38 
THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
unless in rainy or cloudy weather, should be 
covered immediately, and the same should he 
done with those planted the evening previous, 
should the day open wiih a clear sunshine— the 
palmetto leal answers this purpose very well. 
There should be water convenient to the plants, 
so as to have them watered morning and eve 
ning, uuiii they have taken root.* They should 
also be closely examined y/hen watered, so as 
to replace such plants as should happen to die, 
that the ground may be properly oceupied, and 
that all the plants may ripen as nearly together 
as possible. 
From the time the plants are set out, the 
earth round them should be occasionally stirred 
both with the hand and hoe. At first hoe flat, 
but as soon as the leaves assume a growing dis- 
position, begin gradually to draw a slight bed 
towards the plant. The plant must be closely 
examined, even while in the nursery, to destroy 
the numerous worms that feed upon them ; some, 
by cutting the stalks and knawing the leaves 
when first set out — the.'^e resemble the grub 
worm, and are to be found near the injured 
plant .under ground ; others which come from 
the eggs deposited on the plant by the butterfly, 
end feed on the leaf, grow to a very large size 
and look very ugly, and are commonly called 
the tobacco worm. There is also a small worm, 
which attacks the bud of the plant, and which 
is sure destruction to its lurther growth; and 
some again, though less destructive, are to be 
seen within the two coats ot the leaf; feeding, 
as it were on the juices alone. The worm- 
ing should be strictly attended to every morning 
and evening, until the plants are pretty well 
grown, when every other day will be sufficient. 
The most proper persons tor worming are either 
boys or girls from ten to fourteen years of age. 
They should be made to come to the tobacco 
ground early in the morning, and be led by in- 
ducements, (such as giving a trifling rewaid to 
those who will bring the most worms,) to worm 
it properly. Grown persons would find it rather 
. too tedious to stoop to examine the under part of 
every leaf, and seek the worm under ground; 
nor would they be so much alive to the value 
of a spoonful of sugar, or other light reward. 
Besides, where the former would make this 
seargh a matter of profit and pleasuie, it would 
to the Jatter prove only a tedious and irksome 
occupation. Here I will observe, that it is for 
siretilar reasons that the culture ot the Cuba to- 
bacco plant more properly belongs to a white 
population, for there are few plants requiring 
more attention and tender treatment than it does, 
indeed it will present a sorry appearance, un- 
less the eye of its legitimate proprietor is con- 
stantly watching over it. 
When the plants have acquired from twelve 
to fourieen gopd leaves, and are about knee 
high, it may be well to begin to top them, by 
nipping off the bud with the aid of the finger, t 
taking care not to destroy the small leaves im- 
mediately near the bud : for if the land is good 
and the season favorable, those very small ton 
leaves will in a short time be nearly as large, 
amd ripen as soon as the lower ones, whereby 
two or four more leaves may be saved; thus 
obtaining from sixteen to eighteen leaves in the 
place of twelve or fourteen, which is the general 
average. As the topping of the tobacco plant 
is all essential in order to promote the growth, 
and to equalize the rif>ening of the leaves, I 
would observe that this operation should at all 
events commence the instant that the bud of the 
plant shows a disposition to go to seed, and be 
immediately followed by removing the suckers, 
which it will now put out at every leaf. Indeed 
the suckers should be removed from the plant 
as often as they appear. 
The tobacco plant ought never to be cut be 
fora it comes to lull maturity, which is known 
by the leaves becoming mottled, coarse, and of 
a thick texture, and gummy to the toucn; at 
■ It is he.yce generally necessary that wells should be 
sunk at convenient distances through the field. 
,t Washing the hands after this, in water, is necessa- 
ry as theacridjuic.es of the plants, otheiwise, soon 
prepuce a soreness cf the fingers. 
which time iheend of the leaf, by being doubled, 
will break short, which it will not do to the 
same extent when green. It ought not to be 
cut in wet weather, when the leaves lose theij 
natural gummy substance, so necessary to be 
pre.served. About this period the cultivator is 
apt to be rendered anxious by ihe lear of al- 
lowing tbe plants to remain in the field longer 
than necessary, until experience removes these 
apprehenidons: he should be on his guard, 
however, not to destroy the quality ot his to- 
bacco, by cutting it too soon. When the cut- 
ting is to commence, there should be procured 
a quantity of foiked stakes, set upright, with a 
pole or rider selling on each fork, ready tc sup- 
port the tobacco, and to keep it from the ground. 
The plant is then cut obliquely even wdth the 
surface of the ground, and the person thus em- 
ployed should s'rike the lower end of the stalk 
two or three times with the blunt side of his 
knife, so as to cause as much ot the s-ind or sod 
to lall from it as possible ; then tying two stalks 
together, they are gently placed across the ri 
ders or poles prepared to receive them. In this 
state they are allowed to remain in the sun or 
open air, until the leaves have somewhat wilt- 
ed, whereby they will not be liable to the injury 
which they would otherwise receive it they 
came suddenly in contact with other bodies, 
when fresh cut. Then place as many plants on 
each pole or rider as may be conveniently car- 
ried, and take them into the drying house, where 
the tobacco is strung off upon the frames pre- 
pared for it, leaving a small space between the 
two plants, that air may circulate freely among 
them, and promote their drying. As the drying 
advances, the stalks are brought closer to each 
other, so as to make room for those which yet 
remain to be housed. 
In drying the tobacco, all damp air should be 
excluded, nor ought the drying ol it to be pre- 
cipitated by the admission of high drying winds. 
