154 [ AssEMBLY, No. 98.] 
taken of the same leaves from time to time, as noted below, and the 
average per cent of gain for the five leaves on each plant was noted. 
The result is as follows : 
Aug. 5. Average length of leaves on plant No. 1. ...... 14-9 in. 
Aug. 5, Average length of leaves on plant No. 2........ 13-825 in. 
Aug. 8. Per cent of gain, plant No. 1.................. 15-7+ in. 
Aug. ‘8. Per cent of gain; plant No. 2.2.2 00 0 Toe 20-4 in. 
Aug. 15.""Per'cent of gain; plant“Noll fot) PS tee 47.4-~ in. 
Aug.'15. Per'cent of gain; plant Now2. 22.0 See 40-1 in. 
Plant No. 2 was topped August 15 at the point where the string was 
tied around the stem. A majority of the flowers had by this time 
opened. On August 27 the per cent of gain on plant No. 1 was 89-98 
and on plant No. 2 was 72-56, showing a gain in favor of the early topped 
plant in the upper five leaves of 17-42 per cent. The gain was most 
marked in the uppermost leaf, and diminished regularly downward to 
the fifth, which was as far as was measured. 
August 25, plant No. 1 had all the appearance of ripeness, while the 
upper leaves on plant No. 2 were both thinner and greener than on 
plant No. 1. 
The plants that made the most rapid growth attained the largest 
size. Thus, fifty plants that were ready for topping August 5, averaged 
in weight, green, 52-065 ounces, and the cured leaves averaged 4.99 
ounces per plant; thirty-two plants topped August 12 averaged 4-53 
ounces green, the cured leaves 4-26 ounces, and sixteen plants topped 
August 19, averaged, green, 41-46 ounces and the cured leaves 3-66 
ounces per plant. These plants were all harvested September 1. 
It also appears that the weight the leaves retain when cured depends 
somewhat upon the time the plants are left standing after being topped. . 
Thus in plants topped August 5, the cured leaves weighed 9-59 per 
cent of the green plant, in those ‘topped August 12, 9-04 per cent, and 
in those topped August 19, 8-83 per cent. 
These facts indicate the importance of early topping, of setting 
strong and vigorous plants, that will mature quickly, and of early 
planting in order that the danger of frost may not hasten the harvest- 
ing of the crop. 
