PRODUCTION OF NONSUCKERING TYPES. 35 



creased seed production. The plant food in such cases goes to the 

 leaves, where it is most needed, and not into the production of suckers 

 and of seed, which would be a loss to the grower. A large growth of 

 leaf greatly retards the growth of suckers, and in some instances types 

 have been produced which were comparatively suckerless — i. e., types 

 which produced only very few and small suckers. These types are 

 desirable not only from the standpoint of an increased leaf produc- 

 tion, but the expense of suckering is in a large measure eliminated. 



The habit of growth of the leaves, whether erect, or at right angles 

 to the stalk, or drooping, greatly influences the number of " sand " or 

 ground leaves obtained from the crop. When the leaves are drooping 

 or pendent on the stalk the tips of a number of the lower ones come in 

 contact with the ground and are often covered with sand or beaten 

 and bruised by heavy rains, and are therefore partially or totally 

 damaged. This loss of the lower leaves of the stalk can be very 

 largely overcome by carefully selecting for seed those plants on which 

 the leaves have an upright or erect habit of growth. This very 

 important point in the habit of growth of the plant is often over- 

 lookt, but can be easily controlled by systematic selection. In view 

 of the fact that the sand leaves are not nearly so valuable as those 

 which have not been injured in this way, it is highly desirable that 

 this habit of growth of the plant be kept constantly in mind when 

 selecting plants for seed purposes. 



The number of leaves on plants of a drooping habit of growth is 

 sometimes greater than w T here the leaves grow erect or in an upright 

 position, but where a large number of the lower leaves are badly 

 damaged a larger number of the best grade of wrappers may be ob- 

 tained from plants producing a somewhat smaller number of leaves, 

 but all erect. Individual plants producing a large number of the 

 desirable erect leaves may be found, however, and such plants should 

 be saved for seed under bag in order to propagate the strain the fol- 

 lowing year. 



THE PRODUCTION OF NONSUCKERING TYPES. 



The number and size of suckers borne by individual tobacco plants 

 are subject to considerable variation. In making selections of seed 

 plants in many tobacco fields the writers have found plants bearing 

 from 8 to 12 large suckers, and in the same fields other plants pro- 

 ducing only one or two small suckers. In Plate V are shown two 

 plants growing side by side in the field, at about the same stage of 

 maturity, one of which bore five large suckers, while the neighbor- 

 ing plant bore only one small sucker. Instances of this kind are 

 common in most tobacco fields. As can be seen in the illustration the 

 nonsuckering plant has a larger number of more rounded leaves 



96 



