748 
Notes on the Cultivation of Tobacco 
the North of France, maize is not unfrequently grown round 
the tobacco plots as live fences for the same purpose. 
The date of planting out the seedlings must be regulated by 
the climate of the locality. There is but one rule to follow, 
namely, to defer planting until after all danger of spring frosts 
has passed. In the vicinity of Paris, May 10th is said (see 
p. 739) to be the important date ; in the South of England, 
May 22nd has frequently been mentioned, but for a delicate sub- 
tropical plant like tobacco, probably June 1st would be much safer 
in England generally. It is, of course, very desirable to plant 
out as early as is practicable after the cessation of spring frosts, 
so as to be able to harvest before the arrival of the autumn frosts. 
After the seedlings have been planted out, they require 
incessant care, chiefly in judicious watering at their roots, and 
continuous weeding and stirring the land, as well as earthing 
up, when the plants are sufficiently advanced. Then when the 
plants have developed the number of leaves agreed upon — from 
8 to 12 or more, according to the quality of the tobacco 
required — the growing point must be pinched off, and the 
axillary shoots must be disbudded as fast as they appear. If 
the plant should develop a precocious maturity and show 
terminal flower-buds before the proper number of leaves have 
been formed, the leaves unformed must remain in that condition, 
and the flower-bud and terminal shoot in their entirety must be 
pinched off immediately. Except in France, it is usual to allow 
a certain small number of plants to flower and produce seed for 
future use. The strongest plants, most true to their kind, are 
selected for this purpose ; these are staked and deprived of 
nearly all their leaves and all side-shoots, so as to concentrate 
the strength of the plant in the seed-capsules. About 10 plants 
will produce 1 lb. of seed, which will be sufficient to provide 
plants for a large acreage of land (see p. 740). The seed being 
so small, it should be mixed with sand to prevent its being 
distributed too thickly in the seed-beds. In France, only^ those 
growers of tobacco who are specially authorized are allowed to 
produce seed, the Government undertaking to supply the quan- 
tities and kinds necessary to enable all growers to fulfil their 
contracts. The leaves are generally considered fit to be gathered 
when their fleshy part begins to lose its brilliant green hue and 
to assume a blotchy yellow tinge between the veins. This 
alteration in colour is associated with a development of perfume 
which is very remarkable, and which must attract the attention 
of even the most unobservant agricultural labourer. 
There are three methods of harvesting the crop : (I) By 
picking off the leaves as they become ripe, commencing with 
the lower ones, and gradually proceeding upwards ; (2) By 
