under ground; others,
which come from the eggs deposited on the plant by the butterfly,
and feed on the leaf, grow to a very large size, and look very ugly,
and are commonly called the tobacco-worm. There is also a small worm
which attacks the bud of the plant, and which is sure destruction to
its further growth; and some again, though less destructive, are to
be seen within the two coats of the leaf, feeding as it were on its
juices alone. The worming should be strictly attended to every
morning and evening, until the plants are pretty well grown, when
every other day will be sufficient. The most proper persons for
worming are either boys or girls from ten to fourteen years of age.
They should be made to come to the tobacco ground early in the
morning, and be led by inducements, such as giving a trifling reward
to those who will bring the most worms, to clear it thoroughly.
Grown persons would find it rather too tedious to stoop to examine
the under part of every leaf, and seek the worm under ground: nor
would they be so much alive to the value of a spoonful of sugar, or
other light reward. Beside, where the former would make the search a
matter of profit and pleasure, it would to the latter prove only a
tedious and irksome occupation. Here I will observe, that it is for
similar reasons that the culture of the Cuba tobacco plant more
properly belongs to a white population, for there are few plants
requiring more attention and tender treatment than it does. Indeed
it will present a sorry appearance, unless the eye of its legitimate
proprietor is constantly watching over it.

When the plants have acquired from twelve to fourteen good leaves,
and are about knee high, it may be well to begin to top them, by
nipping off the bud with the aid of the finger and thumb nail
(washing the hands after this in water is necessary, as the acid
juices of the plants, otherwise, soon produce a soreness on the
fingers), taking care not to destroy the small leaves immediately
near the bud: for if the land is good and the season favorable,
those very small top leaves will in a short time be nearly as large,
and ripen quite as soon as the lower ones, whereby two or more
leaves may be saved; thus obtaining from 16 to 18 leaves, in the
place of 12 or 14, which is the general average. As the topping of