448 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



should be observed not to bruise or tear the leaves, or break them off the stalk. Where poles 

 are used for hanging tobacco, the plants are generally tied to them with twine, which is 

 wound around the plant stalks securely, and then around the pole in successive order; the 

 use of laths is considered the better method, as it is attended with less labor. 



There are various other methods of curing practiced in some sections, such as &quot;sun- 

 curing,&quot; &quot;open-fire-curing,&quot; &quot;flue curing,&quot; etc., but we consider the process already described 

 to be very much superior to any other. 



Stripping and Assorting Tobacco. Tobacco should never be taken down until 

 properly cured. This period is when the leaf stem will yield no juice by wringing, although 

 still pliable and damp. There may be an occasional green or &quot; fat &quot; leaf, which will never 

 cure, but these should be very rare exceptions. 



The time for stripping is in the late fall or winter, during warm, wet weather, which 

 will render the leaves pliable, and easily handled without being torn or broken. In order to 

 keep the plants moist, they are taken from the laths and laid in small piles upon the floor. 

 The leaves are then stripped from the stalk one at a time, taking care not to tear them, and 

 keeping each one straight. The leaves are assorted according to quality, a crop often making 

 six or eight different grades, the grade differing in numbers according to the custom of the 

 locality, or demand of the market. The leaves of the same quality and size are kept separate 

 from others. All torn or worm-eaten leaves, and those otherwise injured, should be kept by 

 themselves. The manner of assorting tobacco differs in different localities. The following 

 method is given by a tobacco-grower of large experience in central New York: 



&quot; Taking tobacco from the poles, stripping the leaves from the stalks, assorting them in 

 to the respective grades, and packing the hands or hanks into boxes, constitute the 

 chief occupation of the tobacco-grower during winter. The plants should not be taken from 

 the poles. until the .leaves have become soft and pliable so that they may be readily pressed 

 together in the hand without breaking them, when brought into this condition by warm, damp 

 weather. After being taken from the poles, the stalks should be stripped of their leaves and 

 the latter tied in bundles weighing from six to ten pounds, and then carefully packed in 

 ranks/ with the butts of the leaves extending outward and their tips lapping together in 

 the center. In order to preserve the moisture in the leaves, the ranks must be kept covered 

 upon the top and ends, but the butts of the leaves or the sides of the ranks should remain 

 open, and exposed to the air so as to give the greenness at the butts an opportunity to become 

 thoroughly cured. 



Next comes the work of assorting. For this a tight, warm room is required, such as 

 may be made comfortable by an ordinary stove in the most inclement weather. This assort 

 ing room should be roomy, well lighted, and provided with tables suitable for the work. 

 A skylight is preferable to side windows, as from the former the light coming from above 

 shines directly upon the leaves of the tobacco, and not in the eyes of the assorter, thus 

 enabling him to better judge of the qualities of tobacco. Every year the dealers and manu 

 facturers of seed-leaf tobacco demand of growers more care in the manipulation of their 

 crops. Formerly it was customary to assort the leaves into two grades; now we are fre 

 quently requested to assort into six or more qualities, which requires no small amount of 

 labor and care to perform the work correctly. 



But it is unquestionably for the grower s interest to put his crop in the best possible 

 shape, and to handle it in the most systematic and painstaking manner. For this reason I 

 advise making at least five grades or qualities of leaf; namely, first or A A wrappers, second 

 or A wrappers, scrub or rough wrappers, binders and fillers. Some buyers demand that the 

 leaves of wrappers shall be assorted as regards length as well as quality. Then first or 

 A A wrappers are divided into two lengths, making long A A and short A A, etc. 



It is a difficult matter to describe the exact methods of assorting tobacco in a short arti- 



