CULTURE OF CIGAR LEAF. 425 



pose use lath five-eighths inch thick, one and five-eighths 

 inch wide and four feet long. On one side put in a 

 hook six inches from the end, and two more fourteen 

 inches apart ; do the same on the other side, alternating, 

 and the lath contains six hooks about seven inches 

 apart, to hang as many plants. Make some with only 

 four hooks for the biggest plants. The hooks may be 

 like a, Fig. 106, or simply drive wire nails at an angle 

 through the lath. The hooked lath is held in a stand- 

 ard (shown at left in Fig. ll9), while the plants are 

 being hung on it. If the plants are well wilted when 

 thus hung, they are at once carted to the barn on a 

 rack, or rigging, like that in Figs. 118 or 120. But on 

 a cool or cloudy day, the lath, when filled with plants, 

 is hung on a rack in the field, until wilted, as shown 

 at the right in Fig. 119. By the latter plan, harvesting 

 can proceed in bad weather. These strung laths can be 

 quickly hung in the barn, on poles about four feet apart. 

 Fill upper tiers first, lifting to them by using a pitchfork 

 at middle of lath. Leave space enough between laths in 

 barn for air to circulate freely ; the larger the plants, 

 the more space. 



Curing. See Chapter X for full particulars. 



Stripping. When the leaves and stems are com- 

 pletely cured, so that no green is visible in the leaf and 

 the leaf stems are dried out, the tobacco is ready to 

 strip. The sooner this work is done, the better. If the 

 colors are uneven, they will become as near uniform in 

 the pile after it is stripped as by hanging, if taken down 

 in proper condition and kept so. When tobacco is 

 cured, it can be brought into condition for stripping in 

 any damp weather. Watch a favorable time, when it 

 rains, or is very damp, to open the building and let in 

 the damp air, until the tobacco is sufficiently moistened 

 to be handled without danger of breaking the leaves. 

 A leaf of good body and strong fiber can be taken down 



