SEMT-TEOPICAL CROPS. 98 



soil. When about a foot high pull off the under leaves to 

 about six inches from the ground, which strengthens the 

 main leaves and gives room to draw the earth up to the 

 stem in a round, flat-topped hill ; this serves to keep the 

 roots moist. As soon as blossom buds appear pinch out 

 the tops, so as to leave not more than nine or ten leaves 

 on each plant ; pinch out all shoots that spring from the 

 base of the leaves, and all that may be starting from the 

 roots ; this is done with a view to throw the whole strength 

 of the plant into about a dozen leaves on each plant. 



Signs of Fitness. When ripe, brown or yellow spots 

 appear, and the leaf gets a brown or yellow tint ; it again 

 changes to a dark blue, the leaf becomes thicker, rougher, 

 and more elastic than at any other time, and on handling 

 we find it to be quite sticky. It is then charged with the 

 true tobacco gum, and cannot be too quickly cut. The gum 

 rises best in close sultry weather, but if, when it is just 

 coming on, the weather changes to wet. the gum may go 

 down again, but it returns with fine weather. 



Harvesting. -When the plant is fit to harvest, take a 

 sharp-pointed knife, and split the stem down the middle 

 from about one-third from the top to within about two inches 

 of the bottom ; then cut it off below the split. Lay the 

 plants on the ground in rows, and unless the weather is 

 very dry let them have the sun on one side for an hour or 

 two, then turn them over, and give them the sun on the 

 other side. If the nights are dewy, so much the better, as 

 the sun and dew together help to mature the leaf. In very 

 dry weather the crop is cut and brought under cover at once. 

 If rain should fall, pile the tobacco in heaps under cover 

 of some sort, but the heaps must be spread out should signs 

 of heating or mildew arise. 



Sheds and Appliances for Drying. These are absolutely 

 necessary. The shed may be a mere cover for drying 

 in the field, but a building, in addition, is necessary for 

 curing, enclosed all round and with windows or loopholes to 

 admit air when required. Beams are placed across at 

 about three feet apart say one, two or three tiers 

 according to the room required, only so far above each that 

 the tobacco hung upon one will not touch the next. 



