December i, 1889.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
407 
of October, November or December, but in any of 
the following months they must be kept so packed 
for not more than one or two days. 
When the leaves become yellow they are said to 
be ripe and then the poles must be separated a foot 
from each other. 
There are two methods of treating the Tobacco 
when in this conditions : — 
Method A. — Allow the poles to remain the foot apart 
till the stalks and the midribs or middle-vein of the leaves 
get dry, then carry up the poles to the upper "bar- 
rederas " and again pack closely, if there be want of 
room, but if room be not needed, then they may be 
put a foot apart. 
Method B. — Separate the leaves which may be stick- 
ing together and place the poles filled with the 
Tobacco out in the sun for three days, being very 
cari-f ul not to allow rain to wet the Tobacco, and replace 
them in the house every day at about 2 or 4 
o'clock in the afternoon to avoid the dew. Horizontal 
bars of a kind similar to those used in a gym- 
nasium are male on which to plae-i the po'es filled 
with the Tobacco. At the end of three days the 
poles are placed on the upper " barrederas," and 
there allowed to dry properly. The poles may be 
closely packed if room be needed, but this should 
never be done unless the "middle vein" or midrib be 
thoroughly dry. 
I prefer this method to the fromer, because there 
is no frar of ''Sahorno" (putrid fermentation), and 
the Tobacco acquires a better colour. 
Considering the advantages of this method, it is al- 
most superfluous to advice the adoption of it in per- 
ferenee to the former. 
When the method is adopted of cutting the whole 
Plant. — The bundles or " matules," when brought in 
from the field, are unloaded at the House, and 
should be opened out at once aud the Tobacco 
scattered about as widely as possible to allow it to 
cool to prevent its sweating, When cool and there 
is no risk of sweating, the stalks of two plants are 
tied together at the root end with any kind of string, 
fastening four stems to one string, which should 
be just long enough to al'ow the Tobacco to be hung 
upon the pole, like the " mancuernas." Incase the 
Tobacco plants be rather large, instead of two, only one 
should be tied at each end. The string should be tied 
below the upper leaf, on the butt of the stalk, so as to 
prevent their falling dowu. One must be very careful 
to see that the labourers tying do not put more 
than four small plants or two large ones in each 
string. 
After being placed on the poles the Tobacco cut 
in this manner is treated just the same as the cut 
in pairs of leaves, or "mancuernas." Although we have 
attempted here to describe one of the most important 
operations, yet it is a fact that scarcely any one can 
become efficient in the practical part unless he assists 
in carrying out the work for some time under the in- 
struction of an Expert. 
Method of Bulking in Press (Empilonar). 
Method 1. — At the begining of Spring, when the 
Tobacco becomes soft and pliant on account of the 
humidity of the weather, the poles are taken down 
— the time for which must also be regulated by the 
condition of the leaf — the leaves are stripped olf, 
or removed from the stalks and made into bundles 
or " matules," 18 inches in length by 18 inches in 
depth, the breadth being the length of the leaves. 
The leaves are placed with all their but ends together 
and properly tied to form the " matu: .' The " matules " 
are more easily formed by means of two pairs of 
short stakes driven iu the ground in the House, at 
the proper distance, viz., 13 inches, strings to be 
used for tying up the bundles are passed between 
each pair of stakes. The stakes in each pair being 
driven apart at a distauce according to the length 
of the leaves. After the bundles are made they are 
put in the pilon or press tightly packed together 
covering them up with thatch or dried plantain leaves 
putting on top of all a few blocks of wood, or any- 
other weight, to press the Tobacco slightly. It 
should now be allowed to remain in the press for 
at least eight days before commencing the sorting of 
the leaves, but it is preferable to allow the Tobacco 
to remain in the press for about thirty days or more, 
as the Tobacco is benefited by tbe press, aud there ia 
no risk in its remaining here for anylength of time, pro- 
vided the leaves as well as their midribs be thoroughly dry 
when put into the press. The weights should be re- 
moved after thirty days. 
When about to sort the leaves as many bundles as 
can be worked up in a day are taken out of the 
press, opened out, and the tips and the butt ends 
of the leaves are moistened with a wet sponge. The 
bundles are again made up and placed into the press, 
covering them as before. Twenty-four hours after, 
when the leaves will have just enougn moisture to 
be handled without breaking, the bundles are taken 
out as fast as the leaves are sorted. 
Sorting, classification or choosing of the leaves, is 
done to separate the different kinds of leaves ac- 
cording to their qualities, etc. Each planter may 
classify or sort his tobacco as he, thinks best, but 
the simplest classification is : into first class capa 
(wrapper) ; second class cava, first class tripa (fiber) ; 
second class tripa and third class tripa, the remainder 
being "funk," or inferior Tobacco, The leaves which 
have been sorted should be immediately, or rather 
simultaneously, made into hands or " manillas." 
A "hand," "gavilla" or "manilla" is made by 
placing the butt ends of the leaves evently together 
until the hand is full of leaves, selecting a leaf which 
is not very sound, twist it like a rope, and wrap it 
around the butt ends of the leaves so as to tie them 
properly together, then divide the whole bunch of 
leaves with the hand and draw the tyiug-leaf through 
and close the bunch, thus securing the leaves, after- 
wards place the hands in the press again. 
I am greatly in favour of the foregoing method 
of bulking on account of the many advantages it 
possess over the following, which is by some adopted 
as the usual method of curring at this stage : — 
Method 2. — If for want of room in the House or 
on account of very wet whether the Tobacco becomes 
moudly and there be fear of losing it, it should be 
put into the press at once. In such a case it should 
remain in the pres not longer than is absolutely 
necessary for stripping off the stalks and sorting the 
leaves, never beyond eight days, as the dampness of 
the stalks spoils the leaves. The after-treatment is 
the same as the first method. 
Chapter VII. — Packing and Baling; 
As soon as it is desired to pack the Tobacco the 
wash is prepared with which to sprinkle it. The 
"manilla" is held in the left hand, and with the 
right the wash (betun) is spriukled on evenly, and 
the hand of Tobacco well shaken to remove drops 
of wash on the leaves, they are then put aside in a 
heap and allowed to remain so for a couple of 
hours, or until the leaves be sufficiently pliant and 
soft to permit handling without breaking, and they 
are again put back into the press. After remaining 
in the press for about four or six days the hands of 
manillas are taken out and shaken and made into 
bunches of three or four hands each, called "manojos. ' 
and then put into bales. When baled, the Tobacco 
undergoes its lasts fermentation, being ready at the 
same time for the market, aud the curing of the 
crop is at an end. The yaguas which are strips of 
palm bark used in baling, must be properly dry and 
pliant and evenly flattened by pressure. Each bale 
should hold eighty-one manojos. The bales are made 
in a wooden frame, which is constructed on different 
patterns. It is useless to describe the process, as no 
description whatever can teach the mauner of making 
a bale. It must be learnt by practice as many of 
the other processes also must be. After the bales 
are made they should be put out in the sun till the 
yaguas and ropes with whioh the bales are tied be 
