30 



HOW TO EAISE TOBACCO. 



Worms. — About the first to the fifteenth of July the 

 worms will make their appearance. Have ready an 

 over-gown, made after the fashion of a shirt, extend- 

 ingto the knees or below, which will keep the gum 

 off the clothes. A pair of gloves also will be handy, 

 and save a great deal of hard 

 washing to keep the hands 

 clean. — From the time the 

 worms begin, until it is har- 

 vested, it will be necessary to 

 look it over cai-efuUy twice a 

 week, perhaps oftener, and kill 

 all the worms that can be found. 

 Also destroy the eggs, which 

 will generally be found on the 

 under side of the leaf and near 

 the edge. And, when possible, 

 kill the flies that lay the eggs. They are about half 

 as large as a humming-bird ; they will be seen flying 

 through the tobacco, from plant to plant, about sun- 

 down. 



Topping. — The tobacco should be topped as soon 

 as possible, and not allowed to run up to unnecessary 

 bight. As soon as a sufficient number of leaves can 

 be counted, large and small, the small leaves at the 

 top should be carefully parted and the bud pinched 

 out, leaving the required number. At the first top- 

 ping, leave twelve leaves, and two less eacli successive 

 week thereafter, until all is topped. Great care is ne- 

 cessary that the small leaves at the top be not injured 

 or broken while topping. The lower leaves should not 

 be pulled off, as is often done. They will sell for half- 

 price, and they do not injure the plant as much as the 

 wound left by pulling them off. 



StJCKERiNG. — Soon after the tobacco is topped, 

 sprouts will start at all parts of the stalk. Care is 

 necessary that these be all pulled off; and to keep 

 them off well, it will bo best to look it over two or three 

 times every week. This and worming will occupy the 

 time until it is ready for harvesting; and on the 

 attention paid this part of the loork ivill depend, in a 

 great measure^ the quantity and qiialitt/ of the tobacco. 

 The ground should be kept in good order by an occa- 

 sional hoeing. 



Cutting and Hanging. — Before the tobacco is ready 

 for harvesting, there should be prepared a supply of 

 sticks for hanging. Sticks four feet long and an inch 

 square are most convenient. Twelve sticks to every 

 hundred plants will be sufficient. 



For sun-curing, there should be a shed built at one 

 or more convenient points of the patch. This may be 

 done by placing posts in the ground to support the 

 poles, as represented in the engraving. The poles a a 

 being for the support of the smaller poles, c c, etc., 

 upon which the tobacco-sticks are placed, and b b for 

 the cover, when necessary that it should be shedded. 



Every thing being ready, the tobacco should be cut 

 as soon as it is sufficiently ffpe. This can be told by 



the color. The leaf will change from a green color to 

 a pale yellow, with spots. Or it can be tried by taking 

 the leaf doubled between the fingers ; if ripe, it will 

 break readily. When ripe, split the stalk from the 

 top to within six inches of the ground and cut it off. 



It should now be left on the ground till well wilted ; 

 (though if the sun be hot it should be closely watched 

 or it vnW burn ;) after which, it may be taken to the 

 shed and hung — the stalks being placed on the sticks, 

 six inches apart, and the sticks on the scaffold, as close 

 as convenient. 



Now, while curing, it demands close attention. It 

 may remain in the position in which it was hung for a 

 few days — until it begins to turn a light yellow ; after 

 which it should be frequently handled — exposing one 

 side to the sun a few days, and then the other, alter- 

 nately. It should now be parted also, so as to admit 

 the rays of the sun and the air freely through it. It is 

 best to shed it from rains and heavy dews, but expose 

 it at all other times. The sun will not hurt it. 



As soon as it is well cured, the stem of the leaf next 

 the stalk will break, if strained while dry ; when the 

 tobacco may be taken off of the sticks, (while in pro- 

 l^er case,) and bulked down in a damp situation — a 

 dry cellar is suitable. It should be bulked while in as 

 low case as convenient, if it will bear handling without 

 breaking. If in too high case, it will be liable to mold. 

 If properly bulked, with the tops of the stalks in the 

 center, and then well covered to exclude the air, it 

 will remain in case as long as desired, and may be 

 handled when convenient. 



To prepare for market, the leaves are stripped from 

 the stalk and assorted into three classes, (though it ia 

 customary to sell in some markets without dividing.) 

 The upper and middle leaves, when of a good quality 

 and of a bright yellow cure, constituting the first rate ; 

 the same leaves, when inferior, the second rate ; and 

 the ground-leaves the third rate. Several years ago 

 the dark tobacco was preferable, owing to its greater 

 strength, when it was customary to bulk while curing, 

 to change the color ; but now, the light yellow finds 

 the readier sale. When assorted, it is tied up in ties 

 of seven to ten leaves each ; keeping each class sep- 

 arate. 



It is now ready to be pressed into the hogshead. 

 For this purpose a hole may be morticed in a tree, in 



