of the original plant rather than the large,
well-formed leaves of the center. Again, the season will hardly be
favorable (unless in the tropics), for a second growth, which has much
to do with the quality of the leaf and which alone ensures large,
well-matured plants.

In the Connecticut valley but one crop can be grown of seed leaf, and
even this when planted late is frequently overtaken by the "frost
king" whose cold breath strikes a chill to the heart of the tobacco
grower who has been so unfortunate as to have but a few plants;
especially if his fields were "set" late in the season, or with
"spindling" or "long shank plants" which come forward slowly and
forbid all thought of a second growth, and sometimes give small hopes
of even the first.

In Virginia and North Carolina the experiment has been tried of
covering the stumps or trunk of the plants with straw, followed by
plowing on both sides of the rows, thereby covering them to a depth of
several inches, in which condition they are left until spring, when
the covering is removed and the suckers or sprouts shoot forth and
grow with great rapidity. This novel experiment may succeed so far as
the growth and maturing of the plants is concerned, but will hardly
add to the reputation of "Virginia's kingly plant" or to the profit of
the growers, as the product must necessarily be small if the labor of
transplanting is avoided.

Beyond all question, experiments with the growth and culture of the
tobacco plant are among the most interesting and valuable, and afford
the planter the most pleasure and instruction of all similar trials
with the products of the vegetable kingdom. These experiments at once
develop not only the rare qualities of the plant, but its various
forms and habit of growth. They show as well as its adaptation to all
countries and climes, and the preservation of its qualities when grown
in regions far remote from its native home. The florist finds no more
pleasure in the cultivation of the rarest exotic than the tobacco
planter in testing some new variety of tobacco, and noting its varied
qualities and adaptation to his fields. By trying new varieties, some
of the finest qualities of the plant have been developed, and many
other of its excellences still further advanced. In the United States
numerous trials and experiments are constantly being made to still
further perfect the various kinds already cultivated, as well as to
test other varieties and no