Abstract:
A method and apparatus for simultaneously cutting and directing fluid into the stem of a tabacco plant, the apparatus including having a liquid delivery blade, a source of fluid communicating with to the underside of the blade, an associated power source for rotating the liquid delivery blade at a sufficiently high speed “top” tobacco plants.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Priority is claimed from co-pending continuation-in-part U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/011,589, filed Feb. 9, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,621, which issued on Oct. 3, 2000, and which claims priority from Provisional Application 60/002,397 filed Aug. 17, 1995, Provisional Application 60/007,633 filed Nov. 23, 1995, Design Application No. 29/047,779 filed Dec. 12, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. Des. 386, 190, and PCT Patent Application PCT/US96/13362 filed Aug. 16, 1996. This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/098,696, filed on Sep. 1, 1998. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the unwanted growth of auxiliary buds on plants. Such auxiliary buds are also referred to as “suckers.” The present invention also relates to a method and apparatus for reducing maleic hydrazide residues in tobacco, reducing the “topping” operations that tobacco farmers need to execute in order to control tobacco suckers, reducing the exposure of tobacco laborers to chemicals, and reducing the amount of chemicals used in the tobacco industry. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to obtain maximum yields of flue-cured and burley tobacco in the United States, the plants are “topped” by removing the flowers or flower buds before harvest. However, the removal of these flowers allows auxiliary buds or “suckers,” to flourish. It is desirable to prevent the growth of suckers. Currently, such growth is inhibited by using a combination of “contact” and “systemic” plant growth regulator chemicals. Usually, at least two or three applications of this “contact” chemical are applied, followed by an application of the “systemic” chemical. Maleic hydrazide is the only strictly systemic plant growth regulator that is currently available. All of such chemicals are sprayed over the top of the tobacco plants. Some chemicals in the market are a combination of systemic and contact types. Over one half of the tobacco produced in the United States is “topped” mechanically by using high-clearance equipment with rotating cutter blades. 
     The problems associated with the known method and apparatus include: (1) necessary repeated applications of the plant growth regulator over the tobacco field; (2) high pesticide use; (3) worker exposure to pesticides; and (4) maleic hydrazide residues in the cured leaf. The latter problem is of utmost concern among growers, manufacturers, and exporters of tobacco. Maleic hydrazide is applied at 1.5 gallons product per acre (1.5 pounds active ingredient per gallon) in thirty to fifty gallons water per acre. Industry regulations imposes strictly held constraints pertaining to the maximum percentage amount of maleic hydrazide permissible in a cured tobacco leaf. Weather conditions, cultural practices, and improper use of maleic hydrazide often lead to residues unacceptable to domestic and foreign buyers. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     The following are U.S. Patents concerning agricultural cutting and chemical application devices: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 U.S. 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Pat. No. 
                 Issue Date 
                 Inventor 
                 Title 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 2,111,030 
                 03-15-1938 
                 Mote 
                 AGRICULTURAL MACHINE 
               
               
                 2,908,444 
                 10-13-1959 
                 Mullin 
                 ROTARY LAWN MOWER 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 SPRAYING ATTACHMENT 
               
               
                 2,939,636 
                 06-07-1960 
                 Mullin 
                 SPRAYING ATTACHMENT 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 FOR ROTARY LAWN- 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 MOWER 
               
               
                 2,973,615 
                 03-07-1961 
                 Yaremchuk 
                 LAWN MOWER WITH WEED 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 SPRAYER 
               
               
                 3,462,927 
                 08-26-1969 
                 Quick 
                 TOPPING MECHANISM FOR 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 CANE HARVESTERS 
               
               
                 3,596,447 
                 08-03-1971 
                 Makeham 
                 CROP TOPPER 
               
               
                 3,760,569 
                 09-25-1973 
                 Willett 
                 SUGAR CANE TOPPER FOR 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 V-CUTTER HARVESTER 
               
               
                 3,942,308 
                 03-09-1976 
                 Vicendese 
                 CHEMICAL DISPENSING 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 LAWN MOWER 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ARRANGEMENT 
               
