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TOBACCO PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES. 



the season is dry, low topping becomes a necessity. From eight to ten leaves are left on the plant under these 

 circumstances, the top being pinched out, not cut, thus causing less bleeding of the plant. When the soil is rich, 

 the growth strong, and the season favorable, from twelve to fourteen leaves are allowed to each plant. This growth 

 is generally so unequal that all cannot be topped at the same time; but if plants of the same size are set out at 

 the same time the period of topping will not vary much in a field. This is a great advantage, as the crop will 

 mature more evenly, and the color be more uniform. 



Dry weather is most unwelcome as topping time comes on. When such weather occurs, topping is deferred a 

 short time. Some growers wait until the last possible moment, preferring rather to let the lower leaves drop oil' 

 than to top in a period of drought. By deferring topping ripening is retarded, which under the circumstances is a 

 very important advantage. The cupidity of the grower too often leads him to top too high, leaving more leaves oa 

 the stalk than it is able to mature. When this is done, and a season of drought comes on, the tobacco is apt to 

 ripen prematurely and cure up a bad color "foxy," as it is termed. Topping after a warm, soaking rain is of 

 much advantage. 



Close upon the operation of topping follows the first crop of suckers. These are removed when they attain a 

 length of 3 or 4 inches. It is believed that the sooner they are removed after they make their appearance the 

 better. 



CUTTING THE CROP. 



Some years ago the tendency was to let the plants become fully ripe, and in many cases overripe. The careful 

 grower has several ways of determining maturity. The time selected by some is when the lowest leaves send out 

 suckers of good size. A far better evidence of maturity is when the leaves assume different shades of color and become 

 brittle, and if, when they are doubled over, they show a tendency to break, the sooner they are, cut the better. Of 

 late years, however, planters have been accustomed to harvest their crop before it is ripe, just when it is on the 

 point of ripening. Experience has demonstrated that if cut at this juncture the color will be darker and more 

 acceptable to manufacturers, fashion at the present time running almost entirely in that direction. Beside, such 

 early cutting places the crop beyond the reach of hailstorms, heavy rains, and early frost. It is deemed unadvisable 

 to cut immediately after a rain, as the gum or resin secreted by the numerous hair-like glands of the leaf is 

 dissolved and, in a measure, washed off. A few days' sunshine restores this gum, and the tobacco may then be cut. 



THE FIELD SCAFFOLD. 



The proper time for cutting having arrived, from twenty to thirty days after the process of topping, some 

 transfer the tobacco at once from the field to the barn; but the custom of scaffolding in the field is almost 



universally practiced. It is conceded that 



scaffolding in the field is not so important to 

 early-cut tobacco as to the later harvested, 

 because the weather being warm at that time 

 it is not likely to suffer danger in the barns. 

 As the later cut dries iiiiich less rapidly, it 

 is in more danger from pole-burn or from 

 .__ freezing. There are those, however, who, 

 when they have ample storage-room, scaffold 

 neither the late nor the early tobacco. 

 The accompanying cut gives a representation of the field scaffold, and shows how it looks when loaded with 

 tobacco. Sometimes it is made of ordinary fence posts, sunk in the ground, with common rails inserted in the 

 holes of the posts. In other cases large trestles are made, across which timbers of the proper size are laid. A spot 

 shaded by trees is generally chosen for it. The engraving represents the latter kind. They can easily be preserved 

 from one season to another. Both side and end views are exhibited. 



CUTTING OFF AND PLACING ON LATHS. 



The tobacco plants are either cut off carefully with a sharp hatchet or sawed off with a short, sharp saw. 

 The morning and the evening are chosen for this work; generally the latter. When cut in the morning, the dew, 

 and, if it has rained, the rain water, are first allowed to dry from the plants, the valuable qualities of the leaf, it 

 is believed, being best secured by this method. The plants being cut off, they are laid down carefully to prevent 

 injury to the leaves. A short time to wilt is usually given, but sunburn must be guarded against by turning the 

 plants when there is danger of it. 



When sufficiently wilted to be handled without injury the stalks are speared on the laths, as illustrated in the 

 chapter on Maryland, and, when small, six and seven plants are strung on a single lath, while not more than five are 

 put on when the plants are large. When the tobacco is left on the scaffold for some time it can be more crowded 

 than when taken from the field direct to the barn. 



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