EXPERIMENTS. = 411 
all thought of a second growth, and sometimes give small 
hopes of even the first. 
In Virginia and North Carolina the experiment has been 
tried of covering the stumps or trunk of the plants with 
straw, followed by plowing on both sides of the rows, thereby 
covering them to a depth of several inches, in which condition 
they are left until spring, when the covering is removed and 
the suckers or sprouts shoot forth and grow with great 
rapidity. This novel experiment may succeed so far as the 
growth and maturing of the plants is concerned, but will 
hardly add to the reputation of “ Virginia’s kingly plant” or 
to the profit of the growers, as the product must necessarily 
be small if the labor of transplanting is avoided. 
Beyond all question, experiments with the growth and 
culture of the tobacco plant are among the most interesting 
and valuable, and afford the planter the most pleasure and 
instruction of all similar trials with the products of the 
vegetable kingdom. These experiments at once develop 
not only the rare qualities of the plant, but its various forms 
and habit of growth. They show as well as its adaptation to 
all countries and climes, and the preservation of its qualities 
when grown in regions far remote from its native home. 
The florist finds no more pleasure in the cultivation of the 
rarest exotic than the tobacco planter in testing some new 
variety of tobacco, and noting its varied qualities and adap- 
tation to his fields. By trying new varieties, some of the 
finest qualities of the plant have been developed, and many 
other of its excellences still further advanced. In the United 
States numerous trials and experiments are constantly being 
made to still further perfect the various kinds already culti- 
vated, as well as to test other varieties and note their qualities 
and adaptation to the soil. Already far advanced, the 
culture of the plant has not yet reached its highest point. 
The adaptation, soil, and fertilizers, are now attracting much 
‘attention, and further study of these elements promises to 
“bring out” qualities of leaf hitherto overlooked, or at least 
but partially developed. 
