l82 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [lo Mar., 191 i. 



No tobacco should be cut directly after rain as the gum will be washed 

 out, the enzymes m the leaf cells will be driven out, and a good cure will 

 not be obtained. Xeither should it be cut early in the morning befortr^ 

 the dew is off. for the same reason, and also because the green leaf will 

 l>e brittle and break in the cutting proce.ss and sand and dirt will adhere 

 to the plants. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on a rather cloudy warm day is 

 the best time for cutting. 



Of course, where pests have attacked the crop, cut early and late on 

 the principle that " half a loaf is better than no bread." Frosts can 

 have their damage greatly minimized by burning straw or rubbish between 

 the rising sun and the crop, so as to fnake a thick volume of smoke break 

 the power of the sun until the frost has melted. Then get all hands to 

 work cutting and carting till the crop is in. 



Scaffolding. 



Scaffolding heavy tobacco will often be found advantageous, especially 

 where the grower is short of labour. Much time is saved in carting and a 

 quicker cure is effected, but there are several matters in connexion with 

 the practice that require attention, otherwise there is more loss than gain 

 resultant. 



The .scaffold should lie 

 ijuilt running north an<l 

 south to allow the sun 

 access to both sides dur- 

 ing the day. The poles 

 may be of any length, 

 resting on forks about 

 6 feet out of the ground. 

 I'he.se are placed 3 ft. 9 in. 

 apart, so that each one 

 carries the end of the 

 ■' hang-stick " on which 

 the tobacco is hung. The 

 hang-sticks are 4 feet long 

 and about i inch in 

 (hameter. They are gene- 

 rally made of stringy bark whipsticks, or wattle ; where these are not 

 readily obtainable, they can be split or sawn from some straight grained 

 wood. 



The tobacco, when thoroughly wilted, will be so limp and tough that 

 it can easily be handled without breaking or bruismg. It is carted on 

 either a sledge or cart to the scaffold, an open lorry being excellent for the 

 purpose. It is there unloaded on tlie .shady side, care being taken to 

 keep all the plants straight with the butts towards the hanger. Then place 

 them upon the hang-stick which is put across the poles. The plant is 

 taken by the butt in the left hand and given a shake to separate the leaves 

 which will be pressed together by being packed in the cart ; if allowed to 

 remain in that condition it will not obtain the circulation of air necessary 

 for a proper cure. The right hand is then inserted in the cleft made by 

 the knife in harvesting and the plant is placed across the hang-stick, leaving 

 the butt about 5 or 6 inches above the stick. The next plant is treated in 

 the same way, about 4 inches dividing each plant. Each stick will hold 

 from eight to ten good size(jl plants. When the stick is full, the hand 

 t;hould be run along t- ;; v "j^^t'er ori ^^^*" plants to again loosen any leaves 



TOBACCO ON SCAFFOLD IN THE FIELD. 



