TOBACCO AND ITS CULTURE. 149 



still further, I am inclined to think that the majority of the 

 growers practise taking clown the crop too early in the sea- 

 son, to which I shall again allude. 



As in housing the crop, there is usually too great haste by 

 many farmers to get it down from the poles. Take the crop 

 of 1881 for instance. It was a misfortune to the grower 

 that the speculators should commence operations while the 

 crop was still on the poles, and in an unmerchantable condi- 

 tion ; the result proved it. While the negotiations were be- 

 ing made, the grower was assured by the buyer that he 

 would take it as soon as it was ready ; consequently there was 

 an eagerness on the part of the seller to get it down off his 

 hands, and the money for it. The first damp spell (in Octo- 

 ber) , down it came, and in some instances too damp. Warm 

 weather followed, the tobacco became hot in the pile, requiring 

 handling over to be cooled ; it never looked so well afterward ; 

 would lose somewhat in weight by heating, and in some cases 

 the buyer refused to take it, as it was not in good order. 



Growers frequently complain of the speculators who try to 

 cheapen and find fault with their goods, when the grower 

 himself is his own worst enemy. He does not take suffi- 

 cient care in handling his crop while harvesting ; his avari- 

 ciousness has led him to dampen or apply water to make it 

 weigh more, and the crop becomes injured beyond recovery. 

 Such methods not only injure those Avho practise them, but 

 all tobacco growers. There is nearly as much injury in get- 

 ting tobacco too damp when taken down, as there is in n(jt 

 getting it damp enough. If it is taken down early in the 

 season, it will not be safe to have it quite as damp as if later. 

 That which hangs near to open doors and gets wet, should 

 not be put in the same pile with that which is in good order, 

 as the wet tobacco will injure that with which it comes in 

 contact. 



As has been said, the majority of growers consider that 

 the best time to take down tobacco is during the month of 

 November, provided the weather is suitable. Yet we find 

 that there is a difference of opinion in regard to the best time 

 for this work. Some persons whose opinions upon this mat- 

 ter are worthy of consideration contend that they get good 

 compensation for delaying till March, and say that they 



