642 FARMERS' REGISTER— QUERIES AS TO TOBACCO ON OATS. 



selected for cutters. When in the field, a middliMo; 

 or average hand should count tiie whole number of 

 plants he cuts, so that allowing each cutter the 

 same number^ we may arrive at nearly tlie wliolc 

 quantity cut. We should never cut more nor less 

 than will fill the contemplated barn; otherwise 

 (here is labor lost in atteiuiing to a barn not full, 

 or the overplus is' injured for want of firing. The 

 tobacco, after it has "fallen," or become sufficiently 

 limber, is carried to the barn in carts or wagons, 

 hung from six to ten plants on a stick, and stowed 

 away for firing. It is also of great importance to 

 be particular in the arrangement of tlie sticks. 

 The equal and general circulation of heattlirough- 

 out the house, depends on the manner in which this 

 is done. Our barns commonly have three firing 

 tiers above, and three below the joists. We com- 

 mence arranging the sticks on the most elevated 

 tier in the roof, to which we give five inches dis- 

 tance ; and on each tier, as we descend, Ave gain 

 one inch; so that on the lowest tier, nearest the 

 fire, the sticks are placed eleven inches apart. 

 This disposition of the sticks, I have ascertained 

 by late experiment, is important. The sticks of 

 tobacco being wider apart, next to the fires, gives a 

 freer circulation, and consequently, a more equal 

 temperature, than the usual way of equal distance 

 from bottom to top. The heat having more space 

 to ascend, must be more equal and generally diCTused, 

 and will give a more uniform house of tobacco. 1 

 esteem this a considerable improvement; and if 

 we have house room, and make a greater dift'er- 

 ence in the proportionate distance between the 

 sticks, it will be a still better arrangement. 



VI. Process of Curing. 



We commence our warmhig, or preparing fires, 

 the day after housing. We prefer what is com- 

 monly called the " bed logs" of green, and the 

 "feeding" of dry or seasoned wood. By this ar- 

 rangement, the fires are rendered more governa- 

 ble. The bed logs, should be nicely fitted to the 

 barn floor, two lengths to reach across, the large 

 ends placed outwards, to guard against the tendency 

 of heat to the centre. We keep up our h arming- 

 fires, from 36 to 48 hours, the mercury ranging 

 from 100 to 115 degrees. This will generally 

 bring the leaf to the drying state; the tail, or end 

 of the leaf, now begins handsomely to curl, and then 

 the planter must be wiile awake. 1 f he is careless, and 

 his fires are made too liot, the aromatic oil passes 

 off with the sap and smoke, and he has a red or 

 dark inferior house of tobacco; If his fires are 

 kept too low, his tobacco gets into a clammy sweat, 

 and the oil escapes. 'J'here is much more danger 

 of the former, than of the latter evil. There is 

 more tobacco injured by too much heat, tlian by 

 the want of a sufficiency. The fires sliould now 

 be kept steady and regular, with a gradual increase 

 of heat, so that in 48 hours, the mercury will stand 

 150 to 160 degrees. It must be kept at or about that 

 temperature, until the tobacco is cured. 



VII. Stripping and Prizing. 



The tobacco should be taken down and packed 

 in bulks, in high order, that it may be handled in 

 cold weather without breaking. It is then divided, 

 by select hands, into three classes, for stripping— 

 1st. That which is of the best color and quality — 

 2ndly. That which is somewhat inferior, compris- 

 ing the balance of the leaf— 3dly. Lugs, or ground 



leaves. Some distinguished planters make more 

 classes, but this requires more attention and dis- 

 crimination, and our laborers generally, are not 

 noted for either. It is then sized, and neatly tied 

 in bundles of lour leaves of the first, or six of the 

 2nd and 3rd classes. At the close of each day's 

 slripi)ing, and oftencr, if the weather is d(7ing, we 

 bulk down what has been stripped, being careful 

 to pack straight. It is left in this situation, until 

 we wish locommence prizing", and then hung, from 

 twelve to fifteen bundles on a smooth stick, and 

 hoisted in the barn, the sticks placed six inches 

 apart, the hoister carrying a measure in his hand. 

 It is inqiortant to measure, as the order will be 

 more uniform. It should remain until the stems' 

 are perfectly dry ; after which, it should be taken 

 down for prizing, as dry as it can be handled, with- 

 out breaking. It remains in this state a few days, 

 until the leaves are pressed together, and we have 

 soft weather for packing. Each bundle is then 

 carefully straightened, repacked, and heavily 

 weighted. It is then ready for prizing. We 

 should prize in weather when the order of (he to- 

 bacco will not change. Each bundle should be 

 straight, ancJ closely packed in hogsheads, in the 

 usaial way. 



Remarks. — The preceding account is submitted 

 with diffidence — not for want of confidence in the 

 principles, but because the subject has been delin- 

 eated bj' an unpractised pen. The hints presented, 

 may, if perseveringly and attentively followed, 

 prove advantageous. They have residted from 

 ten or twelve years of (I may add not un.success- 

 ful) practice. In order to avoid prolixity, I have 

 perhai>s erred on the otlicr extreme. If so, and 

 any alteration from old customs should need the 

 support of an argument, I will be pleased at any 

 time to give the reasons operating and causing the 

 change. I have not attcm|)letl to give reasons for 

 each particular item in detail, because it would 

 have defeated the design of brevity, which I think 

 is indispensable in communications of this kind. 

 I have not used the thermometer more than four 

 or five years, but have found the temperatures 

 mentioned in the account, to coincide with my 

 general practice. 



.1, F. EDMUNDS. 



Mecklenburg, Feb. 2Gih, 1834. 



QUKRIES AS TO TOBACCO ON OATS. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



North Carolina, March 15th, 1834. 

 I noticed in a recent number of your publication, 

 " a plan for the culture of tobacco on the two shift 

 principle, succeeded by oats, tobe fallowed, or rolled, 

 as may be thought best." This is a most impor- 

 tant discovery, and will prove eminently beneficial 

 to this section of country, where tobacco is (he 

 principal market crop, and our lands are nearly ex- 

 hausted by continued cultivation. This, combined 

 with Mr. Bruce's excellent plan of horizontal 

 trenching, will attract the attention of enlightened 

 agriculturists, who, it is hoped, will favor the pub- 

 lic with their views and experiments. Informa- 

 tion is wanted: you have, in your valuable Jour- 

 nal, given us much, and will doubtless give us 

 more. A planter in this seciion selects some eli- 

 gil)le spot, and puts upon it, his modicum of ma- 

 nure. This spot is annually cultivated ; in a few 

 years, the remainder of the plantation, presents a 



