86 TOBACCO. 



part of the leaf, and in this state it should be allowed to 

 remain a sufficient length of time to wither, after which 

 the pairs of leaves (mancuernas) should he picked up one 

 by one, placed evenly on the arm, with the upper side of 

 the leaf inwards, and each armful should be carried to and 

 placed on the poles (cujes), which should be prepared 

 beforehand near the spot where the tobacco is being cut. 

 Two forked sticks should be placed strongly in the 

 ground, and on these the pole should rest. After the 

 tobacco leaves have been placed carefully on these poles 

 and been allowed to wither, they should be carried to the 

 curing-house before the sun has time to dry them. This 

 operation must be performed by two labourers, who can 

 carry each time two poles, placing the end of each on 

 either shoulder, so that, in walking, the leaves on one 

 pole may not cut against those on the other. These poles 

 of leaves, when brought to the curing-house, should be 

 fixed or hung by the points on the lowest stages, but so 

 high that the points of the leaves do not touch the 

 ground, and sufficiently apart one from the other that the 

 leaves may not touch, because, being brought in from the 

 field warmed by the sun, it is not judicious to allow them 

 to touch. When the sun is not sufficiently strong to 

 wither the cut leaves, reaping should not be continued. 

 The tobacco should be so arranged on the poles that the 

 pieces of stalk should gently touch one with the other, 

 but without crowding." However, if the weather should 

 be damp, and the leaves large, space should be left 

 between the pairs. 



Drying. — The drying-shed is prepared beforehand to 

 receive the tobacco. "When cultivating tobacco on a small 



