7 8 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



After breaking up all large clods and leveling the land, the seed is 

 scattered broadcast on the surface and by means of planks pressed into 

 the soil. Usually a shade is placed over the bed to protect the young 

 plants from the direct rays of the sun. Forty to sixty days after 

 planting, the plants are ready for transplanting. This begins about 

 the last of December and is continued until the middle of February. 

 Experience has shown that transplanting later than March does not 

 give satisfactory results. The preparation of the field to which the 

 young plants are to be transferred consists of plowing and harrowing, 

 in which operations the corresponding native implements are used. 



The ground being stirred, the native provides himself with a string 

 of the same length as the width of the field. Each end of the string 

 is securely attached to a stick for the purpose of laying out the rows. 

 Sometimes the string itself is divided into spaces of two and one half 

 feet by securely tying red ribbons at these intervals. These show 

 where the plants are to go in the rows. After stretching the string 

 across the field, the holes are made with a stick or bolo, about three 

 inches deep and three inches wide. The holes are watered immediately 

 after the plants are put in. The planting is done in the evening or 

 very early in the morning, when the rays of the sun are not strong. 

 After six or seven weeks from the transplanting the plants are usually 

 ready for topping. 



Topping. — When the flower buds begin to appear topping is begun. 

 Usually from fifteen to twenty leaves are left on each plant. 



Worming. — The battle with the worms begins in the seed-bed 

 and does not end until the crop is harvested. No poisons are used, 

 but the worms are caught by hand and killed. This is usually done in 

 the mornings or late in the evenings. 



Harvesting and Curing. — As a general rule the tobacco is primed; 

 that is, the leaves of the plant are removed as they mature. It is 

 customary to make five gatherings at intervals of about a week. The 

 native collects the leaves and places them in large baskets which, 

 when filled, are carried to the drying-shed in rough sleds or carts. 

 If the soil is rich, a second profitable crop is produced from the 

 suckers. As soon as the original crop is topped, suckers will sprout 

 from each leaf. These, of course, are broken off as soon as they 

 appear, otherwise they would hinder the growth of the leaves. When 

 all the leaves have been primed from the original stalk, except three 

 or four at the top, two suckers are allowed to grow from the bottom 

 of the stalk. When the remaining leaves are removed, the stalk is 

 cut just above where the suckers sprout and the field is immediately 

 cultivated. It is claimed that when the season is favorable very good 

 filler-tobacco is produced from the suckers. 



In the drying-shed the leaves are sorted, usually into five classes, 



