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

land that has been kept clean, this may be
the last ploughing; the weeds and bushes
may be kept down with the hoe, should any
appear. When the plant is large enough to
top, the leaves nearest the ground are to be
broken off and the bud taken out, leaving
on the stalk the number designed for the
plant.
The number of leaves, as we remarked
about the size of the hill, is much matter
Of fancy; yet it has more to do in forming
the future character of the tobacco than
most planters are aware Of Experience has
fully demonstrated that ten leaves are suffi-
cient for plant, and this is almost a uni
versal practice among our best planters.
The first plants, if the crop has grown of
uneyenly, may be placed to twelve; the next
topping may be ten, and as the season ad-
vances the number may be lessened, as the
appearance of the crops and the season in
dicate. This will insure more uniformity
in maturing of the crop, saves much labor
and adds to the value Of the crop. making it
more uniform in quality. At this stage OF
the crop, the care and attention of the plan
ter is almost constantly required to keep of
the worms and other insects which prey up
on it, and in breaking off the suckers which
soon appear upon the stalk at every leaf,
ample employment may be afforded to every
idler about the premises. AS the plant APP
proaches maturity it begins to thicken, and
assume stiff, slick and molly appearance,
which the most Impractical eye will readily
detect Should the weather be favorable
(viz: dry, } the first ripe plants may be per-
mitted to remain standing until a sufiicicn.
quantity is maturea to satisfy the planter in
making regular cutting. If, however,
tae weather be unpropi;ious, it is best tc
cut as fast as it natures, as it is subject to
injury under such circumstances if suffered
to remain too long.
The harvesting Of the crop is an important
period in it's cultivation, and neglect upon
the part Of the planter will bring loss in its
future value. In cutting the plant, sharp
knife is to be used, and the stalk to be split
about half its length, taking care not to
break the leaves Or otherwise injuring them.
and the plant to be set with the butt Of the
stalk up, exposed to the sun. So soon as
the plant is wilted enough to handle without
breaking, they should be taken up and laid
in heaps of seven to nine in place, being
governed by their size, and hung as soon as
possible to prevent being scorched by the
sun. The after part Of the day is best for
cutting; there is less danger of getting the
plant sunburnt. The sticks upon which the
plants are hung are small pieces of timber
four feet long, andof sufficient size to sup
port the plants. If the weather is fair, it
is best to sun it, as it aids the curing, and
adds to the strength and elasticity of the leaf
after it is cured. Care should be taken not
to place the sticks too close if the weathc,
be damp and warm, as there is danger Of in
jjuring the plant After remaining on the
scahold few days, it becomes yellow, or
assumes the color Of leaf in autumn; it
must then be carried to the barn or curing
house, anG placed away, keeping the sticks
for enough apart to secure free circulation
of air through them. If the weather is wet,
it is best to take the plants to the house at
once, and let the yellowing process take
place in the house rather than risk the
changes in the weather, as rain is always in
furious to the plant after it is cut, and es-
pecially so after it becomes yellow The
curing process is one of the most important
features in the future value Of the crop, and
too much care cannot be given it, small
neglect lessening the value af the crop Sc
riously.
If the weather is dry and the Tobacco is
not too much crowded in the house, the ac-
tion of the atmosphere, assisted by small
portion of fire, will be sufficient to effect the
object. IF, however, the weather is warm
and damp, the atmosphere will not aid very
materially in curing the plant, unless firing
is resorted to, the plant is certain to be more
or less injured It is always safer after a
house is filled with green Tobacco to rely
mostly upon the action of the fire to a con,
siderable extent. These should be small
and slow at first, AID continued so until the
Tobacco is clear or the moisture engendered
by the fire, is dried out and then increased
until the leaf is nearly cured. When this
is the case, the fires should be suffered tt
90 out, and the Tobacco suffered to come ir
case, or get soft again. The quality of thu
article will be improved by permitting it tc
oughly cured in stem and stalk Dry anc
sound wood is best for firing If the objec
of the planter is to make pie-bald or fancy
article, care should be taken never to per
NIT the leaf to get very soft during the cur
ing process and to make a really fancy ar
ticle, the Tobacco must be thoroughly vel
lowed before, and cured entirely by fire
This particular description is, however, no
more desirable or valuable to the consumer
as the essential properties of the plant arr
frequently destroyed by the action of tn,
fire. AS general thing, it is better to cure
the weed by natural process of the air ant
the action Of the atmosphere, and where tn,
planter is provided with sufficient quaint
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