98 TOBACCO. 



round back, and by drawing it close, the plant is secure. 

 Proceed thus till you have filled your pole ; then with a 

 knife, cut a notch in the pole and draw your twine 

 through, and it is fast. You can now cut it off and com- 

 mence another pole. Place the poles far enough apart to 

 prevent the tobacco crowding ; about 1 foot will do. In 

 this manner you will have a row of plants hanging on 

 each side of the pole about 1 foot apart. The man, in 

 handing up, should take the plant by the butt, carefully 

 from the pile or load, raise it up and gently shake it side- 

 ways, to shake off dirt and loosen the leaves when stuck 

 together, and also adhering to the stalk ; with the other 

 hand, take hold about midways of the stalk and pass to 

 the one tying up, enabling him to receive the plant in 

 such a way as to not need to shift it in his hand, but to 

 place it immediately into its position beside the pole. 

 All leaves which are accidentally or otherwise broken 

 from the plants, should be gathered up each day, and 

 hung three or four in a bunch, the same way as the 

 plants, or string them on a string ; the latter is the best 

 way — with a large needle-thread, a suitable cord, and on 

 to this string the leaves one at a time, by running the 

 needle through near the end of the stem. Thes-e can be 

 hung by attaching the two ends to some suitable nail, 

 and having it remain stretched. In this way they will 

 cure very well. 



" Having housed the whole of your crop, give it all the 

 air you can, by opening doors, shutters, &c. Let them 

 remain open during pleasant weather, remembering to 

 close them in wet, damp weather, as well as nights ; and 

 also shading the crop so far as may be from the direct 



