154 



TOBACCO PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES. 



where it belongs on the lath. The tripod holds three laths. In driving the nails into the laths a measure is used 



which indicates where they are to go, so the work can be done regularly and rapidly. 



A small trestle is sometimes used in the field for the 

 same purpose as the tripod already described, which, 

 although intended for a single lath, answers the purpose 

 admirably. 



There is no special period during which the tobacco is 

 allowed to hang on the scaffolds, but from three to ten days 

 is the usual time. While on the scaffold the access of air 

 on all sides effectually prevents injury to the crop. The 

 removal from the scaffold to the barn was a few years 

 ago accomplished in any way the farmers found most 

 convenient, but the exigencies of the situation have led 

 to the production of a wagon specially adapted to this 

 work. A frame. 18 feet long and a little narrower than the 

 length of the laths, the upper rails of the frame having a 

 cleat nailed or bolted on the outer edges and projecting' 

 above them an inch or more to prevent the laths shifting 

 endwise, is placed upon a low-wheeled wagon, and the laths 

 are transferred from the scaffold to the wagon and hung 



npon the framework, and are easily removed to the shed or barn without injury to the plants. The illustration 



gives a good idea of this tobacco- wagon. 



'WiYTTTT 



mm 



When the tobacco is taken from the field it is at once hung in the barn. The barn is filled from the top 

 downward in sections; that is, a certain space, 10^ 12, or 16 feet long, and as wide as the barn, is filled up at a 

 time. The wagon is drawn into this section, and directly beneath the place where the tobacco is to be hung. By 

 an arrangement of ropes and a pulley the laths are hauled to their places at the top of the barn (which may be 40 

 feet high) and carefully put on the cross-pieces arranged for that purpose. The careful planter observes, before the 

 lath is fixed in its place, that the leaves do not adhere, but that they are well separated, in order that each individual 

 leaf shall receive its due share of ventilation. A final adjustment of the plants on the laths is also made, as they 

 may not have been originally so carefully placed as they should, or they may have been moved out of place during 

 the subsequent stages of removal. Placing the laths at proper distances is also important. If too close, "pole- burn " 

 will result, and much may be destroyed; or, if discovered in time, it often necessitates the removal from the barn for 

 a time and the rehanging of the crop. The size of the plants, other things being eq ual, governs the distance at which 

 they are placed, usually from 6 to 8 inches. In the process of curing proper ventilation is the all-important factor. 

 The barn must be capable of being closed tightly when need be, and of affording thorough ventilation to all the 

 tobacco in it, as rapid drying is not desirable. The plan generally adopted is to keep it closed during the day and 

 to open it at night. Especially should it be kept closed on damp, foggy days, in order to exclude the moisture, 

 although a few thorough dampenings from this cause are by no means objectionable, but are believed by some to 

 be beneficial in fixing the color. 



STRIPPING AND BULKING. 



Under favorable circumstances tobacco cures rapidly. During the year 1880 some that was cut unusually 

 early was stripped on the 1st of September, but generally very little tobacco is stripped until the middle of 

 December, by which time the stems are thoroughly dried out and the tobacco is cured. Advantage is taken of wet, 

 damp weather, when the laths are lowered into the cellar under the barn and the work of stripping begins. If there 

 should happen to be no damp days when it is desired to strip, a lew days in the cellar will impart the necessary 

 moisture. Perhaps as many as three-fourths of all the growers assort their crops into three kinds, known, 

 respectively , as "fillers", "seconds," and "wrappers". This is done not because it is the most profitable, but 

 because it entails far less labor than when several additional grades are made. Sometimes the wrappers are 

 reassorted into two kinds as to length, and these again as to evenness of color. This, however, is rare. Such lots 



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