124 VEGETABLE GROWING. 



STRIPPING AND SORTING. 



When the stalks and all are cured in the barn, the 

 leaves have to be stripped off. They are taken from 

 the stalks and placed in bunches that can be quite 

 easily pressed together by both hands. These bunches 

 are then tied at the petiolar end. At the same time 

 the leaves are separated into classes, depending on the 

 condition in which they are cured and whether there 

 are any worm holes in them or not. 



After stripping and tying into bunches, or hands, 

 they are packed away in a moist, or rather a clammy, 

 condition. Care must be taken here as there is some 

 danger of molding and also of insect attacks. The dif- 

 ferent qualities are packed separately. The cases used 

 are either strong boxes or large hogsheads. When the 

 tobacco is nearly dry enough to break when crushed 

 in the hand it is considered right for packing. For 

 making fine cigars the tobacco is put through a second 

 sweating. 



When a case has been filled it is pressed down firmly 

 and left in this condition to sweat ; during this pro- 

 cess it loses its rank flavor and becomes darker. 



To make tobacco-growing profitable, capital and ex- 

 perience are required ; it is more complicated than 

 other crops. 



