
of 
TOPPING, 
and is simply break- 
ing or cutting off the 
top of the stalk, pre- 
venting the plant 
from running up to 
flower and seed. By so doing the growth of the leaves is 
secured, and they at once. develop to the largest possible size. 
TOPPING. 
