CULTURE AND CURING IN PENNSYLVANIA. 153 



NEW METHOD OF HANGING TOBACCO ON LATHS. 



During the past three or four years several new methods of attaching the tobacco stalks to the laths have come 

 into use which possess many advantages over the method of spearing them. Laths of a heavier size than those 

 ordinarily employed are used for this purpose. This size is three-fourths of an inch thick and 1 or 2 inches wide, 

 made out of pine, poplar, or some other light wood, and is of the usual length, 4 feet. Into this stout lath six iron or 



wire hooks are driven, resembling this shape: \j, three on each side, the first one 4 inches from the end, the 



next one 16 inches from the first, and the third 16 inches from the second, leaving a space of 12 inches from the last 

 to the end of the lath. Hooks are driven at points midway between those on the opposite side of the lath, thus 

 giving room for six large stalks, 8 inches apart from side to side, hanging alternately on one side or on the other, 

 lii this way they do not interfere with each other, and can be hung much more closely, for there is no waste of space, 

 the alternate hanging filling up not only all the space on the same lath, but. also between all the laths when they 

 arc hung up in the barn. The hooks are clenched on the opposite side to prevent their drawing out. In several 

 cases wire hooks, shaped like the letter S, were used, but they did not give satisfaction, as the laths that were used 

 were the ordinary laths, and could not stand the strain at the ends, and were often broken; beside, the hooks being 

 loose, required frequent adjustment. There were several objections to these hooks, which have prevented their 

 general introduction. They were too expensive for the majority of tobacco farmers, costing about $22 per acre. 

 The principle, however, is so excellent that growers were not long in finding out a substitute equally effective and 

 far cheaper. The following cut explains the entire process. 



Laths of the same size, } by 1 inches, are used, but instead of iron hooks or wire five- or six-penny nails are 

 used. These are driven through 

 the laths at alternate intervals 

 on both sides, with a slight up- 

 ward inclination, to prevent the 

 tobacco from falling ofi' readily. 

 Tiiis method is far cheaper and 

 equally efficacious, and no one 

 who has ever tried it thoroughly 



will be likely to give it up; in- .^ r - _^ 



<lml, many of the most careful ' """^-"" * ~~ "'"^ "* ^~*~ 3C 



tobacco-growers take it up every year more and more. 



The advantages possessed by this system over that of spearing are as follows: 



1 . The large hole made in the tobacco stalk by the spear has a tendency to dry out the stalk too rapidly at that 

 point, and the more slowly the stalk dries the better and more uniform the color of the leaf is likely to be. The leaves 

 nearest the spear hole are generally "off-color". 



"2. Tobacco can be hung on hooks or nails much more quickly than speared upon laths. At least nine stalks 

 can be hung on nails while six are strung on laths, thereby causing a great saving in time. 



:>. It is far easier to fix the stalks on nails than on laths. The tobacco stalk is not hard, and a slight pressure 

 will drive the nail through it. A boy can easily do this, whereas spearing tobacco is man's work. 



4. The tobacco is preserved in far better condition by the new than by the old method. The spear so very often 

 comes into contact with one or two of the leaves where the orifice is made that they are ruined as wrappers, which 

 cannot occur with ordinary care by the new method. 



5. The tobacco is far more easily removed when stripping time comes, hardly an effort being required to remove 

 it from the nails, which is not the case when it is withdrawn from the laths. 



(J. When once hung on the nails no further adjustment of the stalks is required. Their places are definitely 

 iixe.l, and they cannot get out of place, which is by no means the case when hung on laths, for then the utmost 

 care must be observed that they are at their proper places when finally hung up in the tobacco-barns to cure. This 

 also is a saving of time and labor. 



7. It has led to the invention of several other devices which have a tendency to preserve the leaves from 

 damage. 



Some farmers have a place on the tobacco-wagon, commonly an arrangement beneath the hind axle, where the 

 empty laths are carried. At the rear end of the wagon-scaffold are iron hooks or other contrivances, upon which 

 the lath is hung and firmly held while the stalks are attached to the nails. As 'fast as a lath is filled it is removed 

 to the usual place on the tobacco-wagon, and another is placed on the hooks, to be filled in turn. In this way the 

 tobacco need be handled but once, and is not thrown on the ground at all, to the great damage of the leaves. Where 

 it is not desirable, or when it is impossible to take the tobacco-wagon through the field, another contrivance, in the 

 form of a tripod, with arms above the point of junction as well as toward the ground, is called into requisition. 

 This is about 4 feet high, and at the top of the upper arms are attached iron hooks, to hold the laths firmly in 

 place while the tobacco is hung upon them. A boy can take the stalk from the man who cuts it off and place it 



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