SEMI-TROPICAL CKOPS. 95 



second time. Cover over as before. If done well the 

 tobacco acquires the well-known flavour, and becomes a 

 beautiful brown colour, and is fit for the next operation. 



Stripping and Sorting. In arranging the quality of 

 the leaf, it is classified as near as possible as follows : The 

 first three leaves from the bottom of the stalk are No. 1, or 

 best quality ; the next three No. 2 ; and the rest No. 3. The 

 sorts are selected because they vary in quality and appear- 

 ance. Ten or twelve leaves are made a bunch or " hand," by 

 twisting a leaf round the thick end, commencing with the 

 thin end of the leaf and tucking the stalk end between 

 the leaves of the " hand " to keep it fast. The tobacco is 

 then fit for the manufacturer, and the sooner it goes to him 

 the better ; but if kept on hand for a time it must be in a 

 dry place, at least three feet above the ground, and not 

 bulked thickly, lest it become partially heated and turn 

 mouldy. 



Late Crops. A second crop is sometimes gathered. 

 For this, break off all the shoots that spring from the stool 

 but the strongest one, and this shoot is treated precisely 

 as the first crop, with the exception that the leaves are 

 considered all of one quality, and are rated as of less value 

 than the first. After the second crop is cut the roots are 

 collected and burnt, thus manuring the ground with the 

 ashes. There is another mode of obtaining a late crop 

 which is useful when the season proves too dry for trans- 

 planting. Sow the seed in di'ills, or put in a pinch of seed 

 where each plant is wanted to stand, and thin them out to 

 the proper distance as soon as large enough. This plan 

 may come to be extensively adopted in the case of the late 

 crops, on account of the difficulty of transplanting during 

 the heat of summer. 



Curing in Damp Weather. One who knows the diffi- 

 culties attendant upon curing tobacco in damp weather, 

 and who feels for those who are so situated, says : I advise 

 all who can to have something like a stove and flue in their 

 tobacco-curing places. There will be less danger of 

 scorching than when fires are used, the leaf will be free 

 from the smell of smoke, &c., and the colour more uniform. 

 But those who cannot have this should make their barns 



