Increased concern with MH residues in US tobacco has renewed interest in contacts. Contacts when applied with multi-row equipment are less effective than when applied manually. Often one of the upper three suckers may be missed. To better understand the problem, we used a roll-out diagram based on the 3/8 phyllotaxy of topped plants. Thus, we showed the expected trace of a contact if axil 1, 2, or 3 of the uppermost leaves were missed. This was tested on field-grown plants with 1, 2 or 3 ml of a contact applied to axil 1, 2, and/or 3, in all possible combinations. It was found that the field applications approached the theoretical. If the contact were applied to leaf 1, then axil 3 was missed; applied to 2, then #1 and 4 were missed; applied to 3 then 1 and 2 were missed, but also 4. Increased volumes of the contact reduced the number of suckers missed below the axil of application. To obtain excellent control, 1 and 2 must never be missed. It was also apparent that the surface configuration of the stalk could direct the contact trace away from a leaf axil. Increased volumes and/or increased wetability may improve effectiveness. Results from studies where contacts and MH were tankmixed will also be reported.