56 



of it, change to tlie latter color before the operation is 

 completed. 



" The next thing to be done, after the tobacco is 

 housed and cured, is stripping. This must be delayed 

 till the stem, as well as the leaf, of the tobacco is thor- 

 oughly cured. Stripping can only be performed when 

 tobacco is in such high case as to render the stems per- 

 fectly pliable, or at least such a portion of them as will 

 supply a sufficient quantity of tying leaves, that is, leaves 

 to tie the tobacco in hands. To perform this operation 

 neatly, the stem of the leaf with which the hand is tied 

 should be soft and pliant. As seasons for stripping are 

 precarious, whenever tobacco, after being sufficiently 

 cured, comes into case, a quantity for future stripping 

 should be taken down, and packed in close bulk, with 

 the tails in the centre and the butts of the stalks out. 

 This bulk should be inclosed by the walls of the house 

 on two or three sides, and plank on the other, and should 

 be well stuffed all around between the inclosure and 

 butts, with straw, so as to exclude the air. Thus packed 

 away, tobacco will remain in case for a long time, but 

 care must be taken not to pack it down when in too 

 damp order, otherwise it will go through a heat, and be 

 greatly injured, unless it be stripped out in the course 

 of a few days. 



" If put down in proper order, it may be stripped 

 out at leisure, provided it is not packed in bulk before 

 the weather has become cool, say Xovember or Decem- 

 ber. When stripped and tied in hands it must be put in 

 bulk, lapping the tails in the middle, and leaving the 

 heads all on the outside of the bulk, so that they can 

 become thoroughly dry. If not in too high order when 

 put in bulk, as above directed, it may be suffered to re- 

 main till February, when it should be hung on sticks, 

 the hands as close as they can be conveniently placed 

 to each other, without pressing them together, and hung 

 in the tobacco-house, leaving the sticks so far apart as 

 to admit the air to circulate between them. 



" In this situation the tobacco will become thoroug-hly 

 dry in a few days. It must be left hanging until a rain 



