94 TOBACCO. 



1 incli to slip on to tlie sticks. When ready for use have 

 a place fixed near where you unload, to hold one of these 

 sticks out at right angles from a post and about 4 feet 

 from the ground. Let the plants he handed you from 

 the load and slip them on the stick, piercing the stalk 

 ahout 6 inches from the butt ; put 6 or 7 plants of medium 

 size on each stick, thicker if smaller ; when hung it will 

 appear as in Fig. 9. As each stick is filled, it may be 

 carried to its place in the barn. In getting them to the 

 top of the barn, they may be handed up with a pitchfork, 

 lifting them by the middle of the sticks. These sticks 

 should be about 8 inches apart. I think a greater amount 

 can be put into a given space by this method without 

 danger of sweating, as it is more evenly distributed. The 

 loose leaves that have been broken off while handling, may 

 be cured by placing 4 or 5 together and securing to a 

 small pole, in the same way as plants are hung with twine." 

 Hanging is done in the following manner : — " The 

 ' hanger ' stands in an erect position, having for a foot- 

 hold the poles on the tier below the one which he is 

 hanging ; he has a ball of tobacco-twine (a twine made of 

 flax, procurable at any seed-store) which for convenience 

 is carried in the bosom of the loose blouse generally 

 worn ; he stands with the left side to the pole on which 

 the tobacco is to be hung, left arm over it ; the stalk of 

 tobacco is handed to him by a boy whose duty it is to 

 pass it to him ; the stalk is then taken in the left hand 

 and placed against the side of the pole, the butt projecting 

 an inch or two, around which projection the twine is 

 wound from left to right (the twine having previously 

 been fastened to the pole); the next stalk is placed on 



