CULTURE OF CIGAR LEAF. 421 



will not bring as high price as the ripe leaf when 

 properly cured. 



Harvesting. Cutting tobacco in the Northern cigar- 

 leaf States usually begins about the middle of August, 

 and continues, as the plant arrives at maturity, through 

 the month of September, but it may begin and end con- 

 siderably earlier or later, according to the season. The 

 plants, when grown upon warm, sandy soils, mature 

 from one to two weeks earlier than when upon dark 

 soils. Cut from the time the dew is nearly off the 

 ground until three o'clock, when all plants must be cut 

 down at once which are to be hauled that day. Do not 

 leave any out over night if possible. On the other hand, 

 take care that too much is not cut when the sun is so 

 hot as to sunburn the leaves. Such leaves will not 

 cure, but are always green. Don't cut when there is 

 danger of frost, because it will have a serious effect on 

 wilted tobacco, whereas it might not injure the growing 

 leaf at all. The plants should be put into the shed as 

 soon after cutting as can be done without breaking the 

 leaves. It must be wilted somewhat to be handled com- 

 fortably. If wilted too much, the leaves will stick 

 together and then will never cure well. After one side 

 is wilted, the cut plant should be turned over so that 

 the other side may wilt. Some prefer a cloudy day for 

 cutting, as the plants are less liable to sunburn. 



In cutting, the stalk is grasped with the left hand, 

 bent over to the left until the bottom of the stalk is 

 exposed, and is then cut off close to the ground with 

 one blow of a hatchet, or cleaver. Some, however, pre- 

 fer to saw it off with a handsaw. In Pennsylvania and 

 Wisconsin, a kind of shears is now commonly used, the 

 long handles of which give a leverage that easily cuts off 

 the stoutest plant. Let the stalk drop over on the 

 ground, without doubling the leaves under ; lay the 

 plants at right angles to the row with the butts all one 



