68 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



crop. The green worm first makes its appearance in the early 

 part of July. The only way known to prevent its ravages is 

 to go over the field three or four times a week and destroy 

 it. The worms are more readily found in the morning than in 

 the middle of the day. Let as many of the plants blossom as 

 possible without forming seed. Then break off to a good leaf. 

 There is more danger of breaking too high than too low. 



Remove the suckers, and be sure they are all broken off just 

 before cutting. It will be fit to harvest in two or three weeks 

 after it is topped. When cut let it lie on the ground till it is 

 wilted sufficient to handle without breaking the leaves, but by 

 all means avoid too much exposure to a hot sun in the middle 

 of the day as the heat will burn the leaf, and render it worthless, 

 as if frost-bitten. When taken from the field, to the building 

 for curing, it is passed from the load by one man to another, 

 who hangs it by tying the twine around the first plant, and run- 

 ning it over the pole ; then with one turn of the twine, secures 

 each of the plants till the pole is filled, then makes it fast. If 

 the pole is twelve feet long, put from thirteen to fifteen plants 

 on each side, and place the poles eighteen inches apart from 

 centre to centre. For the first few days after it is housed, give 

 it plenty of light and air to guard against sweat, which would 

 cause great injury. Wiien all danger from this source is past, 

 keep the building closed, and let it hang till the stem of the 

 leaf is well cured. It must then continue to hang till we get a 

 damp, or rainy time that will moisten it sufficiently to make it 

 soft and pliable. AVhen it is in suitable condition, it is cut 

 down by one, and passed to a second hand who takes and 

 packs it down in a double row, tip to tip. When ^1 down and 

 packed it should be well covered with straw, or cornstalks, to 

 prevent drying. Strip it out soon after it is taken down, and 

 be careful it does not heat while in the pile. Sixteen to twenty 

 hundred pounds is considered a fair yield. Make two qualities 

 by putting the lower, and otiier poor leaves, in hands by them- 

 selves. 



Two good plants will make a hand of the first quality. As 

 fast as it is stripped the hands should be packed close and 

 straigiit, in a pile, tip to tip. Leave the buts exposed to the 

 air for a few days, when it will be in a suitable condition for 

 casing. The cases are made three feet eight, to ten inches iu 



