STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 171 



ground and crowded together compactly. This process is for the pur- 

 pose of " yellowing" the leaves, and Will require from three to five days, 

 although it may remain longer if care is taken so that it does not heat. 



When properly colored, the sticks, with the plants remaining on them, 

 must he removed to the racks in the barn already prepared for their re- 

 ception, hanging each stick so far from the preceding one that the plants 

 are not allowed to touch each other. It will probably need no further 

 attention until after the fall rains set in, when it will be sufficiently cured 

 and in " proper case," that is, clamp enough to be handled, and pliable as 

 buckskin. It should then be taken down and removed from the sticks, 

 and " bulked" on a floor raised from the ground sufficiently high to ad- 

 mit of a free circulation of air. To " bulk" it in the best way, the buts 

 of the plants should be laid outwards, and make the length and height of 

 the file to suit convenience, as it is best then to " bulk" the whole, it be- 

 ing uncertain when it will be in just the right case again, and if not too 

 high in " case," will not damage to remain in " bulk" any length of time, 

 but, if in too high " case," it will heat, and must be opened and rebulked 

 immediately. 



It can now be stripped and made into " hands," at leisure, but it is 

 best to have this done as soon as possible, for if it sweats in bulk the 

 leaves will adhere to the stock and break in pulling off, thereby both 

 wasting and injuring the tobacco. 



When ready to strip, arrange a table sufficiently high for a man to 

 work at conveniently while standing. The operator will then take one 

 stock in his hand at a time, strip the leaves off, and lay them in three 

 piles, assorted as dark, light, and broken, and as enough of each is 

 obtained for a hand, of which about five or six should constitute a 

 pound, tie them up by wrapping a leaf around the buts, drawing the 

 end through in such a manner as to hold it firmly in its place. If the 

 weather is dry during this operation, "bulk" it as fast as handled ; if 

 moist, bulking it every night will be sufficient. 



In bulking, lay two tiers of hands together with the buts out, having 

 the tops lap on to each other sufficiently to keep the centre even with 

 the outside. Lay continuous tiers close together as possible in the 

 same way, as the more in bulk the sooner it will sweat, which improves 

 the quality of the tobacco very much ; in fact, it is not cured until after 

 sweating. If it should get too hot. it must be opened and rebulked, 

 putting the outside on the inside each time, and continue this practice 

 as often as necessary, until it gets cool, when it will keep in bulk any 

 length of time ; but the better way, after it is thoroughly cured, is to 

 pack it in boxes or hogsheads, pressing it in wdth a screw, when it is 

 ready for sale and delivery in market. 



In the foregoing treatise I have endeavored to be sufficiently minute 

 in detail to enable the most inexperienced cultivator to raise and cure 

 a crop of tobacco, which, I suppose, is the object the society have in 

 view in offering a premium to induce tobacco growers of some experi- 

 ence in California to give their opinions for publication. Much of the 

 experience gained in the Eastern States is wholly impractical — here the 

 soil and climate differing so essentially, that a cultivator fresh from the 

 East is more likely to fail here on his first trial than a person of no 

 experience whatever, but who is willing to learn from every available 

 source, not despising even " book learning." 



That our river bottom lands are well adapted to the growing of a 

 superior quality of tobacco, even rivalling the famous aromatic Cuba, I 

 think there is no doubt. The cost of my crop I cannot precisely deter- 



