Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-30
Harvesting Bright Tobacco

The tobacco is harvested by prim.
ing, or stripping the leaves, as they
begin to ripen at the bottom Of the
plant
On some soils, under certain con-
ditions, 1t is difficult to tell just
when to begin stripping. Usually
the bottom leaves, or sand Tugs, as
first to turn green to q yellowish
color. The fuzzy, sticky feeling dis
appears and the leaves begin to feel
: smooth and velvety as compared with
those higher up, which are both fuzzy
and sticky. At the first gathering,
take off two or three leaves at the
bottom. The first printing and the
last do not bring as good prices as
the other primings. The tobacoo
grower tries to have just as small
an amount of sand lugs and tips as
possible. Do. not mix them with the
other gatherings. The field will need
to be gone over once a week until
all of the leaves are removed, usu-
ally about four or five times in all.
sometimes the seasons are such that
case, 1t may be necessary to crowd
the harvest into four gatherings to
prevent loss by burning on the stalk.
Use good judgment in gathering and
do not gather green tobacco that will
stand over for another week with
Remember that green tobacco has no
friends ON the market. The buyers
do not want it at any price.
The first gathering of tobacco is
about the last of June, If the crop
t y set the first part Of April and Hi. eul
ence in weather conditions will cause
q few days variation. After the
first gathering, 1t will be necessary
to gather once a week, unless the
weather has, been very dry for some
time: If a good rain follows a
new. growth and make it necessary
to delay gathering for ten days or
two weeks. Always look for the
green to yellowish color and the
velvety feeling of the leaf.
The tobacco is usually carried to
the curing barn in baskets Or sled
drags. The baskets. used for carry
ing tobacco from the field to the
barn are two feet wide, three feet
long and IS to 20 inches high. These
baskets may be made from white. oak
splits and should be rigid enough so
that they may be stacked one upon
the other when full Of tobacco.
A sled drag can be made in few
minutes by any farmer In Georgia,
in most cases, an ordinary sled with
out wheels is used. The sled should
not be over "a inches wide to pass
easily between the rows Of tobacco,
and six to eight feet long. Ordinary
crocus sacks may be used for the
sides and ends. The drag cannot be
turned around in the fields readily,
and should be constructed that the
mule may be hitched to either end.
Have the gatherers prime a few
rows on either side of the drag, crop
ping off about the same number of
leaves from the bottom Of every
plant and putting them in the drag.
When the drag Is full, send it to
the barn and have another mule and
drag take its place. so that the crop
pers may be kept busy.
At the barn there should be a
supply Of Sticks about 1 IA inches
square and just long enough (about
a IL feet) to catch we'll on both
tier poles. This is important, as a
stick filled with tobacco may fall on
the flues and cause the barn to burn.
For this reason, split sticks are
preferable, as they never break from
the weight of the tobacco. Common
wrapping thread is used to attach
THE leaves to the stick. Fasten the
string to one end of the stock and
then begin the wrapping by bring
Ing the string around two to four
leaves on one side Of the stick and