153 



many as five times in success, provided the weather be rainy and the 

 number of suckers left be proportionate to the vigour of the parent-root. 

 The Tobacco obtained each time will be of good size and quality, and 

 iometimes, in every respect, superior to the first cut. 



CHAPTER V. 



HARVESTING. 



When the plant is properly ripe and fit for harvesting, cutting 

 must not be commenced until the dew has disappeared and the leaves 

 are thoroughly dry, that is, after ten o'clock in the morning, and con- 

 tinued till about three o'clock in the afternoon. The best knife 

 for use is the hook-nosed pruning knife. 



The leaves are best cut in pairs " mancuernas" commencing from 

 above and proceeding downwards to a level with the earth, in preference 

 to the method of cutting down the whole plant. The " mancuernas" 

 should be placed on poles (of convenient length and thickness, first 

 stripped of their bark) as quickly as possible to prevent the sun from 

 burning the leaves while on the ground, for if this should happen the 

 Tobacco would be greatly damaged. Each " Cortador" or Cutter 

 should have as many collectors as may be found necessary 

 in order that the Tobacco cut may be on the ground the 

 least possible time. The cutters should throw the "capa" or wrappers 

 (the best Tobacco) on the space or walk between the rows of plants which 

 they may be following and the u trip a'' or fillers in the next, thus keep- 

 ing the two classes separate, for a like reason each pole should be 

 filled with the same class, and when full of the Tobacco should be kept 

 separate in the House. When on the poles the Tobacco should be kept 

 for a while in the sun to wither and then taken to the House ; for 

 while it is beneficial to dry in the sun when on the poles, it is destruc- 

 tive to the quality of the leaves if it is dried by the sun while lying on 

 the ground. 



If it be decided to cut the plant whole, as is sometimes practised , 

 cutting always commencing at the proper time of the day, each carrier 

 should be provided with bands eighteen inches in width and of any de- 

 sired length. With these bands the cut plants are carefully tied into 

 bundles or ^ matules," so as not to break the leaves, and should be of 

 a size which the men employed as carriers can readily carry. Instead 

 of bands, bags may be used to carry the cut Tobacco to the Tobacco- 

 house. Every endeavour ought to be used not to allow the Tobacco 

 to remain on the ground longer than is absolutely necessary to pick it 

 up, to avoid the inevitable burning which will occur if left long on the 

 ground. The bundles or bag-fulls may be carried to the House either 

 on head, small carts, or any other manner. 



The manner of curing the Tobacco cut in these two ways will be 

 described in another Chapter. 



Before detailing the curing, which has to be done in the Housb, 

 it is convenient to give a brief sketch of a Tobacco-Housk, and at the 

 same time of the " Pilon " or " Prensa," the " Bulking-box " or 

 " Press." 



