Year: 1863

plant


The number of leaves. as we remark
ed about tie size of the hill, is much a
matter of fancy; yet it has more to do in
forming te future character of the to-
bacco thar most planters seem apprixed
OF. Experience has fully demonstrated
that ten leaves are sufficient for plant,
and this l. almost a universal practice
among orr best planters. The first
plant, If th" crop has grown off funevenly,
may be placed to twelve leaves, the next
topping may be ten; and, as the season
advances, the number may be lessened,
as the apr arance of the crop and the
season Indicate 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. Al this stage of the crop, the
care and attention of the planter is al
most constantly required to keep off the
worms and ether insects which prey upon
it; and to breaking off the suckers, which
soon appear upon the stalk at every leaf,
ample employment may be offered to
every idler about the premises


As the plant approaches maturity, it
begins to thicken, and assumes a stiff,
slick and molly appearance, which the
most unpraeticed eye will readily detect.
Should the weather be favorable. (name-
ly, dry,) the first ripe plants may be per-
mitted to remain standing until suffi-
cient quantity is matured to satisfy the
planter in making a rueglar cutting If,
however, the weather be unpropicious, it
is best to cut as fast as ii natures, as it
is subject to Injury, under such circum-
stances, if suffered to remain too long.
The harvesting of the crop is an impor-
tant period in its cultivation, and neglect
upon the part of the planter will bring
loss In It's future vaIue. cuII1ug r1iS.
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 injure them, and the plant to
be set with the bulk of the stalk up, ex-
posed to the sun. So soon as the plant
is wilted enough to handle without break
ing, they should be taken up and laid in
a heap of sew, 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 plantt sunburnt The sticks
on which the plant are hung are small
pieces of timber four feet long, and of
sufficient size to support the PLANS


These are taken to the barn on cart
or wagon, after receiving the plants, or
may be placed upon scaffolds in the
field, at the option of the planter 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 together if the weather
be damp, as there is danger of injuring'
the plant. After remaining on the scaf.
fold few days, IL becomes yellow, or
it must then be carried to the barn or
the sticks far enough apart 10 secure
fair 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 injurious
to the plant after it is cut, and espe-
cially after it becomes yellow. The
curing process is one of the most impor-
tant in the future value Of the crop, and
too much care cannot be given it, small
neglect lessening the value of the crop
seriously.


If the weather is dry, and the tobacco
is not too much crowded in the house,
the acrlUn % - tmosnhere, assisted by
a small portion of fire, VIII be sun1cre1;Ss-
to effect the object. If, however, the
weather is warm and damp, the atmos-
phere will not aid very materially in cur
ing the plant, and unless firing is resort
ed to, the plant is certain to be more or
less injured 1t is always safer, after the
house is filled with green tobacco, to rely
mostly upon the action of the fire to
considerable extent, These should be
small and slow at first, and continued so
until the tobacco is clear of the mois-
ture engendered by the fire, is dried out,
and then increased until the leaf is near
" cured. When this is the case, the fres
should be suffered to 60 out, and the to-
bacco suffered to come in case, or get
soft again. The quality of the article
will be improved by permitting it to come
in case once or twice before 1t is thor
oughly cured in stem and stalk. Dry
and sound wood is best for firing. lfthe
object of the planter is to make pie
bald or fancy article, care should be ta-
ken never to permit the leaf TO get very
soft during the curing process: apd to
must be yellowed before, and cured en-
tirely by FIRE. This particular descrlp-
ton is, however, not more desirable or
valuable to the consumer, as the essen
tial properties of the plant are frequently
destroyed by the action of the tre. As
a general thing, it is better TO cure the
weed by natural process of air and the
action Of the atmosphere, and where the


planter is provided with sufficient


quantity of room to house the crop with
out crowding too close, the object can be


obtained without the aid of much bre,
and the wood and danger of burning the
crop saved, ard in some markets. In


crease the value of the crop. Having


now arrived at the time when 1t IS sup.


posed the planter has secured and cured


the crop, we proceed to give some direc-


tions in its future management and pre-


paration for market-remarking that


many, after all their previous care and


labor, lose its profits to great extent


by either a want of knowledge as TO IT


management, or carelessness which II


inexcusable on their part.


Il ~ n