               
                 5,131,216 
                 07-21-1992 
                 Otten 
                 DEVICE FOR SEPARATING 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 THE SHOOT TIPS OF 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 SUGAR-CANE PLANTS 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Mote, U.S. Pat. No. 2,111,030, teaches a device for distributing chemicals for destroying insect pests which is also capable of harvesting crops of various habits of growth and various sizes. 
     Mullin, U.S. Pat. No. 2,908,444, teaches a spraying attachment device for rotary lawn mowers which can dispense liquid material to a confined and controlled area of the gardener&#39;s choosing. 
     Mullin, U.S. Pat. No. 2,939,636, teaches a device which provides a spraying means adapted for converting a liquid material into a fine spray or mist and for forcibly directing such spray downwardly against a well defined area of ground being traversed with the spray being applied to the ground in substantially uniform quantity throughout such area. 
     Yaremchuk, U.S. Pat. No. 2,973,615, teaches a device which combines a liquid weed-eradicating device with a power driven rotary lawn mower for better distribution of the liquid by the mower blade over the area covered by the machine in its movements such that the liquid is vaporized to a great extent for effective application to the weeds under the mower. 
     Quick, U.S. Pat. No. 3,462,927, teaches a device controlled by the operator of a cane harvesting machine for causing the severed tops of cane stalks to be discharged either to the right or to the left of the harvesting machine. A pair of guide bars is located in the throat formed by the gathering drums and adjustably mounted so that the severed cane tops will be directed into the influence of one selected gathering drum and thus discharged on a selected side of the machine. 
     Makeham, U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,447, teaches a harvesting machine particularly for cutting the tops off a standing crop, the cutting apparatus including a pair of knife discs rotatable on substantially vertical axes and having a slight overlap in cutting areas. A pivoted vertically extending guide vane directs cut material toward one knife or the other. A drum is carried above each knife and rotates therewith. The drum has radially extending crop moving paddles thereon. Curved vertically extending guide plates are located to the rear of the drum and intersect at the pivot axis of the guide vane. The knives and drum are individually driven and means are provided to move the guide vane. 
     Willett, U.S. Pat. No. 3,760,569, teaches a cane topping device for simultaneously topping two rows of cane being cut by a V-cutter harvester wherein overlapping cutters are raised and lowered to compensate for varying cane stalk height and the angle of attack of the cutting blades of the topper may be varied. 
     Vicendese, U.S. Pat. No. 3,942,308, teaches a combination power driven lawn mower and lawn care chemical dispensing machine in which a hopper for dry granular chemicals is affixed to the top of the lawn mower frame in such a manner that the chemical may be dispensed over an area defined by the swath of lawn cut by the blade. 
     Otten, U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,216, teaches a device for separating the shoot tips of sugar-cane plants for multi-row sugar-cane harvesting machines. The device includes feed-and-cutting elements mounted in front of a trough-like table having a cross-conveyor worm which receives the tip portions and conveys them to the side. The feed-and-cutting-elements have two feed discs equipped with prongs which interact respectively with a respective cutting disc. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a method and apparatus for simultaneous topping of tobacco plants while applying sufficient growth-regulator chemical(s) for adequate sucker control. The invention is a non-spray system that may use systemic growth retarding compounds. A rotating or reciprocating blade is continuously moistened with retarding agents. While cutting the plant, the invented system simultaneously delivers enough chemical to kill or prevent the growth of auxiliary buds into suckers and prevents future growth after topping. 
     The invention further provides a method and apparatus for simultaneously topping tobacco and controlling suckers that results in a savings to the grower since less chemical and fewer trips over the field are needed. 
     The invention further provides a method and apparatus for simultaneously topping tobacco and controlling suckers that accommodates accurate application of chemicals that are applied directly to the cut stem. 
     The invention further provides a method and apparatus for simultaneously topping tobacco and controlling suckers that eliminates off-target pesticide drift. 
     The invention further provides a method and apparatus for simultaneously topping tobacco and controlling suckers that reduces worker exposure to chemicals. 
     The invention further provides a method and apparatus for simultaneously topping tobacco and controlling suckers that eliminates maleic hydrazide residues in cured tobacco leaves. The low tolerance of residues imposed by domestic and foreign buyers, which in turn is due to major competitors for American style tobacco that do not use maleic hydrazide for sucker control, currently threatens the United States tobacco industry. Publication 1997 Flu-cured Tobacco Information published North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service Bulletin AG-187 (1996) is incorporated herewith by reference and contains information useful to the reader concerning this question. 
     The invention further provides a method and apparatus for simultaneously topping tobacco and controlling suckers that eliminates failures of sucker control with maleic hydrazide due to rain wash off or drought conditions. 
