2t4 TiMEHRl. 



cultivated. In transplanting, place the plants about 3 feet apart. As 

 the plants grow, " suckers " appear, that is, growths from the stalk at 

 the surface of the ground. These suckers or growths must be taken off 

 as they interfere with the development of the leaf. 

 Harvesting. 



When plant is ripe, harvest before the frost comes. Cut the plant 

 near the ground and hang up the stalks on sticks about 4 feet long i^ 

 inches wide, triangular shape, and keep from rain. 



Most growers have tobacco barns about 24 feet square. The tobacco 

 is hung up in this barn. A fire place is arranged at a sufficient distance 

 from the lower stalks so as not to injure them, and the heat from this 

 fire-place aids in curing the tobacco. Fire is kept up for nearly a 

 week until the tobacco is cured. Leaves are then stripped off the stalk, 

 About 6 or 8 leaves are put together, called in tobacco language " a 

 hand." One of the leaves is used to bind the others together at the 

 butt end. 



These hands are again hung up on sticks about 4 feet long, under 

 shelter, until the sap is out of their stem, which is easily seen by the 

 stem breaking when bent. The tobacco is now transferred to a pile or 

 bulk, circular, about 12 feet in diameter and as high as a man can reach 

 comfortably. The butt end or large part of the stem must be piled 

 towards the outside. In the bulk, the tobacco remains 3 or 4 months, 

 and goes through a natural sweat. If care has been taken to have the 

 stem properly dried before it is put into the bulk, when put into hhds. 

 or cases it will carry to any part of the world without moulding. Tobacco 

 that once moulds is of no use for commerce. 



Soon after tobacco has been growing a large worm will appear on 

 it, which must be picked off. 



The Orange Judd Publishing Company of New York have a pamphlet 

 on tobacco growing, consisting of prize essays from the largest growers 

 in the States. If you send for this you will have a full exposition of 

 the growing and curing. 



I have given you a brief outline which will enable you to start. 



Mr. Mackay said that Mr. Tuckett was not only a 

 tobacco manufa6lure but also the owner of several plan- 

 tations in the Southern United States. 



The Chairman said he believed that the cigars manu- 

 factured here were made up with imported tobacco, and 



