12 



HARVESTING. 



About thirty to forty days after topping the leaves begin to ripen, 

 which is shown by their turning yellow. When this is observed the 

 plants are cut close to the ground. This cutting is done almost 

 everywhere when the plant is overripe. If the stalk is of a yellowish- 

 brown or brownish-yellow color at the point of the cut the planter 

 is assured that the crop is ready for harvest. Sunny or hot days 

 are chosen for harvesting, as it is believed that the plants retain 

 the gum better than on cloud}' or cool days. After cutting, the plants 

 are laid on the ground until wilted before being taken to the curing 

 shed. They are transported from the held by taking a bunch in each 

 hand (about five plants or more to each handful) or by binding a 

 larger quantity on a pole, which is carried on the shoulder. Unless 

 great care is taken in the cutting and carrying many leaves are torn, 

 which diminishes the yield of wrappers. The plants are hung together 

 the first day and then separated, each plant being hung singly. How- 

 ever, most planters hang them too close together, which is especially 

 damaging when damp weather follows. 



A few planters follow the Cuban system of harvesting, as they call 

 it, which is as follows: When the yield of the so-called wrappers is 

 large the leaves are cut from the top down in pairs and are hung 

 across a man's arm. When ten or more pairs have been so placed 

 they are slipped off on a pole of about 4 yards in length, which, as 

 soon as filled, is taken to the curing shed. 



After the tobacco is cut earth is thrown over the stubble in prepa- 

 ration for the second crop. Sometimes this process is repeated for a 

 third crop, which is of a very inferior quality. For the second and 

 third crop less care is taken than for the first. 



DISEASES AND INSECTS. 



Almost nothing is done in the way of protecting the young plants 

 from insects and diseases peculiar to them, which are much the same 

 as those which attack tobacco plants in the United States. The only 

 method followed is to have women and children go over the plants in 

 search of insects. To protect the young plants against the mole 

 cricket (changa), which is especially destructive in loose soils, it is a 

 common practice to wrap a leaf of the mamey or mango around the 

 stem of the plant when it is set in the field, allowing the upper edge 

 of the leaf to project a little above the ground. The use of Paris 

 green, Bordeaux mixture, and other poisonous sprays in this connec- 

 tion is unknown. 



CURING SHED. 



After harvesting, the tobacco plants are taken to the curing shed to 

 be cured and dried. The tobacco sheds in Porto Rico consist of 

 wooden frames, with roofs of dried grass and sides covered with palm 



