596 HORTICULTURE, FORESTRY, FLORICULTURE 



the plants have become too large for cultivation. In many instances 

 it has been found desirable and practicable to cultivate the tobacco 

 until shortly before the top leaves are taken off. In dry seasons this 

 serves to retain the soil moisture by preventing excess evaporation 

 due to soil capillarity. 



When the plants begin to bud, all except the individual plants 

 saved for seed nurposes should be topped. No very definite rule can 

 be given for this process, but it is the usual custom to break off the 

 top of the plant just below the first seed sucker. The height of top- 

 ping must be largely governed by the local soil and climatic con- 

 ditions. 



It is necessary to remove the suckers before they reach sufficient 

 size to seriously injure or dwarf the plant or interfere in the devel- 

 opment of the leaves. In most cases it will be found necessary to re- 

 move the suckers two or three times, and more frequently if the sea- 

 son is one which promotes rapid growth. If seed is to be saved on 

 any of the plants, the flower cluster should be covered with a light 

 and strong paper bag before any of the flowers blossom out, in order 

 to prevent cross-fertilization. The bags should be kept in good con- 

 dition and not allowed to injure the top of the plant in any way. 

 They should remain over the flowers until a sufficient number has 

 been fertilized to produce a good supply of seed. 



The time for harvesting will depend to a considerable extent 

 upon the season, but the ripeness of the leaves can be distinguished 

 by the development of irregular, light yellowish colored patches over 

 the surface and a thickening and crumpling of the body of the 

 leaves. The leaves should be harvested before they become overripe, 

 and it is the usual practice to pick them at three or four different 

 periods, the lower leaves maturing first, the middle leaves next, and 

 the top leaves last, generally allowing from six to eight days between 

 each picking. After picking, the leaves are carried to the curing 

 shed in baskets made for this purpose and are strung on 4-foot laths 

 specially arranged for them at the rate of 30 to 40 leaves to the lath. 

 The leaves are arranged back to back and face to face, and are regu- 

 larly strung on the cord attached to the lath. The laths are then 

 hung in the curing shed, where the leaves are allowed to thoroughly 

 cure out. 



When the tobacco is primed from the stalk it should not take 

 more than three weeks to cure; when it is hung on the stalks from 

 four to six weeks are necessary. The manipulation of the curing 

 barn is governed entirely by the condition of the weather and the 

 nature of the tobacco, so no fixed rules can be given. However, in 

 a general way it can be said that the barn should be opened during 

 the day and kept closed at night. If there are frequent showers and 

 but little sunshine, the barn should be kept closed and small fires 

 started, distributed throughout the building. These fires should be 

 continued as long as it is necessary to dry out the entire barn of to- 

 bacco. Where charcoal is not available, wood which has as little odor 

 and as little smoke as possible should be used. It is very important 

 to dry out the barn -without giving the tobacco any foreign odors. 



