428 TOBACCO LEAF. 



The method of pulling tobacco from lath between two 

 short, upright sticks has been long in occasional use. 

 In case of large, green stalks that slip hard, it saves 

 labor. 



To strip a plant, hold it in the left hand by the 

 butt, and with the other pull off all the bottom leaves 

 and drop them in a pile for "fillers;" next take off 

 three or four more, or until the best leaves are reached, 

 and put these in another heap f or " seconds ;" then 

 strip off the remainder for wrappers, except such as are 

 badly worm-eaten, or otherwise injured, which are, of 

 course, of a poorer quality. Throw the stalk away and 

 proceed with another. When a sufficient number of 

 leaves of one grade are obtained to make a bundle, they 

 are arranged with all the butts even at one end, and 

 then bound firmly together by winding a leaf around 

 them at the butt, commencing within a half or three- 

 quarters of an inch from the end and winding down 

 smoothly about two inches, and secure the end of the 

 binder by slipping it through the leaves and pulling it 

 tightly against the twist. Much of the value of tobacco 

 depends upon the manner in which it is assorted and 

 done up, as a few poor leaves in a parcel would make a 

 difference of several cents per pound in the price. 

 None but good, sound leaves, free from rust, pole sweat, 

 frost, or large holes, should go into the best quality. 

 The bundles should be made of leaves of an even length, 

 uniform in color and quality, weighing about half a 

 pound. Many careful growers make a practice of wrap- 

 ping the bundles in manilla paper, 36x40 inches square. 

 The bundles are usually 36 inches long and the 40 

 inches goes around the bundle. There should be three 

 strong strings around each bundle. This paper keeps 

 the tobacco clean and from getting dry. In this, as in 

 everything else, neat packages pay well. The same 

 method is pursued for seconds and fillers. Sometimes 



