126 
SECOND BOOK. 
work that is necessary. I saw the land ploughed 
and cross - ploughed, until the weeds were rotten 
and the soil made loose. And I saw the young 
seedlings put out, and well remember what a wet 
day it was. You said it was of little use to plant 
them during dry weather. Then came the ‘ mould- 
ing up’, when the men hoed the earth up to the 
young plants, until the furrows in which the plants 
stood were filled up.” 
5. “ Well, go on,” said Mr. Burns. 
“ Then, after the plants had been out in the 
field five or six weeks, we nipped out the flower- 
buds, and from time to time we ‘ sucker ed’ the 
plants; taking out all the young side-shoots.” 
6. “And why did we do that?” asked Mr. Burns. 
“You said it was to cause the plant to throw all 
its strength into its leaves,” said Edward. 
“Quite true. But ‘disbudding’ would be a better 
name to give the work of clearing off the side-shoots, 
for they are buds, not suckers, which we remove.” 
7. “ Then there was the ‘worming’,” said Edward. 
“What a lot of trouble the caterpillars gave us! 
But of course they would have damaged the leaves 
very much if they had not been caught. I am glad 
that it is nearly the time for harvesting, for I want 
to see what will be done in the tobacco-house.” 
8. “ That is a very important part of the work,” 
said Mr. Burns. “ The leaves will be spoiled if the 
curing is not carefully done.” 