     The invention further provides a method and apparatus for simultaneously topping tobacco and controlling suckers that may be mounted on or adapted to currently available high-clearance equipment used in tobacco fields for mechanically topping tobacco plants. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The principal object of the present invention is to provide means for producing “safer” tobacco than is now produced. 
     Another is to provide a method for reducing maleic hydrazide residue in harvested tobacco leaves. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a process that eliminates existing maleic hydrazide spraying. 
     A further object of this invention is to provide an elimination of the exposure of chemicals to tobacco workers. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other objects will become more readily apparent by referring to the following detailed description and the appended drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a tobacco plant after flower cropping showing suckers. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a known spraying application of plant growth control chemical. 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a known dripping application of chemicals over the plant immediately after spraying. 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the blade with chemicals being held onto the underside of the blade in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the blade applying chemicals directly into the stem of the plant in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the resultant tobacco plant with no suckers. 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric end view of an alternative embodiment of the blade seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a blade assembly for a tobacco topper in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of a blade showing the cutting edge in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the blade assembly in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a portion of the tobacco topper structure in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, the prior art method is illustrated by FIGS. 1,  2 , and  3 . FIGS. 4 and 5 are representative of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a tobacco plant shown generally at  10 , after flower cropping showing suckers  12 . FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the tobacco plant  10  shown in FIG. 1 showing a known spraying application of plant growth control chemical to the plant  10 . FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the tobacco plant  10  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 showing a known dripping application of plant growth control chemical over the plant  10  immediately after spraying. 
     It should be noted that presently the most effective active ingredient in the market for plant growth regulation is Prime+® which is produced by Novartis Corp. The present invention incorporates Prime+® as the active ingredient. However, the present invention is not intended to be limited to incorporating Prime+ 200   and may incorporate Royal MH-30®, Stronghold™, Garlon 3A™, Accord™ or any other active ingredient. Regardless of the particular active ingredient, the present invention eliminates repeated passes over tobacco fields for topping and sucker control, and uses less than 1% of the active ingredient used in the known method because the active ingredients applied directly into, not onto, the tobacco plant by the present invention. 
     The term “flumetralin” is the common name for the active ingredient in the commercial product Prime+® and is a plant growth regulator for control of tobacco suckers. The average reduction in suckers per plant at harvest is sixty two and five tenths percent (62.5%) and the average reduction in weight of suckers per plant is eighty one and eight tenths percent (81.8%). Those skilled in the art of tobacco sucker control will appreciate such average reductions as acceptable sucker control. 
     The present invention provides for the translocation of Prime+ 200   downward inside the stalk of the tobacco plant after which the plant growth regulator migrates into the suckers to control their growth. As illustrated in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  3 , known systems incorporate a higher rate of Prime+® in the spray volume which leads to an excess of the chemical that runs down the outside of the stalk, contacting suckers directly to control them. 
     In tobacco sucker control, one of two complex procedural programs are commonly used. In Program I, two to three applications of a fatty acid alcohol “contact” sucker chemical are used followed by: 1) MH-30; 2) a mixture of MH-30 and Prime+®; 3) a mixture of MH-30 and contact alcohol; or, 4) a procedure of first applying Prime+® then MH-30. Additional treatments are not required later in the season when weather or geographical conditions do not permit continued sucker regrowth. In Program II, one either applies Prime+® by hand over the top of each tobacco plant or one first applies a contact solution to the plant followed immediately by Prime+®. 
     The present invention eliminates all the aforementioned complicated, expensive treatments set forth in the aforementioned Program I and Program II. The present invention allows tobacco growers to extract the tobacco flower and eliminate suckering in one pass over the tobacco field using a mechanical tobacco topper that is preferably fitted with a BURCH WET BLADE® system. Here the BURCH WET BLADES applies Prime+® as the effective chemical. Known tobacco sucker control systems inherently require a substantially larger volume of Prime+® because, as previously mentioned above, the known systems require that the effective chemical physically run down the entire length of the tobacco plant, thereby contacting each sucker. In known applications, maleic hydrazide is sprayed over the top of each row of tobacco. Once the leaves are wetted, the chemical is translocated throughout the plant, thereby killing suckers. This translocation is also the cause of unwanted maleic hydrazide residues in cured tobacco unless applied very carefully and properly. 
