Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1856-12-25

and danger of burning the crop saved, and
in some markets increase the value of the
crop. Having now arrived at the time
when 1t is supposed the planter has secured
and cured the crop, we proceed to give some
directions in its future management and
preparation for market-remarking that ma
ny, after all their previous care and labor,
lose It's profits to good extent by either a
want of knowledge as to it's management,
or a carelessness which is inexcusable upon
their part. After being for upwards of
thirty years engaged in it's culture, and to
some extent dealer in the article-after
visiting the principal markets in the union
i have long since come to the conclusion
! (and have never seen any reason for change
of the opinion that the prices paid for the
different qualities Of the article by the pur-
chaser is more generally q matter of fancy
than of superior judgment on his part of the
quality Of the article bought, and that fancy
was generally governed by the care bestow-
ed by the planter in preparing the article
for market. If this opinion is correct, how
very important for the planter to so prepare
his crop for market as to realize it's greatest
value, and proceed now to speak definitely
upon that subject.
After the Tobacco has been thoroughly
cured in stem and stalk, it is then ready to
commence stripping or taking the leaves
from the stalk In this process the plant
experienced laborer on the farm, who takes
off the bad or injured leaves, and then ties
them neatly in bundles of eight or ten
The plants, as thus cuiled, are given to 9TH
ers, who strip off six or eight leaves, wrap
ping tightly and neatly with the tip of the
leaf used as tie, so as to form a head one
and-half to two inches in length Care
should be had to make the bundles as uni
form in size and color as possible, as itadds
to the beauty CT sample by Which it is to be
sold. When the days work is done, let the
Tobacco, neatly pressed through the hands,
be put in a winrow, as it is termed; viz:
laid straight in a bulk or pile of sufficient
length to hold the day. or two days work,
and only the width of one bundle and one
half, reversing each course so as to have the
head Of the bundle out, here it may remain
until the stripping season is over or the
crop stripped. The first good drying spell
OF weather after the stripping, get the
snoothest and smallest sticks upon VIII, h
! ne rcbacco was hung, and EJng up me
Tobacco to dry; carefully shaking it cut
when hung, so as to secure uniform dry
ing. When the weather again becomes
moist enough to bring the Tobacco in case,
take it down and carefully Iulk it away as
before directed, only taking more care to
straighten the bundles and make the bulk
much wider, this is done by tapping the
bundles over each course similar to shing-
ling a roof, the bulker, having his knees
upon the bulk, carefully laying down the
Tobacco as it is Strengthened and handed
him. When the bulk is finished, weigh it
down he; vily with logs or some heavy weight
Care must be taken that the Tobacco does
not imbibe too much moisture, or get too
high in case before it is bulked, as it will
inure SO soon as the Tobacco becomes
soft enough to handle without breaking, it
may be put in bulk, and should the stem
break a little under the pressure of the bulk
ers knee, no material damage will be done,
provided the leaf does not crumbie A lit
tie attention will soon teach the most igno-
rant the proper order for safe keeping. The
Tobacco will be safe in bulk, and will wait
the planters convenience to prise it in hogs
heads.
In prising, the different qualities should
not be mixed, and if the planter has been
careful to keep them separated, no trouble
will be had in asserting when ready to prise.
In packing in the hogsheads care should be
taken to have every bundle straight, and
every leaf to it's bundle From well pack
ed hogshead, any bundle may be drawn
without injury or interruption to the others
The usual way of packing is to commence
across the middle Of the hogshcad. placing
the heads of the first course Of bundles about
eight or ten inches from the outer edge and
running the course evenly across; the pack
er then places the bundles of the next course
in the same direction, the heads against the
side or edge of the hogsheads, and follow
the circumference until the heads Of the two
courses come in contact; after that course is
completed he finishes the other side by plac-
ing the head against the cask as before, so
as to have three courses across the cask, the
bundles all laid in the same direction, and
the next layer is reversed, carefully placing
each bundle as it is thrown or handed him.
When filled it is subjected to the press Or
screw and forced down.
! Our hogsheads are from thirty-eight to
forty -four inches across the head, and fifty
six to fifty-eight inches in length, and from
1880 to 2,0oO pounds can be easily prised
in them. IF the Tobacco is large, rich and
} oily, the harder tits pressed the better, and
} the better price it commands. These re-
} marks are particularly applicable to those
heavy descriptions of Tobacco known in Vir-
} ginia as heavy shipping leaf, and in the
: West as Clarksville Tobacco, where the soil
;. and climate are 1eculiarlr adantod To tho