12 



stalk are ripe. The stalk should tbeu be cut just above where the 

 suckers sprout aud cultivation should begin at once, the soil being 

 brought up around the old stubble. The suckers should not be allowed 

 to have more than six leaves each. The growth of these will be rapid 

 and they will mature quickly. When ripe the leaves should not be 

 primed, but the stalks should be cut. It is often the case, where the 

 seasons are favorable, that the suckers will be very hue in quality for 

 filler purposes. Where the original crop yields COO pounds per acre it 

 is often the case that 400 pounds can be produced from the second 

 growth or sucker crop. As soon as all of the tobacco is harvested, the 

 stubble is dug or i^ulled up and the field sown In cowpeas. In about 

 three weeks the pea vines will cover the ground, thus protecting it 

 from the midsunuuer sun. In the fall the vines are plowed under aud 

 prove of great benefit to the soil. 



CURING. 



When the tobacco is primed from the stalk it should not take longer 

 than two weeks to cure; when hung on the stalks three or lour weeks 

 are necessary. The manipulation of the barn or curing shed is entirely 

 governed by the condition of the weather and the nature of the tobacco, 

 and no fixed rule or rules can be given. However, in a general way it 

 may be said that if a barn is filled with green tobacco, and the weather 

 is hot and dry, the ventilators should be tightly closed for about three 

 days, by which time the tobacco will be quite yellow. The barn should 

 then be opened at night aud kept closed during the day. This is done 

 to prevent rapid curing, as rapid curing destroys the life of the leaf 

 aud gives uneven colors. If there are frequent showers and but little 

 sunshine, the barn should be closed aud fires started in small charcoal 

 heaters distributed throughout the barn. These fires should be con- 

 tinued as long as is necessary to keep the barn in proper condition. 

 Where the charcoal heaters are not available, wood, Avhich has little 

 odor and as little smoke as possible should be used as the smoke is 

 taken up by the tobacco and the odor of it is noticeable long after the 

 tobacco is cured. It is very important, to dry out the barn without 

 giving the tobacco any foreign odors. To obtain the best results the 

 tobacco should becouie fairly moist and be fairly dried out once in every 

 twenty-four hours. 



When the stems of the leaves are thoroughly cured they are ready 

 to be taken to the packing house. To get the tobacco in a condition to 

 be handled all of the places for ventilation are left open for one night, 

 opening them about 6 o'clock in the evening. The next morning the 

 tobacco will be in what is called "good case;" that is, it will have 

 taken up moisture aud become soft and pliable. The barn is then 

 tightly closed in order to retain the moisture. Tlie tobacco is taken 

 from the poles and stripped from the stalk or taken from the string, as 

 the case may be, and is packed in bundles that weigh from 35 to 40 



