29 



fi'id labor, loso its profits to a irood extent by either a want of knowledge a? to 

 itB inauagenient, or a carelessness which is inexcusable upon their part. After 

 the tobacco has been thoroughlv cured in stem and stalk, it is then ready to 

 commence stripping, or taking the leaves from the stalk. In this process the 

 plant ])asses through the hands of the most experienced laborer on the fann, 

 who takes off the bad or uijured leaves, and ties them neatly in bundles of eight 

 or ten. The plants that are thus culled are given to others, who strip off the 

 remaining leaves and tie them in bands of six or eight leaves, wrapping tightly 

 and neatly with the tip of the leaf used as a tie, so as to form a head of one 

 and a half inch in length. Care should be had to make the bundles as uniform 

 in size and color as possible, as it adds to the beauty of the sample by which it 

 is to be sold. AVhen the day's v/(»rk is done, let the tobacco, neatly pressed 

 through the hands, be put in a winrow, as it is termed, viz., laid straight in a 

 bulk or pile of sufficient length to hold the day's or two days' work, and only 

 the width of one bundle and one-half, reversing each course so as to have the 

 heads of the bundles out. Here it may remain until stripping season is over, 

 or the first of April. Cold winds and fxosty weather injure the texture and 

 tlie rich flavor of the leaf. The first good drying spell of weather after the 

 stripping, get the smoothest and smallest sticks upon v/hich the tobacco was 

 hung, and hang up the tobacco to dry. When the weather again becomes moist 

 enough to bring the tobacco in case, take it down and carefully bulk away as 

 before directed, only taking more care to straighten the bundles and make the 

 bulk much wider ; this is done by lapping the bundles over each course, similar 

 to shingling a roof, the bulker having his knees upon the bulk, carefully laying 

 down the tobacco as it is straightened and lianded him. When the bulk is fin- 

 i.shed, weigh it down heavily with logs or some heavy weight. Care must be 

 taken that the tobacco does not imbibe too much moisture, or get too high in 

 case before it is bulked, as it will injure. So soon as the tobacco becomes soft 

 enough to handle without breaking, it may be put in bulk, and should the sterna 

 break a little under the pressure of the bulker's knees, no material damage will 

 be done, provided the leaf does not crumble. A little attention will soon teach 

 the most ignorant the proper order for safe-keeping. The tobacco will be safe 

 in bulk, and will wait the planter's convenience to prize it in hogsheads. 



Separation of different qualities — -packing in hogsJieadij 



In prizing, the different qualities should not be mixed; and if the planter has 

 been careful to keep them separated, no trouble will be had in assorting them 

 when ready to prize. In packing in the hogsheads, care should be taken to 

 have every bundle straight and every leaf to its bundle. From a well packed 

 hogshead any bundle maybe drawn without injury or interruption to the others. 

 The usual way of packing is to commence across the middle of the hogshead, 

 placing the heads of the first course of bundles about eight or ten inches from 

 the outer edge and running the course evenly across. The packer then places 

 the bundles of the next course in the same direction, the heads against the side 

 or edge of the hogshead, and follow the circum.ference until the heads of the two 

 courses come in contact. After that course is completed he finishes the other 

 side by placing the heads against the cask as before, so as to have three courses 

 across the cask, the bundles all laid in the same direction; and the next layer 

 is reversed, carefully placing each bundle as it is thrown or handed him. When 

 filled it is subjected to the press or screw and forced down. Our hogsheads are 

 from forty-four to forty-ei.i; lit inches across the head and fifty-eight inches in 

 length, and from eighteen hundred to two thousand pounds can be easily prii^ed 

 in them. If the tobacco is large, rich, and oily, the harder it is pressed the' 

 better, and the better price it commands. These remarks are particularly ap- 

 plicable to those heavy descriptions of tobacco known in Virginia a.s heavy shi])- 



