126 TOBACCO. 



examination without disturbing the mass. The packing 

 is effected under considerable hydraulic pressure. Else- 

 where all kinds of packages are employed, and their 

 weights are very various. 



In Bishop's opinion the best size for boxes is the fol- 

 lowing : " 3 feet 6 inches long, 2 feet 4 inches wide, 2 feet 

 6 inches in depth, manufactured from planed pine boards, 

 1 inch in thickness, with standards 2 inches square, 

 inside at each corner to nail to. Having thus your boxes 

 prepared, and the tobacco in good condition, the first soft, 

 mild day that comes proceed to packing ; the bundles or 

 ' hands ' of tobacco must be taken from the bulk and laid 

 in courses in the box, laying the butts of the ' hands ' to 

 the outside of the box, allowing the ends to lap over each 

 other, and endeavouring to keep the centre of the box a 

 little higher than the edges these courses to be packed 

 as solid as possible by the hand. If any of the bundles 

 are * soft ' or have an ill smell, they must be exposed to 

 the fire or sun until sweet and dry before being packed. 

 When the box is nearly full, a false cover (just large 

 enough to slip inside the box) must be placed on the 

 tobacco, and pressed as heavily as possible with the lever 

 or screw power ; remove the pressure and re-fill, pressure 

 finally being applied to the real cover, which may then 

 be tacked down. A box of the size I have mentioned, 

 when filled, should contain about 400 Ib. of tobacco, and 

 thus packed, will keep for years." 



Another planter considers that parcels of " less than 

 1500 Ib. may be carried to market almost in any way ; 

 but more than that should be ' prized ' in hogsheads. 

 Several farmers might combine their crops for prizing. 



