146 TOBACCO. 



greater vigour, and possess a finer aroma. The land se- 

 lected for the plants is cleared, and the surface worked 

 with the hoe, after which it is marked off into parallel 

 rows about 3 feet apart, according to locality and the size 

 of the mature plants. In transplanting, the young plants 

 are set from 2 to 3 feet apart, and are manured heavily in 

 the pits opened for them. Great care is necessary for a 

 time to protect the shoots from the sun, and to irrigate 

 plentifully when the transplanting occurs in a dry season. 

 The work of cultivation and keeping down the weeds is 

 performed entirely with the hoe, and only two or three 

 times during the season. In gathering in the crops, 

 planters wait until the plants are fully matured, this 

 being determined by doubling and breaking one of the top 

 leaves. In Bahia and other Brazilian provinces the lower 

 leaf is often picked by itself, and in a few days the next, 

 and so on as long as the plant will develop the lower 

 leaves into what is classed first quality. These leaves are 

 hung up two and two, under cover and across poles, 24 

 hours after picking and sweating. When it is intended 

 to twist the leaves into ropes, they are left hanging about 

 2 days, when they are taken down, carefully freed from 

 the heavy parts of the midrib, doubled in halves, and laid 

 away for the rope twister. This operation requires con- 

 siderable dexterity, and is generally entrusted to the best 

 slave on the plantation. The operation requires a rude 

 windlass, which is slowly turned in winding the rope, 

 which is twisted by hand. A boy is usually employed 

 entirely to hand leaves to the twister. These ropes are 

 unwound and re- wound once or twice a day, for a period 

 of 10-15 days, according to the weather, and are twisted 



