TheHifloryof BookII 



The next work is, at leaft once every month, to weed away 

 whatever might endanger the fmothering of it, diligently to 

 grub up and rake the earth all about it, and to carry away 

 the weeds to the extremities of the Plantation } for if they be 

 left in the place where they are laid upon their being taken 

 out of the ground, the leaft rain would make them take root 

 afreftl, and they would require a fecond weeding. The moft 

 troublefom herb of any, and that which caufes moft trouble 

 to get out of the Plantations, is Purflane, which in thefe 

 parts of the world grows not without the pains and induftry 

 of Gardeners. This exercife is continu'd till fuch time as the 

 Tobacco-plant hath cover 'd all the adjacent ground, and that 

 the (hade of it keeps down all other weeds. 



But though all this be done, yet are not the Planters at reft, 

 inafmuch as anfwerably to. the growth of the Plant in height 

 andbredth, fome muft be continually employ 'd in cutting off 

 the fuperfluous leaves, taking away thole that are dry'd up, 

 rotten or decay'd, cleering it of all thofe fhoots and fuckers 

 which might hinder its coming to perfection, by diverting the 

 lap from the larger leaves : In fine, when the ftalk is grown to 

 a convenient height, it muft be check'd, by cutting off the top 

 of every Plant, thole only excepted which are referv'd foi 

 feed. After all this ordering, the Plant is to continue fomd 

 weeks in the ground ere it comes to maturity, during which 

 there is a little ceflation of labour and attendance about it. 



But if the laborious Planter be exempted from the great 

 pains he had beftow'd about it, he (hall not want work, for 

 there muft be a place prepared, where it is to be difpos'd as 

 loon as it is ripe. Care muft be taken, that the Grange or 

 Store-houfe, where it ought to be dry'd to a certain medio- 

 crity, be well cover'd and clofe of all fides 5 that it be furnifli'd 

 with good ftore of poles fit for it to be laid upon 5 that provi- 

 fion be made of a certain thin bark taken from a tree called 

 Mahot) to faften every Plant to the poles 3 and that the place 

 defign'd for the making of it up into rolls or pricks fhould have 

 all things requifite for that work. 



While all thefe preparations are made, if the Tobacco-, 

 leaves lofe ever fo little of their firft verdure, and withal 

 begin to bow down more then ordinary towards the ground, 

 and if the fcent of them grows ftronger, it is a fign that the 

 Plant is come to maturity : And then, taking a very fair 

 day, after the dew is fallen off, it is to be cut about an inch a- 

 bove ground, and left upon the place till the evening, turning 

 it once or twice, that the Sun may take away fomewhat of its 

 moifture : In the evening it is carry 'd by armfuls into the 

 houfe. It is faften'd by the lower end of the ftalk to the 

 poles, fo that the leaves hang downwards : It is alio requifite 

 that they ftiould not be laid too clofe one to the other, left they 



