Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-07-21
Much depends

vigorous, higher topping is permissa-
bic than when IL is small and weak.
The quality of the product is largely
dependent upon the proper topping
OF the stalk. If topped too high,
and too many leaves are left, there
will not bc sufficient strength to ma
ture the leaves properly, and the re-
suit is thin, trashy article that has
neither the body nor the color rcqui-
site TO command the fullest market
price. Then, too, cighboring stalks
may vary, the one be able TO mature
from two TO six leaves more than the
other. This also calls for the excr-
else Of nice judgment on the part Of
the grower. A little experience will,
however, teach him the plan that
will secure the most favorable results.
and he will become more expert each
succeeding season.
now Low TO TOP.
Every grower must, therefore, de
,cldc from the condition Of his grow
ing plants how low or how high TO
top. We cannot instruct him any
further in this particular. The ten
dcncy in most cases is to permit too
many leaves TO remain. He desires
the largest possible yield and the
temptation to allow more TO remain
than the plant can properly take care
OF, or than is consistent with the
! production of n irst-class article. is
very great. The rule in this county
runs all the way from eight TO six
teen leaves, twelve and fourteen being
most commonly the number. 4 few
! farmers are persistent advocates Of
low topping; they believe that more
weight is secured in this way. which,
of course, implies a greater develop
/ mcnt Of leaf. The latter half of the
. proposition is certainly true, and
/ sometimes the first half also. but
/ where the ground is very rich and
/ the growth very rank, there is ten
dcnCy TO cOarscncss, which may les.
sen the marketable value Of the pro-
/ duct. An extraordinary growth of
leaf carries with it large leaf ribs.
and these are inconsistent with the
production of fine cigars, and this
latter should be the point at which
all sccdlcaf growers should aim.
( The large quantity Of manure the to-
baccO growers Of Lancaster county
put on their fields is another factor
which permits them TO top higher
than is possible in some other Sec
tiOns, and growers elsewhere should
bear this in mind. The kind Of to-
hacco cultivated also governs thi,
matter materially. In tue foregoing
We have had reference TO the penn
sylvauia Secdlcar" and the "Gle-s.
ucr,' which may be taken as the
representative Of the varieties gen
orally grown here. Nauuw.lcayed
varieties. like "IIayaua seed" il top
ped as Ios, would make a poor show
in the matter Of pounds per acre.
As n rule the tobacco that natures
earliest in the season sill bear the
highest topping As the season ad.
vanccs fewer leaves can be maturcd.
. unless, indeed, the latter part OF the
season should prove unusually favor
able. The latest topping should be
/ done at least a month before the sea
son Of frost may be expected to
come along, in order 10 allow il am.
pie time To mature and be secured
prior 10 that event. The bud must
Toe carefully pinched out with the
fingers, not removed with knife.
scissors or other sharp cutting instru-
ment. The operation Of twisting of
the crown is highly desirable. mas
much as the cells OF the plant are
sharply compressed and the loss of
the sap or juices is greatly diminish
ed, very important consideration.
Great care must also be exercised
lest the leaves around the upper part
of the plant should be broken or
bruised and their growth be thereby
retarded or their value diminished.
LEARNING TO Tor.
Unless one is an experienced hand.
topping is rather tedious operation.
| II the party at work must 90 to the
trouble Of counting the leaves on
every plant in order TO find out where
the seed bud must be pinchcd of, he
is likely to make slow work of it.
There is, however, rule, which, il
carefully observed, will save him all
this trouble and expedite the bust.
ness in hand very materially. Let
him look on the bottom leaf and then
on the ono overhanging it in the third
tier and he will find that nine leaves
are below that index leaf If it is
desirable to top higher, n glance
above that leaf will at once enable
him to add As many more TO the nine
below it as he may desire. Or. 4
high topping is warranted, the index
leaf may be selected one tier higher
up the plant, and the oDerator will