y be retarded instead of quickened in their growth.

There is much to be done in the tobacco field besides cultivating and
hoeing the plants. In many hills there will be found two plants, which
should be re-set at the second hoeing if needed, and if not, pulled up
and destroyed, as it is better to have one large plant in the hill
than two small ones. Again, after the last hoeing, the tobacco should
be kept free from worms. If any have been overlooked they will have
attained to a good size by this time, and will devour in a short time
enough tobacco to make a "short six."

From this account of the cultivation of tobacco as practiced in the
Connecticut valley, one will readily see that the labor performed
during the growing of the plants should not be superficial. On their
rapid growth depends the color and texture of the leaf. Plants that
are slow in maturing never make fine wrapping leaves or show a good
color. Where the growth is rapid the plants will be more brittle than
if of slower growth, and must therefore be handled with care in
passing through the rows to worm, top, and sucker the plants.

[Illustration: Topping.]

A century ago the Virginia planters cultivated their tobacco fields in
the following manner:--

"Hoeing commences with the first growth of the tobacco after
transplantation, and never ceases until the plant is nearly
ripe, and ready to be laid by, as they term the last weeding
with the hoe; for he who would have a good crop of tobacco,
or of maize, must not be sparing of his labor, but must keep
the ground constantly stirring during the whole growth of
the crop. And it is a rare instance to see the plough
introduced as an assistant, unless it be the slook plough,
for the purpose of introducing a sowing of wheat for the
following year, even while the present crop is growing; and
this is frequently practiced in fields of maize, and
sometimes in fields of tobacco, which may be ranked amongst
the best fallow crops, as it leaves the ground perfectly
clean and naked, permitting neither grass, weed, nor
vegetable to remain standing in the space which it has
occupied."

The next operation to be performed in the tobacco field is known by
the name of

TOPPING,

and is simply breaking or cutting off the top of the stalk, preventing
the plant from running up to flower and seed. By so doing the growth
of the leaves is sec