capsules do not contain any seed at all.

THE SUCKER.

The offshoots or suckers as they are termed, make their appearance at
the junction of the leaves and stalk, about the roots of the plant,
the result of that vigorous growth caused by topping. The suckers can
hardly be seen until after the plant has been topped, when they come
forward rapidly and in a short time develop into strong, vigorous
shoots. Tatham describing the sucker says:

"The sucker is a superfluous sprout which is wont to make
its appearance and shoot forth from the stem or stalk, near
to the junction of the leaves with the stems, and about the
root of the plant, and if allowed to grow, injuring the
marketable quality of the tobacco by compelling a division
of its nutriment during the act of maturation. The planter
is therefore careful to destroy these intruders with the
thumb nail, as in the act of topping. This superfluity of
vegetation, like that of the top, has been often the subject
of legislative care; and the policy of supporting the good
name of the Virginia produce has dictated the wisdom of
penal laws to maintain her good faith against imposition
upon strangers who trade with her."

The ripening of the suckers not only proves injurious to the quality
of the leaf but retards their size and maturity and if allowed to
continue, prevents them from attaining their largest possible growth.

[Illustration: Suckers.]

On large, strong, growing plants the growth of suckers is very rank
after attaining a length of from six to ten inches, and when fully
grown bearing flowers like the parent stalk. After growing for a
length of time they become tough and attached so firmly to the stem of
the leaf and stalk that they are broken off with difficulty,
frequently detaching the leaf with them. The growth of the suckers,
however, determines the quality as well as the maturity of the plants.

Weak, spindling plants rarely produce large, vigorous shoots, the
leaves of such suckers are generally small and of a yellowish color.
When the plants are fully ripe and ready to harvest the suckers will
be found to be growing vigorously around the root of the plant. This
is doubtless the best evidence of its maturity, more reliable by far
than any other as it denotes the ripening of the entire plant.
Suckering the plants hastens the ripening of the leaves, and gives a
lighter shade of color, no mat