35 



inches. The growth is rapid ; the top leaves soon serve 

 as a shade for the middle and lower leaves, and the results 

 have been most gratifving. New land proved to be more 

 desirable for this variety of tobacco ; and it was noticed 

 that when trees were left standing in the field, the plants 

 shaded by trees were far superior to the plants not so 

 shaded. From this the idea of building artificial shade 

 had its birth. It was also found that no good results 

 could be obtained if the plants were cut, but the leaves 

 should be primed off* just as they ripen, and at a very 

 early stage of ripeness. ' ' 



Harvesting the leaves singly without the stalk is called "priming" 



