OF AGRICULTURE. 129 



(prized) into hogsheads for market. The two points 

 to be attended to in shipping are, first, to have the 

 tobacco in proper "order;" and, secondly, to assort 

 carefully, so as to separate the different qualities. 

 Tobacco is in " order," when the leaf is sufficiently 

 moist to be pliant, and yet the stem dry enough to 

 break off readily from the stalks. This condition can 

 be secured only in the beginning of a spell of damp 

 weather. After the weather has continued damp for 

 some little time, the moisture penetrates the stems, 

 as well as the thinner part of the leaves, making 

 them too tough to be easily broken from the stalks, 

 and rendering them liable to mould when wrapped 

 together, or when the tobacco is laid down "in bulk.' 1 

 If the stems have thus become pliant, the tobacco is 

 in "too high order," and must be thoroughly dried, 

 and allowed to come in order again, before the strip- 

 ping can be done, A large quantity may be kept in 

 order for stripping, by packing down when in proper 

 condition, upon an elevated platform extending along 

 one side of the barn. This is called " bulking."" The 

 leaves of the plants must be lapped over each other 

 in the middle of the bulk, the but- end of the stalks 

 being turned outward. The whole mass must then 

 be covered with straw or leaves, which will preserve 

 it in order, until it can be conveniently stripped, 

 which is generally at times when the weather is 

 unfavorable for out- door work. 



The business of assorting, requires both care and 

 judgment. It should, therefore, be the business of 

 the most experienced and trustworthy hands. It is 

 accomplished chiefly during the process of stripping, 

 but may be made more complete, by the hands 

 6*' 



