, 1841-05-08
WHOLE NUMBER 1874.

oacco, stalk and all, must be cured in forty
eight hours from the time the fires are raised,
which, as ] have already remarked, must be
when the leaves begin to turn yellow ar
round their edges. After thus commencing
to chage color, the entire leaf very soon as
sumes a beautiful yellow hue, and the object
IS to cure it before it turns TO a nutmeg
brown. If the curing is not very speedy,
It will, or a gre1t part of it change to the lat
ter color before the operation is coInplei-
ed.
The next thing to be done, after the tobac-
co is housed and cured, is stripping. This
must be delayed till the stem as well as the
leaf Of the tobacco is thoroughly cured
Stripping can only be performed when tobac-
CO IS in such high case as to render the stems
perfectly pllable, or at least such a portion
OF them as will supply q sufficient quantity
OF tying tedres, that is, leaves to tie the tobac-
CO in hands. To perform this operation neat
ly, the stem Of the leaf with which the hand
is tied should be soft and plant. As sea-
sons for stripping are precarious, whenever
tobacco, after being sufficiently cured,
comes into case, a quantity for future strip
ping should be taken down, and packed in
close bulk, with the tails in the centre and
thS cdtS Vi liC SbdlhS Ouls 1iIS Uulh SllOuIQ
be enclosed by the walls Of the house on
two or three sides, and the plank on the
other, and should be we'll stuffed all around
between the enclosure and butts, so as to ex-
clude the air. Thus packed away, tobacco
will remain in case for a long time, but care
must be taken not to pack it down when in
too damp order, otherwise it will 90 through
a heat, and be greatly injured, unless it be
stripped out in the course Of a few days. If
put down in proper order it may be stripped
out at leisure, provided il is not packed in
bulk before the weather has become cool, say
November or December. When stripped
and tied in hands it must be put in bulk, lap
ping the tails in the middle and leaving the
heads all on the outside Of the bulk, so that
they can become thoroughly dry. If not in
two high order when put in the bulk, as
above directed, it may be suffered to remain
till February, when it should be hung on
sticks, the hands as close as they can be con-
veniently placed to each other without pres
sing them together, and hung in the tobacco
house. leaving the sticks so far apart as to adj
NIT The air to circulate between them. In
this situation the tobacco will become thor
oughly dry in a few days. II must be left
hanging until a rain shall again bring it in
case. 1t will be observed that the leaf, in
contradIstlnctlon to the stem, will first come
IN case, whilst the stem will be found still
dry and brittle. This is precisely the or
der IN which tobacco should be, when it is
TO be finally bulked down for market or pris-
ing in hogsheads.
1t should now be put down in a very large
bulk, which may include the planters entire
crop. The number oil courses may be six,
eight, OF any larger number, and the whole
should be enclosed by the walls of the house
and plank, and closely surrounded and COW
cred with soft straw, so as perfectly to ex-
clude the air. In this condition it may be
kept any length OF time, and will be ready at
times for hauling TO market in the hand or
One precaution only will be neces-
sary. When the cover Of the bulk is taken
for the purpose Of taking out a part of
the tobacco for prising or sale, the entire
course or courses, on the top, should be ia
ken of smoothly, and the cover carefully re-
placed. This is necessary TO prevent the
top Of the bulk from becoming too dry
When priSiRg in the summer, some elder
bushes may be spread over the bulk TO keep
The tobacco damp. Tobacco prepared as
directed, may be kept any number
Of years in bulk, or may he transferred to
nogsheads and kept for one length Of time.
not only without injury, but will constantly
by age.
1t should be remarked, that to make tobac-
of a very superior quality, great care
should be taken when the stripping process
$ going on, TO separate all the injured or de-
'ective leaves from the prime tobacco. To
his end every plant should pass through the
hands Of agood judge Of tobacco, who should
NIL out all the injured and defective leaves,
which should be kept and sold separately.-
The balance ofthe leaves may be stripped
md tied by small hands, who are not skilled
n the quality Of tobacco. As many per.
IONS should be employed in calling as NAV
De necessary to furnish employment to all
he less skilful hands. Sometimes, especial
in kite foot tobacco, theer different quail
les should be made.
have now gone through the entire pro-
Of tobacco culture, in which | have en-.
leavored to include every thing which can
'e Of practical use TO the tobacco planter;
md have gone as much into detail as will
nable him, with a little practice and the ex-