CUEING. 69 



6-12 inches apart. The framework should be so large as to 

 allow of one day's cutting being hung. The plants are 

 left thus for one day, during which time they will be 

 wilted sufficiently to allow handling without tearing the 

 leaves. In a very dry wind, mats or other cover should 

 be laid against the plants most exposed to it, or their 

 leaves will dry rapidly, shrivel up, and remain green. 

 Next day the leaves are carted to the drying-shed. A 

 cart supplied with a framework, in order that the plants 

 may be hung as they were hung under the shade, is the 

 best means. Perpendicular uprights at each corner of a 

 cart or waggon are fixed together by horizontal poles. 

 The plants may be hung so close as not to press heavily 

 on each other, 200-400 being brought to the shed at one 

 time. 



As a general rule, Judson Popenoe thinks " tobacco 

 should be cut in about 2 weeks from topping, at which 

 time the leaves assume a spotted appearance and appear to 

 have fulled up thicker ; double up the leaf and press it 

 together with thumb and finger, and, if ready to cut, the 

 leaf where pressed will break crisp and short. Do not 

 let your tobacco get over-ripe, or it will cure up yellow 

 and spotted : it is better to cut too soon than too late. 

 Take a hatchet or short corn-knife, grasp the stalk with 

 the left hand, bend it well to the left, so as to expose 

 the lower part of the stalk, strike with the knife just at 

 the surface of the ground, let the stalk drop over on the 

 ground without doubling the leaves under, and leave it 

 to wilt. The usual practice is to worm and sucker while 

 the dew is on in the morning, and as soon as the dew 

 is off to commence cutting. There are some who advocate 



