Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-05-15

being left, and in proportion as the season ad.
vances fewer leaves should be left. The heavier
kinds Of tobacco are generally topped early in
the season, TO twelve leaves then to ten and still
later TO eight. The lighter kinds Of tobacco are
topped to greater number of leaves. The
above rule is only applicable 10 rich soil. III
the soil is light, The topping should be regulated
accordingly and fewer leaves left.
Suckering is much more tedious operation.
Every plant requires to be twice succored before
it is ready for cutting. Tue first succors are o.
quick growth, ana should be removed before they
become large, otherwise they will not only njure
the growth Of the plants but will sometimes
break offthe leaves in removing them.
Tobacco is usually planted from the middle OF
May to the last Of June. Aud the cutting season
usually commences about the middle Of August
and is rarely finished until late in September.
Between the planting and cutting Of tobacco,
the labor OF attending to it is light, but very te
dious. |, requires more hands than any other
crop, for the same num' or OF acres; but weak
hands and children can assist and do much Of
the work. When it begins to ripen, stonter hands
are required, though children may still aid in the
subsequent operations. A little practice will
enable the planter to Distinguish, very readily, the
ripe from the green plants. At the first cutting
the former must be selected and cut, leaving the
tile leaves become spotted, with greensh yellow
color, end The leaves are so thick and rigid that
by folding ard pressing them gently between the
thumb and finger, they will break or crack
But little experience will enable the planter to
determine which plants are ripe by sight alone
Tobacco must be split while standing; and such
hands as can readily distinguished between the
ripe aud green plants, should be employed in the
splitting process. The nost convenient knife
Tor splitting tobacco is in form somewhat like a
chisei, except that the blade should be very thin.
1t should be three and a half inches wide, and Of
the same length, having attached to it thin spear
OF shank, to be inserted in handle about foot
long, having cross piece on the top, to be held
by the hand. Alter the spear is inserted in the
handle, the latter should be shaved flat on two
sides, TO prevent the end Of the handle next to
the spear from striking against the top of the
tobacco stalk as the knife is run down. With
this instrument skil(ul operator can split the
standing plants with great rapidly. They
should not be split nearer 10 the ground than six
inches. The cutter may follow Immediately
after the splitter or at any convenient time after.
wards. A common hemp hook is the best in.
sirumen, fer cutting tobacco. The cutting sea
son is critical time for the tobacco crop. 1t is
subject to variety OF casualties; and without
particular care is liable TO sustain great and ire.
parable injury. 1t is subject 10 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 injure
the crop, and they must all be guarded against
with the utmost vigilance. The first is the most
difficult TO guard against when the tobacco is cut
in very warm werlher. After it is cut, it must
lie long enoash to fall or wih, so as to become
sufficiently plant to handle without breaking or
brltSing the leaves. The hotter the weather the
more difficult TO accomplish this object without
exposing the plants to the deterioration Of being
SUI, burned. 1t is surprising how quickly this
takes place, when tobocco is exposed 10 The me.
ridan rays Of the sun, in the mouth OF August,
or early 10 September. TIE parts Of the leaves
which are sun burned burn white and soon be.
come dry and crisp; and when cured, assume a
green color The parts thus effected are com
plelely ruined, having lost all the qualities OF
good tobacco To guard against this casualty,
when tobrcco Is cut early in the season the oper-
alton should be performed in the morning or SO
late in the evening that the sen will not have
power enough to injure it. Cutting, boih in the
morning and evening may be practised as con
veniencs may dictate, and may be managed as
follows:
The planter may commence cutting in the
morning, taking care to cut only 50 much as he
can secure before the sun has acquired suttiClen,
power to iujure it, When the cutting is com
pletad and the plants have fallen sufficiently, he
should commence riIing itin heaps with the butts
towards the sun, taking care to handle the plant
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 heaping
should always commence with the plants first
cut, so that they may, as nearly as practicable,
be exposed 10 the suns rays equal portion OF
Time or in equal degree, and should so progress
ill the whole is heaped. The stems Of the 10
hacco are the last parts that will 1oh. Being
lag and rdged, these require more sun to make
them fall, and hence the necessity OF placing the
butts towards tie sun when heaping tobacco
Being thus placed, the stems continue TO be
affected by the sun, while the plants are lying in
heaps. The heapug Of tobacco in somo degree
protects it from being sun burned, but the un
covered leaves are, Of course, unprotected -
Hence the necessity Of hauling the tobacco to
the place OF hanging it as soon as possible after
it has fallen sufficiently to admit OF this being
done without brusing or breaking off the leaves
Sheds are the most convenient. vehicles for trans
porting tobacco to the scalfold or house where il
is to be hung, il near at hand. These should
have smooth plank on the bottom, to prevent the
leaves Of the tobacco from being torn or bruised
There should be no standards in the sleds, and
the tobacco should be laid on in two courses the
tails Tapped ard butts out on each side When
unloaded. the butts should all lie towards the sun,
unless the hanging is performed in the shade Of
house or trees, These precautions are for the
purpose OF preventing the tobacco from being
SIN burned If the cutting tall q nlace I,ts in tba