The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1885-07-15

er5.
Topping is the PM kg out Of the
terminal seed bud. Experienced
rtand Saissr9Iltsis tisn very
rapidly; leaving, without counting
the desired number of leaves to each
plant. If eight or twelve leaves are
to be left the top leaves will grow at
right angles to the lower pair; if ten
are to remain the top pair will be di-
rectly over the bottom ones. Upon
land of good featility it takes usually
from six to eight weeks from the
time Of setting for the plant to be-
come large enough to top. II posi-.
Bile the plant should never be per-
mitted to blossom, but the operation
oftopping should be performed just
as soon as ten or twelve leaves can
be left on the stalk above the height
ofsix inches from the ground. Those
between that point and the ground
may either be primed ofas is usual in
the heavy tobacco districts. or they
may be suffered to remain as the
planter may be an advocate for
priming* orr not printing. Care should
be taken in pinching out the bud
not to injure the leaves Immediately
below. Upon the removal Of the ter.
minal bud the top leaves though
very diminutive, are forced into a
rapid growth. Some farmers top TO
twelve, fourteen and even sixteen
leaves. On very strong, rich soil the
rule among the best and most sue
cessful cultiyatcrs is to top the first
plants to twelve leaves, thus delay
ing maturity so they may ripen at
the same time with the second top
ping which Is done as coon as a slf.
fiicient number Of plants are large
enough. at ten leaves. The toppings
are continued at Zen leaves until late
ia july or early in August, when only
eight leaves are left, the object being
to hasten maturity in order that the
plants may all ripen as nearly as
possible at the same time, and before
the advent of frost.
Some Of the most observant and
intelligent planters in the heavy to-
bacco. .gaowing districts believe that
a larger number Of pounds and a
better quality my be produced by al
lowing only eight leaves to a plant
than any other number; in other
words. that the maximum Of quantity
and quality Is reached by leaving
only eight leaves to the stalk. The
whole vitality Of the plant being
thrown into a fewer number Of leaves
they grow larger and longer, ripcr
simultaneously, are of.uniform size
and are much heavier and richer
The experiments which ] have mad,
in this particular dsposes me Il
agree with this latter class. An ex
pertinent was made in the Clarkes
vile district to Test The difference be
tween topping to eight leaves and
topping to O higher number. tn,
land selected was highland basin
In which the soil Ia o dark brown
loan, with a few nodules Of ebert In
termingled. The same soil is a fer
ruginous clay, unctious and highly
retentive Of moisture, though vel
drained by the underlying beds Of
ebert. The land had been cultivated
for half a century, though well pre-
served. Two lots Of four acres each
were selected, both receiving tht
same liberal applications Of stabl,
manure. Number one was set oni
three and a half feet each way, In
the latter part Of May, was we'll cul'
tivated and the tobacco topped "a
eight leaves. Number two was plant
ed and worked in precisely the same
way, but was topped to ten, and a few
plants TO twelve leaves. The croT
on number one ripened first, but
was permitted to stand fully two
weeks after IL was apparently ready
for the knife. II vas not cut, how
ever, until the tobacco on number
two was we'll ripened. Both piece
were housed about The same time
Hot fires we're employed In curing
both crops, and both we're treated il
all respects alike. The tobacco OF
number one made q long, rich, darl
wrapper. very oily and estastlc. full,