AmNov.?i?79arm'}    Cultivation  of  Tobacco  in  Kentucky.  539, 
appear,  or  they  will  destroy  the  crop.  Turkeys  are  of  great  assistance 
in  destroying  these  worms.  They  eat  them,  and  kill  thousands  which 
they  do  not  eat.  There  are  two  "gluts,"  as  they  are  called  by  the 
planters,  the  first  attacking  the  plant  about  the  time  they  are  half-grown, 
the  other  about  the  time  it  is  ready  for  cutting.  The  first  can  be  sub- 
dued by  a  good  supply  of  turkeys  and  vigorous  hand  work.  If  care  is 
taken  to  totally  exterminate  the  first  attack  the  second  will  be  easy  to 
manage,  and  the  remaining  worms  may  be  killed  by  pinching  their 
heads  off.  When  they  disappear  there  is  but  little  danger  of  a  second 
return. 
We  have  now  arrived  at  the  time  of  what  is  called  the  "splitting 
process."  This  consists  in  splitting,  with  a  knife  made  for  the  pur- 
pose, the  plant  from  the  top  to  a  few  inches  of  the  bottom.  The  knife 
for  splitting  may  be  fully  described  by  saying  that  it  is  a  miniature  spade. 
Care  should  be  taken  not  to  break  the  leaves  during  cutting.  There 
are  several  manners  or  cutting  tobacco,  but  that  of  splitting  is  preferred 
by  our  farmers.  They  contend  that  it  cures  brighter,  quicker,  and  is 
less  liable  to  house-burn  or  injury  from  too  thick  hanging.  After  the 
tobacco  stalk  is  split,  it  is  then  cut  down  and  allowed  to  wilt,  when  it 
is  taken  up,  put  across  tobacco  sticks  and  then  hung  on  scaffolds,  where 
it  remains  for  three  or  four  days,  or  until  it  turns  yellow.  The  tobacco- 
is  now  ready  to  be  carried  to  the  barn  or  tobacco-house,  where  it  is 
hung  up  between  the  joists  to  complete  the  process  of  curing.  A 
tobacco-stick  is  merely  a  straight  stick  about  four  feet  long  and  one 
inch  in  diameter.  They  should  overlap  the  joists  about  two  or  three 
inches,  so  that  as  the  house  is  filled  the  tobacco  may  be  pushed  closer 
together. 
After  the  house  is  filled  some  adopt  the  plan  of  firing,  by  putting  fires 
under  the  tobacco.  The  tobacco  under  this  plan  cures  much  quicker,, 
but  is  objected  to  by  consumers  and  buyers  because  it  acquires  a  smoky 
taste  and  smell.  The  cost  of  labor,  loss  of  wood,  and  risk  of  losing 
both  tobacco  and  barn,  are  great  objections  urged  against  firing.  The 
better  plan  is  to  have  sufficient  house  room,  well  ventilated  by  windows 
and  doors.  The  tobacco  is  best  hung  scattering,  so  that  the  air  and 
light  may  circulate  freely.  The  rain  and  dampness,  which  materially 
injures  the  quality  and  color  of  the  tobacco,  should  be  excluded  by 
closing  doors  and  windows. 
The  next  step  is  that  of  stripping.    After  becoming  dry  and  well 
