Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1880-03-25
Tobacco.
Pruning and Topping.
By ROBERT L, RAGLAND.

Under this head there is a wide
difference of opinion. Breaking
off the small and Inferior leaves of
the plant near the ground is called
"priming," which operation is
done along with the "topping," if
done at all. There are advantages
for and against priming, but all
resorts to toppirg-plucking out
the seed bud and adjacent small
leaves with the thumb and finger.
Some contend that pulling off the
lower leaves saps fhc plants and
retards growth, if the weather is
dry. That permitting the lower
leaves to remain on the stalk pro-
tects the upper ones from sand and
grit, makes them cleaner and there
fore more salable. On the other
hand, it is conten1ed by some that
by pulling off the lower leaves,
which are generally useless, the
remaining leaves receive more nu-
triment and contain more wax, oil
and gum. That the lower leaves
harbor worms and make the worm
ing process more tedious.
Tt is best to wait until consider
able number of plants begin to
button for seed before commencing
to top. Topping should be the
work Of experieced and trusty hands
men who can top, leaving any
required number of leaves on a
plant without counting. The Sc
crat of this-no longer secret to
the initiated-is that the topper
soon learns to know that counting
the bottom leaf and the leaf that
hangs over it in the third tier
gowing upward, makes nine leaves,
including both top and bottom
leaves. Fixing this in his mind
the topper has only to add to or
deduct from this index leaf marking
nine, to leave any desired number
of leaves on each plant With Ger
tainty and without counting
Young man, if you don't know
how, get some old negro to show
you. Topping you will find is a
slow business if you have to count
the leaves on all the plants topped.
If the plants are not "primed"
then the "hottom" leaf must be
fixed by the eye, looking upward
for the leaf in third tier which
hangs over it to catch the cue as
before. If pruning is done, don't
err in pulling off too many leaves.
No regular rule can be given, so
the planter must judge for himself.
The reason given for waiting until
many plants are ready to be topped
is mainly that more plants may
ripen together and be ready for the
knife at the same time. This is an
advantage that applies with strong
force to all tobacco intended for
fiue curing.
The number of leaves to be left
on each plant varies according to
the tine tie work is done, early or
late, the appearance and prospective
development Of the plant, the sea-
son, weather propitious or unfavor-
able, strength of the soil and
amont of fertilizing material ap-
piled. On medium soils, in ordi-
nary seasons, the first topping
should be from ten to thirteen
leaves-rarely more-for brights.
For sweet filters from nine to ten
and for dark rich shipping, from
| eight to nine leaves are enough
AS the season advances reduce the
number of leaves accordingly; re-
membering that quality more thar
quantity regulates returns.
woRMING AND sUCKERING.
Many devices have been resortec
to in order to lessen the number
and mitigate the ravagcs of tn,
horn worm, but the lack Of gene
raj and continued efforts from yea
to year has brought only partia
relief. Some years tiioy come il
great numbers, and despite th,
best efforts of the planter, seriousl,
damage his crop. Perhaps the mex
year they are few and give him n,
trouble. 1t is the nature of thi
| insect to raise two broods during
/ the year, The hawk-moth or to-
bacco fly usually makes its appeae-
ance in Virginia in the month O
May. The eggs, deposited by th
fret moths, hatch ont in from fv
; to seven Gays, larvae or worms
The worm sheds its outer skin twic
before it gets its growth. Th
growing stage of the worm last
,ffrom twenty-five to thirty days
! and after it has attained its growth
it gorges itself a few day longel
!. and then crawls or burrows int
the ground, where it soon passe
into the pupa state; and afte
: some twenty-five days from th
s time of its crawling into the groun
tho NINA copds forth m ,pofb 70 1,