This process is to be promoted in the most mo- 
derate manner, except in the rainy season, when 
the sooner the drying is effected the better, for 
it is a plant easily affected by the changes ol the 
weather, alter the drying commences. It is 
then liable to mildew in damp weather, whicn 
is when the leaf changes from its original color 
to a pale yellow cast, and from this, by parts, lo 
an even brown. When the middle stem is per- 
fectly dry, it can be tqken dpwn, and the leaves 
stripped Irom the stalk and put in bulk to sweat; 
that is, to make tobacco ot them ; for before this 
process, when a concentration o! its beticr quali- 
ties takes place, the leaves are always liable u- 
be effected by the weather, and cannot well be 
considered as being any thing else than com- 
mon dry leaves, partaking of the nature of to- 
bacco, but not actually tobacco. The leaves 
are to be stripped from the stalks in damp or 
cloudy weather, when they are more easily ban- 
died, and the separation of the different quali- 
ties rendered also more easy. The good leaves 
are at this time kept by themselves, for wrap- 
pers or caps, and ihe most delective ones lor Jil 
lings or strips. When the tobacco is put in 
bulk, the sterns of the leaves should all be kept 
in one direction, to facilitate the tying of them 
in hanks; alterwards make the bulk two or 
three feet bish, and of a proportionate circum- 
ference. To guard against theleaves becoming 
overheated, and to equalize the fermentation or 
sweating, after the first twenty-four hours place 
the outside leaves in ifie c,eiure, and those of the 
centre to the outside of the bulk. By doing ihis 
once or twice, and taking care to cover fl'e bulk 
either with sheets or blankets, so as to exclude 
all air from it, and leaving it in this state tor 
about forty days, it acquires an odor strong 
enough to produce sneezing, and the other qua- 
lities of cured tobacco. The process of curing 
may then be considered as completed. I'hen 
take some of the most injured leaves, but of ihe 
best quality, and in proportion to the quality of 
tobacco madoj and place them in clear water, 
there let them remain until they rot, which they 
will do in about eight days; then break open 
your bulks, .spread the tobacco w ilh the stems 
jji ope directioji, and dampen them with this 
water in a gentle manner, that it may not soak 
through the leaf; for in ihi-- case the leaf would 
rot * Then tie them in hanks of from twenty- 
five to thirty leaves ; this being done, spread 
the plants in the tobacco house for about twelve 
hours, lo air them, that the dampness may be 
removed, and afterwards pack them in casks or 
barrels and head them tight, until you wish to 
manufacture them. The object of dampening 
the tobacco with ifiis water, is to give it elasti- 
city, to promote its ouming free, to increase its 
iragrance, to give it an aromatic smell, and to 
keep it always soft. This is the great secret of 
curing tobacco for segars properly, and for 
■ hich we are indebted to the people of Cuba, 
who certainly understand the mode of curing 
this kind of tobacco better than any other peo- 
ple. It is to them a source of greai wealth, and 
may be made equally so to us. We can have 
here three cuttings from the original plant — the 
last cutting will be ot rather a weak quality, 
but which, nevertheless, will be agreeable to 
those who confine their smoking to weak to- 
bacco. 
In ratooning the plant, only one sprout ought 
to be allowed to grow, and Ihis from those most 
deeply rooted— all other sjirouts ought to be de- 
stroyed. 
The houses necessary for the curing of tobac- 
co ought to be roomy, with a passage W'ay run- 
ning through the centre, from one extremity of 
the building to the other, and pierced on both 
sides with sufficient number ot doors and win- 
dows, to make them perfectly airy. 
In addilion to what I have said respecting the 
mode of cultivating and treating the tobacco 
plant, I have lurther lo state, that once the plant 
is allowed to be checked in its growth, it never 
again recovers it. That in promoting the dry- 
ing of the leaf, fire should not be resorted to, be- 
cause the smoke would impart to it a flavorthat 
would injure that of the tobacco itself. 
In order to obtain vigorous plants, the seed 
ought to be procured from the original stalk, 
and not from the ratoons, by allow ing some of 
them to go to seed lor that express purpose. In 
Cuba the seed is most generally saved from the 
ratoon plants, but we should consider that that 
climate and soil are probably more (avorable 
to the production of this plant than ours, and 
consequently, we ought to confide in the best 
seed, which is had from the original stalk. 
All plants have their peculiar empire, never- 
theless we should not be deterred from planting 
Cuba tobacco here, for even should we be com- 
pelled to import the seed every third vear, which 
would be as often as necessary, it would still prove 
a profitable culture. Taking 600 lbs., which is 
the average product per acre, it would yield, (if 
well cured,) at 50 cents per lb., $'3()0 in the 
leaf. 
The following exhibits the profit to be derived 
from it when manufactured into segars: 
600 lbs . atlowingS lbs. to 1000, would produce 
75.000 spgars, which, at ®10per 1000 750 CO 
Cost of ih- leaf 300 00 
Worth of manufacture at ®'2 50 per 1000. . 137 50 — 487 5Q 
Difference fa fa'^ur of I he manufacturer,. . . .®262 CO 
This amount being the profits of the manu- 
facturer alone, the profit to him who would corn- 
bin- both pursuits woidd be more ihan doubled. 
As to the quantity of land which can be cul- 
tivated to the hand, there is some difference in 
the practice of planters^ however, I think that 
I am within the usual calculation in saying, 
that an acre and a halt would not exceed the 
quantity that an able hand can gasily cultivate 
and manage properlv. 
I am, with respect, your obd’t. serv’t., 
Joseph M. Hernandez. 
N. B — I have omitted to state the cost of the 
segar boxes, which of course has also to be de- 
ducted. This would vary according to the fa- 
cility of i.btaining materials, but probably would 
not exceed 25 cents per box. 
* Sponge is used in Cuba for this delicate operation. 
Speak not unless you can benefit ( ihers or 
yourself; and avoid trifling conversation. 
