11 



Procure for their use a quire of white paper and a bottle of mucilage. Then 

 make a small block of suitable size and shape, on which to form the cone, and 

 furnish them with a natural flower to imitate. If you have no blossom of the 

 Jamestown weed, let them try their powers of imitation in making a '-morn- 

 ing-glory." After forming the cone, clip it around the rim and curl slightly, 

 to make it look as much like a flower as possible. Attach them to branches 

 or brushes, and place them in your thickest growth of tobacco. ' They should 

 be supplied with a few drops of the poison every evening, and it may be neces- 

 sary to replace the flowers after a heavy rain. By following the above instruc- 

 tions, you will save much trouble in worming. A flock of turkeys will also be 

 found very useful in catching and destroying worms, and can only be equaled 

 by children to whom premiums have been offered. 



TOPPING. 



This operation consists in taking off the top of the plant, and must be done 

 for the purpose of concentrating the strength of the land in such number of 

 leaves as will best mature. 



It should be performed as soon as the seed-buds show themselves. 



Xo rule can be given which will apply to all cases, as much depends on the 

 variety grown, the condition of the soil, and whether your crop is well 

 advanced or otherwise. With an early crop on rich soil, do not take off more 

 than one or two of the top leaves, if any at all ; while, on the contrary, if your 

 soil is poor and crop late, top down to that number of leaves which, according 

 to your judgment, will fully ripen. The number of leaves to be left on the 

 plant varies, in different sections and under different circumstances, from eight 

 to twenty. 



PRIMING. 



This consists in removing the lower leaves of the plant to the height of five 

 or six inches from the ground ; these are removed for two reasons : first, if 

 allowed to remain, they will be made worthless by coming in contact with the 

 soil ; second, to improve the quality of the remaining leaves, as in topping. 

 Do not commence priming until the principal part of your topping is done; 

 then continue it regularly, and save every leaf with as much care as if it were 

 gold. Though light in weight, you will get some as fine tobacco from these 

 primings as any in your crop, and it is simply fully to throw them away. 



SUCKERINi'-. 



The suckers are small leaves that start from the base of the larger ones after 

 the plant has been topped. They make their appearance at the top first, and 