     The present invention is preferably mounted on or adapted to currently available high-clearance equipment used in tobacco fields for mechanically topping tobacco plants. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention uses a BURCH WET BLADE® that is described in Patent Cooperation Treaty International Publication No. WO 97/06664; International Publication Date Feb. 27, 1997, and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CUTTING AND TREATING VEGETATION” which is incorporated by reference herein. The present invention, incorporating the BURCH WET BLADE®, causes Prime+®, which is not normally translocated, to move down the stalk and kill all suckers as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a blade  45  for cropping off the upper section of a tobacco plant, described further hereinafter, with chemicals  17  being held onto the underside of the blade  45  in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the aforementioned blade  45  when applying chemicals directly into the stalk  9  of the plant  10  in accordance with the present invention. The blade  45  being comprised of a cutting edge  18 , a blade wing  22  which is an air lift and a fluidly communicating means. As shown in FIG. 4 the blade  45  is rotating toward the tobacco plant  10 , where said plant has an outgrowth of suckers  12 . The plant growth control chemicals  17  translocate down the stalk  9  when the chemicals  17  are applied in accordance with the present invention. In using the present invention, many applications and multiple toppings are eliminated along with undesirable maleic hydrazide residues in the cured tobacco leaves. FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the resultant tobacco plant  10  having no suckers because of the effective application of plant growth control chemicals using the present invention. 
     FIG. S is a cross sectional view of a blade assembly for a tobacco topper in accordance with the present invention in one embodiment, the invented apparatus for simultaneously cutting and directing fluid into the stem of a tobacco plant comprises a blade assembly having at least one fluid bearing blade, shown generally at  45 , means for supplying fluid to the underside of each of the blades  45 , means for rotating the fluid bearing blades  45  at a high speed, and means for transporting said blade rotating means from one tobacco plant to another. The invented apparatus may further comprise a drive shaft  43  having a blade receiving end, shown generally at  23 , a housing  25  and a magazine mounting assembly. The blade assembly comprises a WETBAR fluid distributor  62  that is removably coupled to the blade receiving end  23  of the shaft  43 . The other end of the shaft  43  is coupled to the rotating means The blades  45  are attached to the WETBAR fluid distributor  62  and extend radially away from the drive shaft  43 . The blade  45  has means for delivering a plant growth control chemical to the topped surface of the tobacco plant. 
     The shaft  43  comprises an axial fluid conduit  47  formed partially therein that has an inlet and an outlet, an input radial conduit  20  that is in fluid communication with the inlet of the axial conduit  47  and a fluid manifold  58  fluidly communicating to one or more of an output radial conduits  60  (FIG.  10 ), where all are in fluid communication with the outlet of the axial conduit  47 . The housing  25  is positioned adjacent the blade assembly mid coupled to the shaft  43  and comprises a bearing mechanism  46  that is coupled to said shaft  43 , an annular well  39  that is in fluid communication with the input radial conduit  20 , and a fluid tight fitting  41  formed in the housing  25  and extending from the annular well  39  to the exterior of said housing  25 . 
     The blade assembly is preferably coupled to the shaft  43  using a WETBAR fluid distributor jam nut  28  for securing the WETBAR fluid distributor  62  to the shaft  43 . A bottom bearing keeper  23  is coupled to the shaft  43  and interposed between the housing  25  and the blade assembly. A lock nut  42  secures the housing  25  and the blade assembly to the shaft  43 . A top bearing keeper  40  is coupled to the shaft  43  and interposed between the lock nut  42  and the housing  25 . 
     FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the blade  45  showing the cutting edge  51  in accordance with the present invention. Each blade includes a blade wing  22  and the cutting edge  51 . The blade wing is set to a pre-determined blade wing angle  53 . FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the blade assembly in accordance with the present invention. The WETBAR fluid distributor  62  comprises the previously mentioned centrally disposed fluid orifice  56  that is in fluid communication with the axial conduit  47  of said shaft  43 , and at least one orifice  64  extending generally radially away from the centrally disposed fluid orifice  56  and in fluid communication with the centrally disposed fluid conduit  56 . 
     Plant growth control chemical is provided via a fluid inlet  36  and through associated tubing  38 . The chemical is then received in the housing  25  by the fluid fitting  41  and accumulates in the well  39 . During operation of the invented apparatus, chemical is drawn into the inlet radial conduit  20  from the well  39  and travels down the axial conduit  47  to the blade assembly. The chemical then travels out of he axial conduit  47 , into the fluid conduit  58  of the WETBAR fluid distributor  62  and into the radial conduits  60 . The chemical then accumulates on a blade contact surface  24 . 
     FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a portion of the tobacco topper structure in accordance with the present invention. The tobacco topper structure includes a magazine mounting frame  66  for coupling to the tobacco topper support frame for containing the plant growth control chemical, a chemical container magazine  68  fixedly attached to the magazine mounting frame  66 , a pump drive mounting frame  70  fixedly attached to the magazine mounting frame  66 , a metering pump bracket  74  and a metering pump  72  attached to the metering pump bracket. 
     EXAMPLE 
       
