362 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



jflea breeds upon them and as the vhies die they spread to 

 and live upon the tobacco, causing what is called flea holes. 

 The above-mentioned pests, with a good crop of grasshop- 

 pers, will keep you busy until the tobacco is ready to cut. 

 This time is learned better by experience than from any 

 written description ; the leaves grow thicker and assume a 

 mottled appearance. 



Harvestixg and Stripping. 



After cutting, the plant is allowed to wilt suflficiently to 

 prevent breaking the leaves, when it is strung upon slats 

 one and one-half by one-half inch and four feet long, drawn to 

 the sheds upon a rack built for that purpose, and hung upon 

 poles, the slats being placed from six to ten inches apart, 

 accordino; to size of tobacco and amount of air in the shed. 



Great care should be exercised not to bruise the leaves, as 

 every In-uise will show in a changed color of the leaf when 

 cured ; also in not wilting the tobacco too much, as any 

 pressure upon the leaf when too hot is sure to ruin it for a 

 wrapper. The sheds are usually left open until the tobacco 

 has begun to cure down in fine weather, care being taken to 

 prevent injury by rain or wind beating in the doors. 



As soon as the stems of the leaf are dried out, usually 

 about the first of November, it is ready to strip from 

 the stalk, and as soon as suitable weather will permit it is 

 taken from the poles and piled, without removing from the 

 slats, in seven-sided piles and covered to prevent drying. 

 It can remain in this condition until stripped frcmi the stalk 

 without dano;er of heating. 



As soon as convenient the plants are removed from the 

 slats and the leaves carefully stripped from the stalk and 

 bundled in double bundles with good strong jtaper. Strip- 

 ping boxes are usually ten inches square inside, and thirty- 

 eight or forty inches long. Lap enough so the Ijundles will 

 not come apart. 



These are carefully piled in hakes, two narrow boards being 

 placed between the tiers of bundles, care being used to place 

 them upon the sides. I have never l)een troubled with 

 tobacco heating when packed in this way, always leaving it 

 in this condition until sold or taken to the assortino; table. 



