, 1841-05-08

, spear is inserted in the handle, the latte
should be shaved fiat on two sides to proven
the end of the handle next the spear from
striking against the top of the tobacco stall
as the knife is run down. With this instru
ment a skillful operator can split the e.and
ing plants with great rapidity. The ,ulc
not be split nearer to the ground six
inches. The cutter may follow Immediate
ly after the splitter, or at any convenient
time afterwards. A common hemp hook is
the best instrument for cutting tobacco. The
cutting season is a critical sime for the to.
bacco crop. 1t is subject to a variety o
casualties; and without particular care, is
liable to sustain great and %irreparable injury.
1t is subject to be bruised in handling, to be
sun burned, and to be greatly injured by
heating if suffered TO lie too long in heaps
Each of these will most materially iniure
the crop, and they must all be guarded
against with the utmost vigilance. The first
is the most difficult to be guarded against,
When tobacco Is cut in very warm weather.
After it is cut, it must lie long enough to fall
or wilt, So as to become sufficiently plant to
handle without breaking or brusing the leaves.
The hotter the weather the more difficult it
is to accomplish this object without exposing
the plants to the %deterioating effects of being
sun burned. 1t is surprising how quickly
this takes, when tobacco is exposed TO the
meridian rays of the sun, in the month Of
August, or early in September. The parts
Of the leaves which are sun burned burn
width and soon become dry and crisp; and
when cured, assume a green color. The
parts thus affected are completely ruined,
having lost all the qualities of good tobacco.
To guard against this casualty, when tobac-
CO is cut early in the season the operation
should be performed in the morning or so
late in the evening that the sun will not
have power enough to injure it. Cutting,
both in the morning and evening may be
practised as convenience may dictate, and
may be managed rs follows.
The planter may m cutting in the
morning, taking care to cut only so much as
he can sccure before the sun has acquired
sufficient power to injure it. When the
cutting is complete and the plants nave fail
sufficiently, he should commence billing it
in heaps with the butts towards the sun, Ia
king care to handle the plants gently. holding
them by the butts, and avoiding any pressure |
upon the leaves. BY handling them thus.
and laying them as lightly as possible in
heaps, this process may be performed before
the tobacco has completely fallen. The
should always III with the
plants first cut. SO that they may as nearly
as practicable, be exposed TO the suns rays
an equal portion of time, or in equal degree.
and should so progress till the whole is heap
ed. The stems of tobacco are the last parts
wilt. Being large and ridgcd, these re-
quire more sun to make them fall, and hence
the necessity Of placing the butts towards
the sun when heaping tobacco. Being thus
the stems continue to be affected by
the sun, while the plants are laying in heaps.
The hcaping of tobacco in some degree pro.
tectS it from being sun burned, but the I'M
leaves are, Of course unprotected.
Hence the necessity of halwling the tobacco
to the place of hanging it soon as possible
after it has failed efficiently TO admit Of this
being done without breaking off the leaves.
Sleds are the most convenient vehicles for
Transporting tobacco to the scatiold or house
where it is to be hung. if near at hand
These should have smooth plank on the bot.
to prevent the leaves of the tobacco
from being torn or bruised. There should
be no standards in the slcds, and the tOcacco
should be laid on in two courccS. the tails
uped and butts out on each side. When I'M
oaded. the butts should all lie towards the
unless the hanging is performed in the
shades of Il house or trees. These precau-
ions are for the purpose of preventing the
from being sun burned. If the cut
ing take place late in the season. or when
he weather is cool, they will not be neces-
,arv.
Planters who are largely engaged in the
of tobacco, will be under the neces-
of raising it at a considerable distance
rom the place of housing it. In that case
'leds will not be convenient for transporting
t, and it would be a much better plan to
AVE a wagon coupled so as to hold a very
arge body. and sufficiently higis TO hang the
:obacco, after being put on sticks across the
body. The sticks should be filled where it
rev, and put at once into the wagon, pres
;ing them as close together as possible with
,ut pressing the leaves. This will protect
he plants from becoming sun burned, and
when the wagon arrives at the place Of hous-
ng. it, the tobacco may at once be transfer
ed to the place where it is to be cured. 1t
would be most convenient 10 have two wag-