     Field Test Result 
     A simulation was conducted using hand clippers which simulate the action of the BURCH WET BLADE®, successful tobacco sucker control results were recorded with three rates of flumetralin (Prime+®) sucker control chemical. 
     Approximately ½ gal. of solution was used per acre. Thus, in the 50% solution, approximately 0.3 pounds of active ingredient per acre was used. In contrast and for comparison, one gallon of Prime+® is the recommended rate per acre when spraying which would provide approximately 1.2 pounds of active ingredient per acre. 
     The 75% solution provides approximately 0.45 pounds of active ingredient per acre and the full strength rate provides approximately 0.6 pounds of active ingredient per acre. This illustrates that using the invented method and apparatus, at least a 50% reduction in the current labeled rate is available. 
     The following illustrates the results of the field test using Prime+® and Royal MH-30 ®. In a field test using the present invention, the three rates of flumetralin (Prime+®) were: 
     a. a 50% solution of the commercial product (diluted to 50% with water); 
     b. a 75% solution of the commercial product; and 
     c. a solution of the commercial product at full strength (undiluted). 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 No. Suckers per plant** 
                 Grams of Suckers per plant** 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Replication No. 
                   
                 Replication No. 
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Treatment 
                  Rate* 
                 I 
                 II 
                 III 
                 IV 
                      Average 
                 I 
                 II 
                 III 
                 IV 
                 Average 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 MH-30  
                  25% 
                   9.5 
                 7.9 
                 8.9 
                 8.8 
                 8.8 
                 80.3 
                 102.4 
                 122.1 
                 84.9 
                 97.4 
               
