4^8  Tobacco  Cultivation  in  Virginia.      { AmsJe™r; $%m' 
any  attention  for  a  while  ;  pretty  soon,  however,  in  some  cases,  the.y 
are  attacked  by  worms,  chief  among  which  is  a  large  green 
worm,  which,  if  let  alone,  would  soon  destroy  the  entire  crop. 
This  worm,  the  same  which  infests  tomato  plants  but  which  is  com- 
monly called  the  "tobacco  worm,"  is  generally  found  on  the  under 
surface  of  the  leaves,  and,  being  of  the  same  color,  is  not  quickly 
detected  by  inexperienced  persons.  It  is  very  voracious,  feeding  upon 
the  green  leaves  and  attaining  sometimes  the  size  of  the  little  finger 
and  a  length  of  two  to  three  inches. 
Each  plant  must  be  examined  closely  for  several  days,  in  order  to  be 
rid  effectually  of  these  worms,  the  process  of  removing  which  is 
termed  "worming."  Sometimes  they  appear  in  such  numbers  that  the 
whole  "  force  "  has  to  be  put  to  work  to  kill  them,  or  the  result  would  be 
very  disastrous  to  the  crop.  After  the  plants  have  been  pretty  effectually 
rid  of  these  pests,  the  next  step  in  the  cultivation  is  "priming,"  as  it  is 
termed.  This  consists  in  breaking  off  such  of  the  lower  leaves  as  are 
either  small  or  touch  the  ground.  Some  planters,  considering  these  of 
no  value,  do  not  care  to  save  them  ;  others,  on  the  other  hand,  prefer 
to  cure  them  with  the  rest  of  the  leaves,  afterwards  separating  and 
sending  them  to  market  by  themselves,  where  they  are  classified  as 
u  primings."  Of  course  they  bring  a  low  price  in  comparison  with 
the  rest  of  the  leaves,  but  generally  enough  to  repay  for  the  trouble  of 
curing  them. 
The  plants,  which  by  this  time  have  acquired  considerable  size,  and 
are  ready  to  flower,  now  require  "  topping."  This  consists  in  breaking 
off  the  tops,  thereby  causing  all  the  nourishment,  which  would  other- 
wise be  expended  upon  the  flowers,  to  be  diverted  to  the  leaves,  result- 
ing in  their  more  rapid  development.  Soon  after  this  operation  is 
finished,  buds  appear  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves,  which  are  termed 
"  suckers,"  and  the  operation  of  removing  which  is  called  "  suckering."- 
This  is  a  laborious  occupation,  as  it  must  necessarily  be  kept  up  as  long 
as  the  buds  appear,  since  they  would  detract  materially  from  the  growth 
of  the  leaves. 
After  this  the  plants  do  not  require  much  attention,  being  left  alone 
until  the  leaves  are  ripe  and  ready  to  be  cut,  which  is  generally  done 
in  the  latter  part  of  September  or  first  of  October,  if  they  have  had  a 
suitable  season.  Great  care  must  be  exercised  in  judging  of  the  ripe- 
ness of  the  crop,  as  over-ripeness  is  to  be  guarded  against  as  well  as,  if 
