TOBACCO. 65 



CUTTING. 



Great loss ensues to the cultivator from performing 

 this operation before the tobacco is perfectly ripe. 

 Twenty-five per cent, and even more, is often tobacco 

 lessened in value by being cut only a few days before 

 the proper time. In cutting too soon, the rich flavor 

 is destroyed, the weight is diminished, and the elasti- 

 city of the leaf lessened. 



The flavor of tobacco is every thing ; and) there- 

 fore, it should not be cut until it is fully ripe. Some 

 cultivators say that the whole crop should be cut at 

 once, but I cannot agree to this, for I have seen part 

 of a field perfectly ripe, another part half ripe, and 

 a third portion perfectly green. Now to cut it all 

 at once would infallibly ruin a great portion of 

 the crop. It should therefore be cut as it ripens. 



The operation of cutting is done with an instru- 

 ment resembling a butcher's cleaver. It should He 

 for a while on the field after it is cut, until the leaves 

 wither, and there is no danger of breaking from be- 

 ing handled. 



HOUSING AND CURING. 



From the field it should be carted to the house for 

 curing. Here a peg six inches long is driven into the 

 butt, by which it is hung on sticks. Sometimes it is 

 split, that is, the stalk is split down almost to the, butt, 

 before it is brought in. This split is placed across 

 6* 



