able for seed beds and the
production of early, vigorous plants.

"By following this mode of saving seed with special
reference to the growth of a particular class of tobacco, in
a few years the seed is not only greatly improved, but as
like begets like in the vegetable as in the animal kingdom,
becomes _sui generis_--the first of its species. The writer
can bear testimony to the above facts and desires that
others may profit thereby. Where any plant attains its
highest perfection, there is the place to secure the best
seed. The home of the tobacco plant is in Virginia and North
Carolina, and the growth and perfection of the kinds here
cultivated have reached a point unattained any where else.
The West and South would do well to procure their seed from
us, and then save and propagate after the instructions above
given."

SECOND GROWTH.

The first account we find of raising a second crop of tobacco on the
original field, is found in the early history of the Virginia colony;
who, not satisfied with the vast amount cultivated in the usual
manner, allowed a second growth to spring up from the parent stalk and
thus obtained two crops from the same field in one year. The inferior
quality of this growth at length caused its prohibition by law, as
described elsewhere in this work. Of late, however, this "new
departure" in tobacco culture seems to have attracted some attention,
particularly in the Southern States, where numerous experiments have
been made, and in some instances with complete success. In Mexico and
also in Louisiana and California, two and even three crops are
gathered, thus adding to the profit of the grower, but hardly to the
fertility of the tobacco fields. Whatever the fertility of the tobacco
field may be, or the care and attention given to the second crop by
the planter, it can not equal the first crop, and must from the nature
of the case be quite inferior in size, texture, and flavor of leaf.

Doubtless the varieties grown in the tropics will be much finer than
the varieties grown in a more temperate region. There are many reasons
why a second and third crop can not be equal to the first in the
qualities necessary for fine leafy tobacco. In the first place, the
soil will hardly produce a second crop of the size and texture of leaf
that will compare with the first growth: the leaves will be small and
resemble the top leaves