just coming into blossom, while others prefer to top the plants when
in full bloom and others still when the blossoms begin to fall. The
fruit is described by Wheeler
"as a capsule of a nearly oval figure.
There is a line on each side of it, and it contains two
cells, and opens at the top. The receptacles one of a
half-oval figure, punctuated and affixed to the separating
body. The seeds are numerous, kidney-shaped, and rugose."

Most growers of the plant would describe the fruit bud as follows: In
form resembling an acorn though more pointed at the top; in some
species, of a dark brown in others of a light brown color, containing
two cells filled with seeds similar in shape to the fruit bud, but not
rugose as described by some botanists. Some writers state that each
cell contains about one thousand seeds. The fruit buds of Connecticut,
Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio Tobacco as well as of most of the
varieties grown within the limits of the United States are much larger
than those of Havana, Yara, Syrian, and numerous other species of the
plant, while the color of these last named varieties is a lighter
shade of brown. The color of the seed also varies according to the
varieties of the plant. The seeds of some species are of a dark brown
while others are of a lighter shade. The seeds, however, are so small
that the variety to which they belong cannot be determined except by
planting or sowing them.

[Illustration: Capsules. (Fruit bud.)]

The plants selected for seed are usually left growing until late in
the season, and at night should be protected from the cold and frost
by a light covering of some kind--this may not be absolutely
necessary, as most growers of tobacco have often noticed young plants
growing around the base or roots of the seed stalk--the seeds of which
germinated although remaining in the ground during the winter. Strong,
healthy plants generally produce large, well filled capsules the only
ones to be selected by the grower if large, fine plants are desired.
Many growers of tobacco have doubtless examined the capsules of some
species of the plant and frequently observed that the capsules or
fruit buds are often scarcely more than half-filled while others
contain but a few seeds. The largest and finest capsules on the plant
mature first, while the smaller ones grow much slower and are
frequently several weeks changing from green to brown. Many of the