152 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



long as the box is deep), placed at the end of the case 

 inside, and when the case is full, these can be drawn out, 

 leaving a half-inch space at each end of the case, also for 

 ventilation. 



When the hands are placed in the case, they should be not 

 more than two at a time (one is better), and laid perfectly 

 compact and straight to the tips of the leaves, which should 

 overlap each other in courses alternating so that when 

 pressed it will be so evenly put in and pressed that all parts of 

 the leaf shall sweat alike. About three hundred and seven- 

 ty-five pounds are enough for each case. Very long tobacco 

 will demand a longer case, and admit more pounds of tobacco 

 in each case. A case forty-two inches long is the usual 

 length. I have thus far been quite minute in my instruc- 

 tions for sorting and casing, because it is important. Many 

 a good crop of tobacco is spoilt in the handling. It is of no 

 use to expend so much in labor and fertilizer for the growth 

 of the crop, and then spoil it by careless handling. 



The cultivation of tobacco has gradually been entered into 

 by other of the Northern States during the last twenty 

 years. New York State has been engaged in it for a longer 

 period, but Ohio, Wisconsin, Missouri, and some others 

 have of late been competitors with Connecticut and Massa- 

 chusetts in raising cigar leaf, while of Pennsylvania it may 

 be said truly, that, for a time, it seemed that the desirable 

 quality of her goods, and the care exercised by the growers in 

 the cultivation of the leaf, would break down the popularity 

 of " Connecticut Seed Leaf." 



The character of the soil in some of the counties of Penn- 

 sylvania seems to be quite favorable to the production of a 

 leaf which has gained popular favor with the cigar trade, and to 

 become already our rival. Some few years since, those 

 who had crops to dispose of in our valley did not fail 

 to hear of the excellences of AVisconsin tobacco ; since which 

 time, Wisconsin tobacco has not been in so good repute, and 

 has been our less formidable rival, and attention has again 

 been turned towards Connecticut Valley crops ; but I under- 

 stand that now Wisconsin goods are again demanding atten- 

 tion, which shows the fluctuations of trade, and teaches us to 

 endeavor to produce such goods as the trade shall demand. 



