The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-01

must not be understood that suckeripg is
not necessary before this time. Some plants
send out suckers at an early period of their
life. dong before the bloom bud appears,
and these suckers must be removed as they
appear.
In THE cigar tobacco districts from fifteen
to twenty leaves are left on dhe plant.
When the tobacco Is intended mainly for
cigar filters less number are left on as 1T
Is desired TO have the leaves stronger than
where wrappers are produced On the heay-
Ter types OF manufacturing and export to-
baccos from ten to twelve leaves are left
on. More are left on very vigorous plants
than on delicate ones. Experienced toppers
do mot count the leaves. burt use their judy
ment as to the ability of the plant to main
tain a certain number which they think
should he left on. The suckers have to be
removed two or three times during the
season.
In Cuba and in Florida a good. vigorous
sucker Is allowed to remain when the plant
is cut and this develops into what is called
a sucker crop, which is some what inferior
to the frst crop, but is good for filler pur-
poses.
CUTTING.
.The russage of the various constituents
OF a plant from one part OF 1t to another, as
tie plant advances to maturity. is capi-
tai iiact common to AID plants, and we see
in fact that the oldest leaves gradually
',Ni0ter and die as they give UP TO the newer
parts of the plant many OF the matters that
were contained IN their cells. There
comes time when the plant ceases TO draw
food from the air and from the soil and
devotels itself to the purpose OF concentrate
irg the nourishmsnt that was previously
scattered Through all its parts" Al this
period the leaves begin TO change color.
light ye.uysw spots appear upon them and
the leaf or plant Is said to be ripe and
nady to cut. AS tine, leavesa ripen from
the bottom upward. the rational system
is TO pick or prime the tobacco as the leaves
ripen. This is done in the bright-tobacco
district ami 10 some extent IN the cigar
districts OF FLORIDA. In the other dis
trfcts. including the cigar districts OF the
North, and manufacturing and export to-
bacco districts, the plant is cut when the
middle leaves are about ripe. If the plant
is not fully matured at the time of cut
ting 1t is lIabla to cure dark, or IL the
weather happens 10 be dry or cold, so that
1t dries out quickly. 1t will cure green and
worthless
The time when plant is ripe and ready
to be cut is matter OF Judgment and ex-
peITence. There Is slight change in the
color of THE leaf. perceptble In looking over
field of tobacco. which shows the expe-
rienced grower that 1t Is ready to be cut.
When the leaf is observed to change color
IL
green, and yellow spots appear. dt is GER
tain Indication that the constituents OF
the leaf have performed their duty and are
going back TO the stalk to be carried TO the
uppei. leaves or to b. used for other pur-
poses In the economy OF the plant,
Another; test of this Is TO fold the leaf
between the fingers. and II the leaf snaps
Of retains a crease where II was folded
1t is saii TO be ripe.
plant that IL topped low, With only
eight or ten leaves. will mature more Lni-
follnly OF course than one chat Is topped
high, like The Sunatra. where eighteen or
twenty leaves are left on the plant
Cutting or priming should not BIO done
when dew or rain Is on the plant, as "
is liable to leave back spots on the cured
leaf In the South cutting Is not done until
afternoon in midsummer. as the Midday
sun Is liable to sunburn the tobacco IN
few moments.
Where printing is done the leaves arc
placed In baskets or shallow boxes 20 be
carried to the drying sheds, where they
are strung on irvine or on wires. inc
leaves are put face to face and back 70
back, thirty to fifty TO string. according
10 the size OF the leaf The Irvine or wire
is then stretched on a four.foot lath With
a slit about two inches long sawed IN each
end and hung in its place In the barn. IN
harvesting plants they will not always be
ready 10 be cut at the same time. and It
Is necessary to 20 over Inc ueiu nunipe'
OF times and cut them only as they ripen.
Where the whols plant Is cut u y al
lowed TO wilt for several hours before being
earned 10 the barn TO prevent breaking
the turgid leaves. Plants are cat ana iaii
In rows on the ground TO wilt. several rows
being laid IN one for convenience 10 na1-
ding. With tChs finer grades a. Cigar
wrapper the plant is not allowed to lie on
me ground directly. and in many localities
the wilping Is done after the plant " put
on laths, upon which II - to be hung -
lie barn. and the labhs slipported on small
trssties in the feh or on racks arranged
fer the purpose. When sufficiently wlitea,
rhs, tobacco Is hauled 70 barn, satner On
racks made for the purpose. or cafeiuV
uiied ON The wagon bed. In hanging the
tobacco the butts are either pierced Win az
trpn-Loanted l2th or The stalk ~ sps1, Az
the way up and tae plants strune on Cie
FAITHS 10 this way. Before bctnS hung up
care should be taken to remove all worp9
and eggs from the leaves. a. the iaaier arc
Nable 10 hatch and the worms 20 great
injury 10 me leaves while hanging 10 the
barn. All the suckers holl5 also be re-
novel. or they will continue 10 crow ana
absorb tile nouiishment Of The fuii grown
Ia Cuba and southern Florida the plant
4 cut ia sections in The fied the three
ton leaves. usually tho finest wreppeH. are
cut ID ono section. the rest pf the Stalk .
cut In sections Of Two eaeh- TWO rows
IS taken u Tine ~ ~ secttouy srs