122 VEGETVBLE GROWING. 



some of the lateral buds develop into shoots ; these 

 must be removed as soon as they can be so the plant 

 will send all its energy into the leaves. Topping and 

 suckering and worming require a great deal of atten- 

 tion, and must not be neglected ; they are even more 

 important than thorough cultivation. 



CUTTING. 



It requires judgment and a good deal of knowledge 

 in rnanipilating tobacco to know just when the crop is 

 " ripe " Usually the plants are cut off just below the 

 lowest good leaf. Much care is exercised in handling 

 while it is being cut. The plants are cut and laid down 

 smoothly and gently to wilt for an hour or so. 



HAULING. 



The wagon used in hauling the crop to the curing 

 barn is provided with a rack made especially for that 

 work ; it is lined with cloth to protect the leaves from 

 being bruised. The rack is nearly four feet wide above 

 and deeper than the height of the largest plant. In 

 loading, the plants are hung over a lath by the lowest 

 leaf, and this lath is put across the rack. 



CUEING. 



When a load arrives at the curing shed, the crop is 

 handled by the laths. Often these are placed across 

 the beams and allowed to cure just as they were placed 

 in the field. The curing of tobacco is a process that is 

 dependent on the action of certain bacteria ; if the to- 

 bacco is hung too close it will heat and mold ;i.e., the 

 temperature induced by oxidation becomes too high 

 for the bacteria, and reaches the best temperature for 

 the growth of molds, consequently these overwhelm 

 other organisms, and the tobacco molds (rots) ; if the 

 crop is not placed close enough together, the condi- 



