By Mr. John Wilson. 



211 



twenty-four hours the leaves were as soft and pliable as could be 

 desired ; they could now be handled without breaking or wasting 

 them. W hen stripped off the stalks, they were stretched out singly 

 and laid above one another, smoothing them gently with the 

 hands ; when all were laid out neatly, they were well pressed, to 

 give them form, and keep them smooth ; they were then tied in 

 hands of about half a dozen leaves in each, and packed into a tub. 

 being well pressed as they were put in. In this way they remained 

 a fortnight, when they began to mould slightly at the mid-ribs, in 

 consequence of the weather being moist and warm ; they were then 

 rehung in the house, and very gradually dried by fire-heat, were 

 afterwards brought to a moist state, in the manner above described, 

 and finally were repacked in the tub, where they now remain, well 

 pressed, and in a good keeping state. The Tobacco continues to 

 improve in smell and appearance with its age. 



There can be no doubt that this Tobacco is as good (unless in 

 respect of age) as much of that which is imported from America ; 

 it has yielded in the proportion of 24201bs. to an acre, being half a 

 pound to every plant, each occupying three square feet. 



The important points in the above mode of curing are, to carry 

 the plants to the house whenever they are taken up, for if the sun 

 be bright, the leaves would sun-burn in a short time ; the leaves 

 require to be yellow before the heat is increased, otherwise the 

 Tobacco would cure too light coloured ; and the mid-ribs must be 

 completely killed before the leaves are taken off the stalks, for if 

 not once made very dry, they would never keep. 



The power which the leaves possess of absorbing moisture, in a 

 damp atmosphere, is immense, and very curious ; a person unac- 

 quainted with it, would not believe, on seeing a leaf in its driest 

 state, that it could ever be brought back so as to be again pliable. 



The number of leaves that each plant ought to be allowed to 

 produce, should be determined by the quality of the ground, the 



VOL. I. 2nd series. F f 