               
                 MH-30  
                 50% 
                 7.3 
                 8.7 
                 10.1 
                 8.9 
                 8.8 
                 55.0 
                 91.0 
                 87.1 
                 130.0 
                 90.8 
               
               
                 MH-30  
                 75% 
                 8.5 
                 8.6 
                 8.1 
                 9.2 
                 8.6 
                 68.2 
                 117.0 
                 87.9 
                 126.0 
                 99.8 
               
               
                 MH-30  
                 100%  
                 8.6 
                 8.1 
                 7.8 
                 8.1 
                 8.2 
                 63.7 
                 95.0 
                 96.6 
                 103.9 
                 89.8 
               
               
                 Prime+ 
                 50% 
                 5.6 
                 2.8 
                 3.1 
                 3.5 
                 3.8 
                 20.5 
                 9.7 
                 16.9 
                 11.3 
                 14.6 
               
               
                 Prime+ 
                 75% 
                 5.6 
                 1.6 
                 3.1 
                 1.8 
                 3.0 
                 10.3 
                 5.1 
                 51.9 
                 13.1 
                 20.1 
               
               
                 Prime+ 
                 100%  
                 6.3 
                 3.7 
                 1.5 
                 3.1 
                 3.7 
                 32.0 
                 53.0 
                 10.2 
                 32.9 
                 32.0 
               
               
                 Control (water) 
                   
                 12.1 
                 9.2 
                 7.3 
                 6.5 
                 8.8 
                 99.5 
                 93.7 
                 157.9 
                 135.5 
                 121.7 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *Rate refers to % concentration of commercial product  
               
               
                 **Values per replication are an average of 10 plants sampled per replication. There were 25 plants total per replication.  
               
             
          
         
       
     
     For all four rates of MH-30 treatments, there was an average of 3.5% % reduction in the number of suckers per tobacco plant at harvest and an average reduction of 22.4% weight (grams) of suckers per plant. Surprisingly, this demonstrates that using MH-30 would not be commercially acceptable. 
     For all three rates of Prime+® (averaged together), there was a 62.5% reduction in the number of suckers per plant and an 81.8% reduction in weight of suckers per plant. These values are derived from comparing the number of suckers per plant and weight of sucker per plant to the water control used when topping. 
     From these results, none of the MH-30 rates gave acceptable sucker control. In contrast, all of the Prime+® rates gave acceptable sucker control. MH-30 was expected to be highly effective in the sucker control test because MH-30 is easily translocated in the tobacco plant when sprayed over-top and onto the leaves. On the other hand, Prime+® was not expected to be effective since it is classed as a “control-local-systemic” type of growth regulator. That is, Prime+® is not moved into sucker buds by application to leaves as MH-30 is applied. The Prime+® solution must first wet the suckers directly. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                                SUCKER CONTROL TEST, BURLEY TOBACCO 
               
               
                  USING HAND CLIPPERS TO SIMULATE BURCH WET BLADE ® 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 CROP 
               
               
                   
                   
                 GMS/PLANT 
                 NO./PLANT 
                   
                   
                 INJURY 
               
               
                 TREATMENT 
                 RATE 
                 (SUCKERS)* 
                 (SUCKERS)* 
                 GMS./SUCKER 
                 % CONTROL 
                 RATING 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Stronghold 
                       10% 
                 438 
                 9.6 
                 45.6 
                 0 
                 0.5 
               
               
                 Stronghold 
                 50% 
                  71 
                 4.4 
                 16.1 
                 81.3 
                 2.0 
               
               
                 Transline 
                  1% 
                 316 
                 9.6 
                 32.9 
                 16.6 
                 0.3 
               
               
                 Transline 
                 10% 
                 375 
                 10.5 
                 35.7 
                 1.1 
                 0.0 
               
               
                 2,4-D Amine 
                  1% 
                 406 
                 10.0 
                 40.6 
                 0 
                 0.0 
               
               
                 2,4-D Amine 
                 10% 
                 161 
                 5.9 
                 27.3 
                 27.3 
                 0.5 
               
               
                 Garlon 3A 
                  1% 
                 261 
                 9.3 
                 28.1 
                 31.1 
                 0.6 
               
               
                 Garlon 3A 
                 10% 
                 146 
                 5.7 
                 25.6 
                 61.5 
                 0.0 
               
               
                 Accord 
                  0.5% 
                 — 
                 11.2 
                 — 
                 — 
                 0.5 
               
