37 



be worked toward the plants, thus hilling them up and preventing 

 their being blown down by winds. 



TOPPING. 



For wrapper purposes it is advisable to top high. This is especially 

 true when abundant sunshine and favorable conditions prevail during 

 the growing season. If, however, the weather is cloudy and rainy, 

 the topping should be done somewhat lower and a smaller number of 

 leaves left on the plants. This is especially true in case of shade- 

 grown tobacco, as the shade has a tendency to still further increase 

 the humid conditions to which the fields are subjected. Weak plants 

 ought to be topped lower than strong, well-developed plants, which 

 will be able to mature a larger number of leaves. Too high topping 

 makes leaves deficient in elasticity; too low topping, too heavy leaves. 

 Experience is necessary in order to top the plants just right, taking 

 into account weather conditions and type of plants and soil. 



Suckers immediately appear after the topping, and these should be 

 removed at frequent intervals. Experience has taught that instead 

 of breaking off the suckers in the axil it is better to leave a small part 

 of the stem of the sucker, about 1 inch in length. By so doing less 

 suckers will reappear. The removal of the suckers throws the strength 

 of the plant into the leaves, but if there is a tendency, through having 

 topped the plants too low or through change in weather conditions, 

 for the leaves of the plant to become too thick, this may be counter- 

 acted by leaving one or two suckers on the plant. 



HARVESTING. 



Two methods of harvesting are in use. One consists in removing 

 each leaf from the plant at the most favorable stage of ripeness and 

 the other is to cut the whole plant when the largest number of leaves 

 are in a favorable stage of ripeness. The first method should always 

 be used for wrapper or high-grade tobacco, as it gives more favorable 

 results. Great care should be exercised to prime the leaves at the 

 most favorable stage of ripeness, taking first the bottom leaves, then 

 successively the middle and top leaves, with a few days between. 

 The proper time to harvest is determined by the appearance of the 

 leaves, and an experienced eye is required to detect the minute 

 differences which mark the leaves when in the most favorable degree 

 of ripeness. 



Overripe leaves become less combustible, are less elastic, give darker 

 colors, and contain more nicotin, all of which is undesirable. In 

 unripe leaves the colors are difficult to change in the curing process, 

 and often turn from green to black in the fermenting pile. After 

 priming the leaves should be transported to the curing shed in bas- 

 kets provided with burlap for covering the tops and sides, so as to 

 protect the leaves from dust and direct rays of the sun. 



