The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1892-07-09
Agricultural and Horticultural
DEPARTMENT.
W. n. LAWRENCE, Editor.
LII view Farm. s Niles North Tallahassee


in every field, but many.
Suckers coming up from the sides OF
the main stalk, and those between the
leaves and stalk, all detract from the
growth of the wrapper Leaf, and SO soon
IS they are large enough to be punched
out and thrown down in the middle OF
the row, instead of the growing leaves,
do it.
They add nothing to the value of the
plant whatever; merely put there to keep
the farmer out of idleness. When they
are broken off the sap used to grow them
is sent into the stalk and from there to
the leaves. Pinching off the upper suck
err has q tendency to make those near
the base of the stalk grow faster. Watch
them all and ''nip them in the bud"
wherever found. Like pruning peach,
pear or plum tree, the thumb and fore
finger are the right Articles to use.
BY the time the tobacco is ripe the
buds hare started the fun length of the
plant, and some of the upper ones will
make their appearance as high as three
Gjnes. If they are allowed to get too
large they become woody and are much
harder to remove, and one is liable to in
jure the growing leaf in some shape or
form. At any rate bad wound is gen
orally made and in very wet weather the
rain will lodge in the mangled spot and
rot will follow. A stitch in time saves
nine.
Hand labor is the only method for this
class of work, disagreeable to many as
we have no doubt it is, especially during
the torrid month of July. We have
1sbeen there" and know whereof We
speak. Bending over the plants and
breathing the sultry air arising from
them is anything but pleasant work, but
it is part of tobacco growing, SO pitch in
or ''throw up the sponge"
While sucking keep a sharp look out
for all sorts of worms, katydids and
other grasshoppers, also the eggs of the
miller; they will be more plentiful each
day. When very young these worms are
decidedly small and often found in the
crown of the plant, the worst place So
soon as they are born they commence
making holes. No matter how small the
hole they make is when the leaf has ad-
vanced to its full size ten chances to one
that it will no longer be fit for a wrapper.
Only few days are required for litter
Of these vermin to destroy whole plant.
Apply Paris green often and watch for
the worms at the same time.
Whenever or wherever You find a hor-
net, wasp or mud dauber on a plant, let
them alone. They are searching for
these little worms for dinner; they roll
them into small ball and carry them Off
Last season we stood in the broiling sun
for a considerable length of time and
watched this performance. The more
wasps the less worming there will be
TO do.
AS each leaf is raised up look for the
eggs as well as the worms. They are
laid on the underside of the leaf always.
One kind singly and about the same
color Of the leaf, so that they are not
readily found Only few days are re-
uuired for them to hatch out, then the
trouble begins. 1t is better to nip them
in the bud, then all trouble ends so far as
that particular egg or eggs are concerned.
Do not allow the two top buds after
topping to grow to any size.
The grower must use his own judgment
in regard to topping. If The plant is
strong. healthy md robust it can be top
ped 10 eighteen leaves, if only medium
sixteen leaves sre plenty and more cult
walton and phosphates.
But few growers have fields that will
AL do to top at once, consequently it is
best to pass through the field at least
every third day, looking Tor worms at the
same time, and top all plants needing the
same
Top inst as g. on as the ouo Is large
enough to take the button out without
injuring the little leaves that surround it
Soon after topping the plant begins te
spread and the proper development set
in. The full strength of the plant il
then thrown to the leaves provided al
the smokers have been properly removed
Topping enables the growing plant t.
: attain size and uniformity. It is rathe
dsiicate matter and should be done by
one having considerable experience thai
the work may be performed inteillgentl,
4nd successfully. How and when woult
xnske long story il one were 70 dea
nth Al varieties Of tobacco, but we arr
only aIIuding TO the Vuelta Abajo grade
nnd can only speak Of the crop, soil AMI
~ ,1.ss.nS,a, n4niv II, raneraI terms