2S4 
Tobacco  Culture  in  Ohio. 
f  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
{      June,  1876. 
the  vegetable,  thus  killing  it.  The  ground  is  considered  to  be  of  the 
proper  consistency  for  transplanting  after  it  has  been  thoroughly  mois- 
tened by  rain. 
Tobacco  is  collected  from  the  last  of  August  until  the  last  of  Octo- 
ber, until  frost,  and,  if  planted  late,  this  unwelcome  visitor  often  finds 
a  large  crop  not  matured,  and  which  is,  consequently,  worthless  after 
the  first  touch  of  its  icy  breath.  In  collecting  tobacco  the  first  leaves 
gathered  are  called  "  bottom  leaves,"  being  from  five  to  seven  of  the 
lower  leaves  of  the  plant,  after  which  the  plant  is  topped,  thus  produc- 
ing larger  leaves,  and  causing  maturity  in  a  much  quicker  time.  This 
topping  process  strengthens  the  plant  materially,  as,  after  its  perform- 
ance, new  shoots  or  branches  will  almost  always  spring  from  the  axils 
of  the  leaves  nearest  to  where  the  tops  were  broken  off,  and  often 
afford  leaves  large  enough  to  be  gathered.  The  next  in  order  are  the 
middle  leaves,  which  are  collected  in  about  two  weeks  after  taking  the 
bottom  leaves  ;  they  consist  of  from  ten  to  twelve  leaves  from  the  cen- 
tral part  of  the  plant,  and  are  the  largest  as  well  as  the  most  valuable 
ones  of  the  plant.  Finally,  the  top  leaves  are  collected,  in  from  three 
to  four  weeks  after  taking  the  middle  ones,  providing  there  is  no  frost 
to  injure  them.  These  are  smaller  than  the  middle  leaves,  and 
resemble  very  much  those  taken  from  the  bottom  part  'of  the  plant, 
but  are  much  cleaner  than  these  latter,  which  often  become  very  much 
soiled  from  their  close  proximity  to  the  soil. 
Among  other  points  in  cultivating  tobacco,  we  mention  the  worming 
process,  which,  to  most  persons,  is  an  exceedingly  unpleasant  task. 
The  worm  which  is  found  on  the  plant  is  not  very  attractive  in 
appearance,  nor  agreeable  to  handle.  It  is  of  a  green  color,  and,  when 
full  size,  measures  about  an  inch  in  circumference  and  from  two  to 
three  inches  in  length.  They  are  very  destructive,  a  single  worm 
often  consuming  an  entire  plant  in  a  few  days,  if  unmolested.  They 
are  also  found  to  be  quite  numerous,  inasmuch  as  the  tobacco  has  to 
be  thoroughly  cleaned  of  them  several  times  during  a  season.  To  kill 
them,  the  worm  is  grasped  with  the  thumb  and  finger  by  the  head, 
and  thrown,  with  considerable  force,  on  the  ground,  which  has  the 
effect  of  mashing  them  ;  when  agitated,  while  taking  them  from  the 
plant,  they  will  often  eject  a  greenish  liquid  from  the  mouth,  which  is 
very  offensive  to  the  sight,  and  reminds  one  somewhat  of  the  tobacco 
chewers  of  a  higher  order. 
