THE CULTrRE OF TOBArrO. 



47 



the plant is topped too lo-n- there -will lie a rapid thickening up and 

 curling at the leaf ; it this occurs some fif the top suckers should 

 Ije allowed to grow and cheek this tendency. If a plant is topped too 



si:>on there will be a loss 

 majority of the flower buds 

 crop is topped, si 

 operation. 



of arc.ma in the cuied 



Pi 



oduct. The 



ibould be allowed to appear befoie the 

 to permit topping to be completed in one 



At the time of topping many growers pull off the lower leaves of 

 the plant, and this operation is known as priming. These leaves are 

 usually small, thin and very dirty, and would not produce saleable 

 tobacco even if left to mature. The exponents of pjriming maintain 

 that these leaves being useless should not be allowed to appropiriate 

 the sap that would otherwise go to the other leaves. It is contended 

 that these " .sand lugs '' furni.sh a harbour for insects, and also that the 

 remuval of these leaves will leave more room for the use of the hoe. 

 Other growers leave these ''sand lugs" upim the plant with the 

 thought that they protect the next higher leave.^ from l.ieing spattered 

 with scril during rains. 



Suck:eri>'G. 



As soon as the plant is topped, or even before, small shoots or 

 suckers start out from the axils of all ihe leaves. If these suckers be 

 allowed to grow they will greatly lessen the amount of tobacco pro- 



