The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-09-03
FARMER AND PLANTER.
TOBACCO CULTURE.
Remarks OF: Topping and Printing by an
Expert.

NCAAA"fho VA AOVpANs suu EiuthS W Nh
Expert.
Under this head there is wide differ
once of opinion. Breaking off the small
and inferior leaves of the plant near
the ground is called printing" or
pruning proper, which operation is
done along with the topping" if done
at all. There are advantages for and
against printing, but all resort to top
ping--plucking out the seed bud and
adjacent small leaves with the thumb
and finger. Some contend that pull
ing off the lower leaves saps the
plants and retards the growth if
the weather is dry. That per-
hitting the lower leaves to re-
main an the stalk protects the upper
ones from sand and grit, makes them
cleaner and, therefore, more salable.
Sand and grit are the terror of the to-
bacco buyer. On the other hand. it is
contended by some that by pulling off
tho lower leaves, which are generally
useless, the remaining leaves receive
moro nutriment and contain more wax,
oil and gum, and the lower leaves har-
Dor worms and make the worming proc
ess more tedious.
1t is best to wait until considerable
number of plants begin to button for
seed before commencing to top. Top.
ping should be the work of ex-
perienced and trusty hands-men
who can top, leaving any required
number of leaves on plant without
counting. The secret of this-nolo longer
a secret to the initiated-is, that the
topper soon learns to know that count
ing the bottom leaf and the leaf that
hangs over it in the third tier going
upward, make 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
certainty and without counting. Young
man, if you don't know how, get
some old negro to show you. Top
ping, you will find is slow bust
ness if you have to count the leaves on
all the plants topped. If the plants are
not 'primed," then the "bottom" leaf
must be fixed by the eye, looking up
ward for the leaf in the third tier,
which hangs over it, to catch the cue as
before. Ii printing is done, don't err in
pulling off too many leaves. No regular
rule can be given, SO. the planter must
iudra for hipoco1f Tho roacon riuou
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 fue
curing.
The number of leaves to be left on
sach plant varies according to the time
the work is done, e;Aly or late, the APP
pearance and prospective development
of the plant, the season. whether
propitious or unfavorable, strength of
the soil, and amount of fertilizing mate
rial applied, On medium soils, in
ordinary 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 than
quantity regulates returns. Cor Farm
ers' Home journal.