Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-12-28

called by planters the first attacking the plants a
bout the time that they one third OF half grown
the other comes on when the tobacco is ready for
cutting The first can easily be subdued with good
supply of turkeys, and if then they are eectually de-
stroyed the second gl will be very easy to manage
for It is the opinion of many intelligent and expert
eneed planters that the greater portion OF the hfs
gut reappears the same year horn-btoarers and
breed myriads. When the second army OF worms
makes its appearance, the tobacco is generally SO
large that turkeys do but little good Ihe only
method then to destroy them is to begin IN me start
when they are being Matched, and keep up strict
watch upon Them going over the whole held, plant
by plant and breaking the eggs-kllllng such as
may be seen and by constant attention during each
morning and evening to this business a1one with the
whole force of the farm, they may be prevented from
doing much harm. When they disappear the second
time there is no more cause of trouble. For full
chronological description of the tobacco worm, and
the easiest and most efectual method OF rendering
them comparatively harmless beg leave to refer
the reader to letter written to J. S. SKINNER Esq,
by the author of this essay and published In the ar
mer's Library in l84S. When the plant begins to
yellow, it is time to put it away 1t Is cut OF close
to the ground by turning up the bottom leaves and
striking with tobacco knife formed of old scythe
such knives as often are used for cutting corn
Let it lay on the ground for short time to fat or
wilt and then carry it to the tobacco house, when
it may be put away in three different modes, by peg
ging,'' % spearing," and by "sptittingn Pegg'ng
tobacco is the neatest and best mode yet the slowest
It is done by driving little pegs, about six inches
long and half an inch less square, into the stalk
about four inches from the big end OF the stalk and
these pegs driven in with maliet in slantlng
direction so to hook the sticks IN the house 1t
is then put "horse' which by rope fixed to one
corner is pulled up in the house, and there hung up
on the sticks, which regulated at proper dlstan-
ces. G tobacco-horse' is nothing more than three
small sticks nailed together to form triangle
each side being three four feet long Spearing is
the plan pursue, because it is neat enough and de-
cidedly the quickest plan. A rough block with
hole morticed in it, and little fork few inches
from the hole for the tobacco stick to rest upon
end being in the hole, with spear the other end
of the stick, is all the apparatus required The plant
is then with both hands the spear, and thus
strung upon the stick, which when full is taken to
the house and hung up at once. There are "dart-
spears,n like the Indian dart in form, and ro,tnd-
spears = either, however, will answer.
"Splitttng' tobacco is admired by many who con-
tend that it cures brighter, certainly quicker and
less likely to house-burn or injure from too thick
hanging This mode is pursued easily by simply
splitting with knife made for the purpose, the plant
from the top to within few inches Of the bottom
before it is cut down for housing. Care should be
taken not to break the leaves while splitting the
stalk The knife for splitting may be fully described
by saying it is miniature spade. 1t can be easily
made out of an old scythe blade inserted in cleft
white oak handle with its edges beveled off to the
blade, so that it acts wedge to the descending
knife. After the tobacco is split. cut down. and
red to the house, is stradded the sticks and
hung up. The sticks generally supported by
forks driven in the ground the heap of tobacco
for greater convenience to the person putting the
plants.
Tobacco sticks are small round sticks or are split
out like laths, and about inch square,
and half inch square, usually larger at end
than the other and they should be eight ten inch
es longer than the josts of the tobacco house are
wide apart. If the tobacco is of good SIZE sew
en- plants enough on a four foot stick. When
first hung up, the sticks should be foot or fifteen
inches apart. AS the tobacco cures, they may be
pushed up closer After house is filed some plan
tiers put large fires under it, as it has turned
yellow, and by hot fires it is dried at and does
not change color unless to increase its brightness
but I" frtmgn gives smoke smell and taste that is
therefore not much liked by buyers. The cost of la
Dor and loss of wood and the risk of losing tobacco
and the house too, great objections, well urged
and hang It thin in houses not too large
which have windows and doors so as to admit light
and dry air. and by closing them in bad weather ex-
clude the rain and dampness, which materially dam
age the tobacco beside I'M urng the color of it. After
becoming dry and we'll cured, the stem of the leaf
being free from sap the first mild damp spell of
weather it will become soft and plant, and then be
stripped off the stalk. 1t is first pulled or taken off
the sticks and put in piles then the leaves strip
ped off and tied in bundles of about one-ffth or sixth
OF pound in each. The bundle is formed by wrap
ping leaf around the upper part of the handful of
leaves for about four inches and tucking the end in
the middle of the bundle, by way of confirming it
There ought, if the quality of the crop will permit
to be four sorts OF tobacco, ''yeow,' brigh duU'
and sec0nd.' When the tobacco is taken down. the
cuers" take each plant and pull off the defective
and trashy ground and worm-eaten leaves that are
next to the big end Of the stalk and then throw the
plant to the next person. who strips off all the bright
leaves (and If there be any yellow leaves, he lays
them side until he has ust enough to make bun
de- and throws the plant to the next who takes off
all the rest, being the "duH y and the respective
shippers, as they get enough leaves in hand tie up
the bundles and throw them separate for convent
ence in bulking Stripping should never be done
In drying or harsh weather, unless the tobacco is
bulked up almost fast it is stripped. The best
plan is, not to take down than you can conve-
niently tie up in few hours; but if the planter
chooses he may take down large quantity and put
it in bulk stalks and ALL cover it with tobacco sticks
and it will keep many days, SO that matter how
the weather be, he strip out of the bulk. How
ever this is very bad wasteful way Tobacco should
not be too moist, high, as it is termed when put
in the stalk bulks, it will get warm, the leaves
stick to the stalk, get bad SMELL and change color
besides if left too long it will rUI To "6uE' tobac-
CO. it requires Judgment and neatness Two logs
should be placed parallel to each other about thirty
inches apart and the space between them filed with
sucks for the purpose of keeping the tobacco from
the dampness OF the ground. The bundles are then
taken one at time, spread out and smoothed down,
which is most conveniently done by putting it against
the breast and strokng the leaves downwards smooth
and straight, with the right hand It is then passed.
two bundles at a time, to the man bulkng He takes
them, lays them down. and presses them with his
hands, they are laid two at time in q straight line
the broad part of the bundles slightly projecting
over the next two and two rows of bundles are put
in bulk both rows carried on together, the heads
being on the outside and the tails just tapping one
over the other In regular succession The bulk when
carried up to convenient height should have few
sticks laid the top to keep it in place It must of
ten be examined and getting warm it ought to be
Immediately changed and laid down in another bulk
OF less height and not pressed it is laid down this
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