               
                 Accord 
                   1% 
                 238 
                 8.2 
                 29.0 
                 37.2 
                 0.5 
               
               
                 Accord 
                  5% 
                 44 
                 5.1 
                 8.6 
                 88.4 
                 0.5 
               
               
                 Accord 
                 10% 
                 34 
                 4.5 
                 7.6 
                 91.0 
                 1.5 
               
               
                 Accord 
                 50% 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 4.0 
               
               
                 Accord 
                 100%  
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 5.0 
               
               
                 BAS 125 
                 1.6 oz 
                 515 
                 10.7 
                 48.1 
                 0 
                 0.2 
               
               
                 BAS 125 
                 4.3 oz 
                 445 
                 10.7 
                 41.6 
                 0 
                 0.6 
               
               
                 Check 
                 — 
                 379 
                 10.0 
                 37.9 
                 0 
                 0.0 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *Average for 5 plants/plot, 4 plots per replication  
               
               
                 **Rating based on 0 = no injury, 5 = dead tobacco plants.  
               
               
                 Injury rating was based on necrosis of upper leaves.  
               
               
                 Treatments applied using 0.5 gallons water per acre.  
               
             
          
         
       
     
     From the results shown above, six plant growth control chemicals were tested. Of these six chemicals, three, namely Stronghold™, Garlon 3A™, and Accord™, showed favorable results. A 50% solution of Stronghold™ provided an approximately 81% reduction in the number of suckers with slight crop damage. A 10% solution of Garlon 3A™ provided an approximately 61% reduction in the number of suckers with no injury. A 10% solution of Accord™ gave an approximately 91% reduction in the number of suckers with slight crop injury. Stronghold™ is a growth retardant for broad leafplants, Garlon 3A™ is a herbicide, and Accord™ is a formulation of Roundup™ herbicide without a surfactant added. These results indicate that the application of the present invention is effective at controlling sucker growth and more effective than conventional methods of applying plant growth control chemicals to tobacco plants. 
     Alternative Embodiments 
     An alternative embodiment of the blade  45  that is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, may be seen in FIG.  7 . The wedged blade  14  shown in FIG. 7 being comprised of a cutting edge  18 , a blade wing  22 , said blade wing being is an air lift, and a fluidly communication means and a wedge  18 , when in use, has solution of chemical  17  disposed on the bottom surface of the blade  14  for topping tobacco plants. The wedge  18  disposed on the top surface of the wedged blade  14  assists the air lift in clearing away the severed portions of the tobacco plant. The airlift  16  is also disposed on the top surface of the blade shown in FIG.  7 . As discussed in the International Application WO 97/06664, the airlift facilitates the retention of solution of chemical  17  on the bottom surface of the wedged blade  14  shown in FIG.  7 . 
     SUMMARY OF THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     From the foregoing, it is readily apparent that I have invented an improved non-spray system which has shown superior qualities in applying systemic growth regulators (growth retarding) compounds. In this system, a rotating or reciprocating blade is continuously moistened with plant growth control chemical and cuts plants. The invented system simultaneously delivers enough plant growth control chemical to kill and prevent the growth of auxiliary buds, or suckers, and prevents future growth of the same after topping. The present invention simultaneously tops the tobacco plants and applies sufficient growth-regulator chemicals for adequate sucker control. 
     Advantages of the present invention include: (1) substantial time and financial savings to the grower since less chemical and fewer passes over the tobacco field would be needed; (2) accurate application of the plant growth control chemical directly to the cut stem; (3) eliminating off-target pesticide drift; (4) reducing worker exposure to chemicals; and (5) eliminating maleic hydrazide residues in cured tobacco leaf which currently is threatening the United States tobacco industry. The present invention also reduces failures of sucker control with maleic hydrazide due to rain wash off or drought conditions. 
     It is to be understood that the foregoing description and specific embodiments are merely illustrative of the best mode of the invention and the principles thereof, and that various modifications and additions may be made to the apparatus by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, which is therefore understood to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.